Legal Officer

I&M Bank Uganda is a commercial bank headquartered at Kingdom Kampala with a growing regional presence. The Bank offers a wide range of commercial banking and financial products and services, and prides itself on introducing innovative products and services based on the needs of its customers. We are seeking to recruit a competent and highly motivated individual with extensive experience and abilities to support business growth in the following position:

JOB TITLE:   LEGAL OFFICER

LOCATION: HEAD OFFICE

REPORTS TO: HEAD OF LEGAL

JOB PURPOSE.

Conduct research, provide legal advice, prepare and review legal documents and represent the bank in legal matters in accordance with the law (statutory requirements), bank policies, and departmental work plan and business goals.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES .

• Receive and review documentation of approved credit facilities from branches within the allocated limit as well as prepare documentation of approved credit facilities and approve/recommend disbursement by Credit Department in line with bank policy and the law.
• Receive, review, compute fees payable and dispatch securities through Head of Legal or to external advocates for registration of bank charges and follow up for return thereof in line with departmental policy and statutory requirements (the law).
• Provide legal advice/opinions and training to Credit Departments, Operations and other departments in line with law and bank policy.
• Receive, review approved applications for bid, performance and advance payment guarantees/bonds and prepare the respective guarantees and security documents.
• Draw instructions (upon advice) to auctioneers and advocates for recovery of debts on behalf of the bank and represent the bank at sales of defaulted customers’ securities in accordance with the law and policy.
• Prepare and maintain the department registers of securities received from the branches for perfection/registration and return to the branches thereafter and follow up and report on long outstanding cases in accordance with departmental guidelines.
• Review and prepare or renew agreements for funding to the bank for on lending to customers in line with the law and bank policy
• Carrying out proactive reviews of Bank credit security documents for improvement on line with best practice, changes in the law and Bank Policy.
• Represent the bank before Legal and Quasi Legal fora in line with the law.
• Carryout searches for securities offered to the Bank for loans and advances and for companies intending to do business with the Bank.
• Prepare and renew leases/ sub leases and tenancy agreements in respect of property rented by the Bank in line with the bank’s requirements, approved terms and conditions and the law.
• Prepare and renew service level contracts/agreements entered by the Bank for provision of General Banking and credit services, consultancy, safety and security, media and public relations in line with the bank’s requirements, approved terms and conditions and the law.

REQUIREMENT S.

Minimum Education Qualification:

• First degree in Law
• Postgraduate diploma in Legal Practice
• Enrolled Advocate

Work Experience:

• At least 2years cognate experience.  

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS .

• Three days’ turn around time .
• Minimum resort to lengthy recovery processes e.g. court action in the event of default.
• Watertight securitization of credits
• 0% incidents of Bank paying penalties for non compliance to statutory obligations.
• Non recurrence of queries related matters advised upon
• Non exposure of the bank to legal risks over the performance
• Elimination and/or reduction of non - compliance with legal requirements dwelt upon in training.
• Provide legal advice within 2 days or earlier depending on urgency.
• Zero incidence of improper guarantee documents issued.
• No actions/suits or complaints regarding instructions issued to auctioneers and sales of defaulting customers’ securities.
• All securities duly accounted for
• 0% incidence of bad cases arising out of exploitation of loopholes in contracts/ agreements drawn for the given period of performance (year or months)
• Secure at least 75% success in suits handled before legal and quasi legal for a for the period of performance.
• 0% incidence of bad cases arising out of exploitation of loopholes in contracts/ agreements drawn for the given period of performance (year or months)

• Highly conversant with legislative acts affecting contract conditions and is able to educate team.
• Demonstrates the ability to implement and monitor policies and procedures relating to contract law.
• Able to personally deal with complex contracts and liaise with the organization’s legal representatives for advice and support.
• Demonstrates expert knowledge of Ugandan legislation affecting procurement and is able to advise and guide subordinates.
• Understands legal mechanisms for resolution of disputes including arbitration and litigation.

Note: Deadline for this job posting is 20th September 202 3 at 5:00pm and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted .