Legal Assistant at Excellerate JHI

About the role

• As the Legal Assistant for a designated Portfolio, you will be responsible for coordinating all legal matters pertaining to property management. Your role will involve providing comprehensive legal advisory services both internally and to the designated Landlord, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

What you will bring

Inherent requirements for the position (non-negotiable)

• Minimum qualification grade 12
• A diploma or degree in Legal studies is preferred.
• 3-5 years of experience in property management.
• Good understanding of South African property management practices
• Strong insight into debt collection processes and tenant communication
• Experience in project management within the real estate sector

Additional demonstrable requirements:

• Proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook, to efficiently manage documentation and reporting.
• Advanced Excel skills which include pivot tables, VLOOKUP
• Excellent time management and administrative abilities, with a strong focus on accuracy and productivity in all tasks.
• Ability to foster and maintain strong professional relationships, contributing to effective teamwork and collaboration.
• Demonstrated strengths in communication, analytical thinking, and problem-solving, with the capacity to thrive under pressure.
• A commitment to delivering high-quality service, ensuring customer satisfaction and alignment with business objectives.

What you will be doing

In-house Soft Debt Collection

• Coordinate tenant communication for outstanding payments.
• Manage payment plan negotiations.
• Track and follow up on payment commitments.
• Prepare detailed handover documentation for external attorney referrals.
• Maintain comprehensive tenant payment histories and communication logs.

Handover Instructions to External Panel of Attorneys:

• Ensure in-house attorney has all the necessary documentation for disclosure at court to prove any relevant case.
• Ensure in-house has all relevant information on each transaction on the recon and has the necessary proof for each entry.
• Discussions with attorneys and Landlord in respect of suggested way forward.

Coordination and administrative support for settlements by ensuring:

• All legal elements have been checked and are correct before any setttlement proposal is accepted
• The full debt and legal fees have been taken into consideration.
• The offer tabled would be acceptable to the landlord.
• All disputes are resolved and corrected and the relevant systems are updated.
• Minutes are taken and filed accordinlgy
• Counter proposals are communicated between landlord and tenant. 
• Acknowledgment of Debts is signed by both parties and filed.

Legal Meetings and Management:

• Schedule and conduct monthly meetings with attorneys to discuss strategy and updates on legal matters.

Closing Legal Matters:

• Ensure all accounts and legal fees are settled before closing matters.
• Update systems and inform relevant stakeholders upon closure.

Reporting and Compliance:

• Prepare detailed reports in line with landlord policies, including bad debt provisions and legal costs.
• Ensure compliance with write-off policies and timely audits.

Business Rescue and Liquidation Support:

• Prepare and submit claims, attend creditor meetings, and provide legal advice on risks and claims.