Job Opportunities at Bowmans (Law Firm)

Experience and Qualifications:

• Admitted attorney with 1 to 3+ years post admission litigation experience.
• Interest in insurance required.
• In possession of an LLB with a sound academic transcript and Right of Appearance
• Strong analytical and dispute resolution skills are essential.
• Interest in a technical legal environment advantageous
• Proven track record of marketing/practice development an advantage
• Excellent English language skills
• Exposure to a demanding work environment – big law firm exposure advantageous

Job Accountabilities:

• Provide advice to clients in respect of transactional and litigious insurance matters with a particular focus on financial lines and aviation
• Provide advice to clients in respect of aviation regulatory compliance
• Handle litigious matters in the insurance and aviation space
• Research and draft opinions
• Report to partners and senior associate within the department who will determine duties
•  
• Practice management: general administration, including file management and electronic time‑keeping.
• Business development in the form of the preparation of internal and external newsflashes or articles of interest to clients/potential clients
• Participate in marketing initiatives in line with the departmental and sectoral strategy

Personal Attributes:

• Genuine interest in insurance and related issues and commitment to involvement in this sector

Client Focus

• Dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of clients. Obtains the necessary information from clients and utilizes the information for the delivery of service to the client. Establishes and maintains effective relationships with clients. Ability to attract and retain clients. Ability to work independently with appropriate level of supervision.

Organisational awareness

• Good business awareness, understanding the implications of events within the organization. Knows how to get things done through formal channels and informal networks.

Work Standards

• Sets high goals or standards of performance for self, producing work timeously, accurately and of a consistently high standard. Must be able to work according to a fee budget. Understands need to attend to matters with appropriate urgency, according to the required priority and within the requirements of the department and client.

Planning and organizing

• Accurately scopes out the length and difficulty of tasks. Sets priorities, manages schedules and plans accordingly in a constantly pressurized environment. Ensures turnaround to meet partners' and client expectations.

Skills:

• Technical Legal skills
• Has or is able to acquire the legal technical skills to understand the client requirements and deliver a service which is efficient and meets client requirements. Can learn new technical legal skills specifically in respect of ports and terminal infrastructure projects and concessions and apply theory in a practical manner.

Communication

• Able to express ideas clearly, produce documents that have appropriate organisation and structure, correct grammar and language.

Computer Literacy

• Proficient in Word and Outlook. Experience in a legal billing software package essential. Proficiency in Excel an advantage.

go to method of application »

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Admitted attorney with 3-5 years post admission experience in commercial litigation/exposure to Investigative work would be advantageous.
• Post grad LLB degree with a sound academic transcript.
• Exposure to a demanding work environment – Big law firm exposure advantageous

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Drafting documents, including pleadings, notices, affidavits, settlement agreements and correspondence.
• Furnishing legal opinions and advice on any various areas of law arising from commercial litigation; with an emphasis if possible on areas involving fraud; corruption; general recovery; and general administrative law relevant to disputes or investigations arising from procurement.
• Settling or contributing toward forensic reports.
• Consultations with clients and counsel; interviewing witnesses.
• Preparing for and attending High Court and private arbitration proceedings; participating in forensic investigations and report preparation flowing therefrom.
• Conducting negotiations with a view to settling disputes and/or claims.
• Practice management: general administration, including file management and electronic time-keeping.
• Business development in the form of the preparation of internal and external newsflashes or articles of interest to clients/potential clients; assistance with the preparation of tender documentation.
• Training of Candidate Attorneys and junior associates within the team; and in the broader practice group from time to time.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Client Focus
• Client interaction ability
• Including understanding the need to balance addressing the legal requirements of the instruction with understanding and meeting the expectations and requirements of clients.
• Understanding the need to obtain the necessary instruction details/information from clients and the ability to translate this to achieve the delivery of service to the client.
• Capable of establishing and maintaining effective relationships with clients.

Work Standards

• Setting high personal goals and personal standards of performance, producing work timeously, accurately and of a consistently high standard, with an ability to work both independently and in a leveraged Team, to train juniors and interact with senior partners.
• Ability to work according to a fee budget.
• Ability to work within a large team.
• Capable of coping under time pressures and according to client pressures.
• Commitment to excellence in standard of work produced.
• Understanding the importance of teamwork and effective communication within the team.
• Taking and accepting responsibility for performance of mandates and conduct of matters.

Planning and organizing

• Ability to prioritise, manage schedules, delegate and plan in a client-centric environment and within a large team.
• Ability to delegate and supervise such planning and organising where necessary.

OTHER SKILLS:

• Legal Technical skills
• Possesses the legal technical skill to understand client requirements in order to deliver excellent client service and legally sound advice.
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver according to deadlines.
• Capable of applying legal theory in a practical and commercially astute manner.
• Appetite and interest to expand one’s expertise in addressing client needs and legal requirements.

Communication

• Able to communicate effectively and express ideas clearly.
• Produce documents that have appropriate organisation and structure, correct grammar and language.
• Understanding the need for accountability.

Computer Literacy

• Proficient in Word and Outlook.
• Knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint would be an advantage.
• Capable of learning to work with additional Computer programmes relevant to, inter alia, forensic investigations; eDiscovery and digital timekeeping.
   

go to method of application »

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• BCom (Accounting), a tax specific qualification would be advantageous.
• 3 years tax compliance experience within a tax practice; articles experience would be advantageous.
• Proven numeracy and language skills.

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Working as part of a team providing assistance to clients on a variety of tax compliance matters within a specialised tax practice.
• This includes tax registrations for multiple tax types, tax return preparation and submission for multiple tax types, the set up and management of SARS eFiling profiles, preparation and submission of disputes, application for tax clearances, suspension of payment requests, tax deregistrations, beneficial ownership submissions, and other tax compliance related matters.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Initiative, enthusiasm and optimism
• Acting without prompting but aware of risks
• Takes action to achieve goals beyond what is required
• Optimistic in handling challenges and setting out for the best outcomes
• Genuinely engage with clients and colleagues in an enthusiastic manner
• Taking responsibility in all matters in which you are involved
• Taking pride in excellence of work done

Perseverance and resilience

• Ability to work well under pressure without compromising work quality or standards. 
• Ability to move past obstacles to achieve end results in an efficient and professional manner.
• Ability to recover quickly from setbacks.

Results driven

• Uncompromising attitude to service delivery.
• Delivery of results even under heavy pressure.  
• Ability to handle high volumes as well as meet deadlines, with the view to adding value to the business by delivering the required results.

Team player

• Working together with colleagues and staff to enhance the team’s overall performance
• Leveraging off team synergies and to ensure a productive, efficient, and caring work environment
• Ethical
• Displays honesty and integrity at all times

Client Focus

• Dedicated to understanding and meeting the expectations and requirements of clients.
• Obtains the necessary information from clients and utilises the information for the delivery of service to the client. 
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with clients. 

Work Standards

• Sets high goals or standards of performance for self, producing work timeously, accurately and of a consistently high standard. 
• Able to work according to a fee budget.

Planning and organizing

• Set priorities, manage schedules and plan accordingly in a constantly pressurised environment.

OTHER SKILLS:

• Technical skills

Possesses tax compliance skills and knowledge

• Strong critical reasoning
• Ability to apply theory in a practical and commercially astute manner

Business and financial skills

• Possesses the necessary commercial understanding of client requirements in order to deliver excellent client service
• Ability to perform tax related calculations 

Communication

• Able to communicate effectively and express ideas clearly
• Ability to argue persuasively
• Produce documents that have appropriate organisation and structure, correct grammar and language, and which are easy to understand.

Computer Literacy

• Proficiency in all relevant computer software, including Word and Outlook.
• Proficiency in Excel is a pre-requisite – if this is not already present, on-the-job training will be provided to address these weaknesses

go to method of application »

• The Business Development Coordinator (BDC) - Corporate is responsible for working with the relevant Business Development Manager (BDM) and Corporate Department to support and implement innovative short and long term business development and marketing strategies, tactics and activities that will support the Firm’s legal teams making up the Corporate Department specifically: Competition; M&A; Tax and TMT  (the Practice Groups) and assist in driving the Firm’s overall BD strategy and client relationship programme forward.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Completed Degree/Diploma with at least 3 years’ experience in business development or a related field within a corporate, legal or professional services environment essential
• LLB/similar with Completed Articles will be advantageous

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Planning and Strategy

• Assist with developing and implementing the business development strategies and initiatives in line with the firm’s and Practice Groups’ objectives and best practice to drive revenue growth and raise market profile across practices and sectors.
• Assist with driving strategic and business planning support to the Practice Groups and client teams.
• Undertake research and analysis (trends and industry developments; competitor activity; and potential opportunities).
• Assist in implementing innovative short- and long-term strategies, tactics and activities that will support the Practice Groups.
• Arrange and coordinate regular meetings as required per Practice Group and prepare and circulate meeting notes with action points and subsequent follow-ups to ensure and maintain momentum.
• Keep the wider BD team updated on business development activities to encourage team cohesion and fully leverage any initiatives.
• Working with BD colleagues to support various Africa-related BD initiatives to promote co-ordinated activities across all offices.
• Collaborate with other Business Services teams to ensure that holistic and integrated business services are delivered.

BD Collateral and Infrastructure

• Ensure regular deal and matter reporting in line with the firm’s BD processes and infrastructure.
• Ensure all relevant BD collateral (credentials, profiles, CVs, case studies etc) necessary to support the BD objectives of the group are developed, maintained and kept up-to-date, and loaded on the firm’s central BD databases.
• Assist with all directory submissions in line with Firm processes (Chambers, IFLR1000 and The Legal 500) for the Practice Groups.

Campaigns/ Initiatives and Projects

• Assist with developing, advising and supporting the implementation of BD initiatives, campaigns and projects in line with the Firm’s and Practice Groups’ strategy and plans.
• Supporting partners in initiatives to raise both internal (identifying cross-sell opportunities, internal training) and external profile of the Practice Groups (e.g. newsflashes, seminars, conferences).
• Working with partners to identify and pursue new client opportunities, market opportunities, and product development opportunities.
• Coordinate and provide comprehensive support for BD trips / conferences, initiatives, events and related BD projects (including managing action items post-event).

Research/Analysis

• Identifying and analysing market trends to provide strategic insights into market developments focused on supporting identified campaigns, initiatives and projects, as well as to inform potential BD opportunities.
• Prepare strategically important client briefing notes.
• Stay up to date on current affairs impacting relevant Practice Groups.
• Briefing and offering guidance to the Research team to analyse internal client data to prepare annual Practice Group (where relevant) trend reports and provide ad hoc assistance to the team as required.

Pitches

• Brief the New Business Team (NBT) and offer specialist support to the NBT and Practice Groups on pitches, capability statements and the like.
• Work with partners and actively participate in strategically important pitches, including messaging, value add, credentials, preparation, rehearsal, follow up.

Client Relationship Management

• Manage and support assigned client teams with the development and execution of client plans.
• Advise and support partners on client engagement best practice (including preparation strategies, meeting structures, client specific strategies).
• Drive cross-selling and client targeting initiatives.
• Encourage the use of InterAction (within the relevant teams - incl. secretaries), beyond simply the maintenance of client contact information (i.e. logging/sharing activities, encouraging the use of working lists etc.)
• Be familiar with the clients and proposed target clients relevant to each of the Practice Groups to be able to help identify opportunities.

COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to implement
• Adaptability
• Analytical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Client focus
• Creativity and innovation
• Initiative
• Interactive communication
• Problem solving
• Relationship building
• Resilience
• Self confidence
• Strategic thinking
• Stress management
• Teamwork
• Writing skills

go to method of application »

• The Business Development Coordinator (BDC) - Corporate is responsible for working with the relevant Business Development Manager (BDM) and Corporate Department to support and implement innovative short and long term business development and marketing strategies, tactics and activities that will support the Firm’s legal teams making up the Corporate Department specifically: Competition; M&A; Tax and TMT  (the Practice Groups) and assist in driving the Firm’s overall BD strategy and client relationship programme forward.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Completed Degree/Diploma with at least 3 years’ experience in business development or a related field within a corporate, legal or professional services environment essential
• LLB/similar with Completed Articles will be advantageous

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Planning and Strategy

• Assist with developing and implementing the business development strategies and initiatives in line with the firm’s and Practice Groups’ objectives and best practice to drive revenue growth and raise market profile across practices and sectors.
• Assist with driving strategic and business planning support to the Practice Groups and client teams.
• Undertake research and analysis (trends and industry developments; competitor activity; and potential opportunities).
• Assist in implementing innovative short- and long-term strategies, tactics and activities that will support the Practice Groups.
• Arrange and coordinate regular meetings as required per Practice Group and prepare and circulate meeting notes with action points and subsequent follow-ups to ensure and maintain momentum.
• Keep the wider BD team updated on business development activities to encourage team cohesion and fully leverage any initiatives.
• Working with BD colleagues to support various Africa-related BD initiatives to promote co-ordinated activities across all offices.
• Collaborate with other Business Services teams to ensure that holistic and integrated business services are delivered.

BD Collateral and Infrastructure

• Ensure regular deal and matter reporting in line with the firm’s BD processes and infrastructure.
• Ensure all relevant BD collateral (credentials, profiles, CVs, case studies etc) necessary to support the BD objectives of the group are developed, maintained and kept up-to-date, and loaded on the firm’s central BD databases.
• Assist with all directory submissions in line with Firm processes (Chambers, IFLR1000 and The Legal 500) for the Practice Groups.

Campaigns/ Initiatives and Projects

• Assist with developing, advising and supporting the implementation of BD initiatives, campaigns and projects in line with the Firm’s and Practice Groups’ strategy and plans.
• Supporting partners in initiatives to raise both internal (identifying cross-sell opportunities, internal training) and external profile of the Practice Groups (e.g. newsflashes, seminars, conferences).
• Working with partners to identify and pursue new client opportunities, market opportunities, and product development opportunities.
• Coordinate and provide comprehensive support for BD trips / conferences, initiatives, events and related BD projects (including managing action items post-event).

Research/Analysis

• Identifying and analysing market trends to provide strategic insights into market developments focused on supporting identified campaigns, initiatives and projects, as well as to inform potential BD opportunities.
• Prepare strategically important client briefing notes.
• Stay up to date on current affairs impacting relevant Practice Groups.
• Briefing and offering guidance to the Research team to analyse internal client data to prepare annual Practice Group (where relevant) trend reports and provide ad hoc assistance to the team as required.

Pitches

• Brief the New Business Team (NBT) and offer specialist support to the NBT and Practice Groups on pitches, capability statements and the like.
• Work with partners and actively participate in strategically important pitches, including messaging, value add, credentials, preparation, rehearsal, follow up.

Client Relationship Management

• Manage and support assigned client teams with the development and execution of client plans.
• Advise and support partners on client engagement best practice (including preparation strategies, meeting structures, client specific strategies).
• Drive cross-selling and client targeting initiatives.
• Encourage the use of InterAction (within the relevant teams - incl. secretaries), beyond simply the maintenance of client contact information (i.e. logging/sharing activities, encouraging the use of working lists etc.)
• Be familiar with the clients and proposed target clients relevant to each of the Practice Groups to be able to help identify opportunities.

COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to implement
• Adaptability
• Analytical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Client focus
• Creativity and innovation
• Initiative
• Interactive communication
• Problem solving
• Relationship building
• Resilience
• Self confidence
• Strategic thinking
• Stress management
• Teamwork
• Writing skills

go to method of application »

Purpose:

Responsible for providing administrative and secretarial services to the Group CFO and Finance department, ensuring efficient and effective operations.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Senior Certificate, Secretarial diploma
• 5 years of experience in administrative roles or as a Personal Assistant.
• Accounting qualification is advantageous
• Experience in billing is advantageous.
• Intermediate/Advance proficiency in MS Office.

Key Accountabilities   

• Act as first point of contact
• Liaise with people both inside and outside the firm.
• Act with a high level of confidentiality and discretion.
• Connecting people: Professional and effective communication internally/externally
• Screening of all calls to ensure that calls are dealt with and/or directed to correct professionals
• Possess well developed interpersonal and communication skills and good telephone manner to ensure that all staff members, colleagues and clients are treated professionally
• Manage all forms of communication efficiently to ensure that correct message gets across effectively.

Diary Management: Scheduling and maintaining of calendars

• Organise and manage various diaries as and when required.
• Ensuring that the correct people are invited and available to attend; tracking of responses and or attendance, booking boardroom for meetings and conference calls (VC), booking catering if necessary, making sure enough time is allocated for travel for offsite meetings.

Document Generation

• Producing documents and presentations as and when necessary.
• Ensure the accurate typing of all documents, paying special attention to detail and ensuring good spelling / grammar / punctuation.
• Knowledge of and adherence to ‘in-house’ styles to maintain standardisation and that the quality of documents produced are of a high standard.
• Familiar with amending documents using track changes, cross referencing and the ability to carry out changes to various documents.

Office administration & Finance Support

• Maintain strong attention to detail, possess good organisational skills.
• Control filing systems.
• Knowledge of and adherence to office practices and procedures to ensure tasks are carried out efficiently.
• Provide necessary support on various projects as and when required.
• Ensure relevant information (agendas / partner packs) is distributed in preparation for meetings.
• Assist the Finance department with various admin tasks –
• Prepare, collate and co-ordinate the delivery of annual Partner Tax packs and related documents.
• Support with reporting.
• Support the update of partner Investec loan processes.
• Property Investment administration including cash distribution payment and communication.
• Clean up of finance data as and when required.
• Various other admin tasks as and when required

Travel Arrangements

• Make travel arrangements as and when required, understanding preferences and ensuring cost effectiveness.
• Set up a travel itinerary and prepare relevant documentation.
• Research travel and immigration requirements. Ensure that they are all met, and Visa applications are processed timeously.
• Manage unforeseen travel changes

Finance Administration

• Be proficient on the ERP, with good understanding of the billing processes and procurement process.
• Assist with monthly billing as and when required.
• Processing requisitions on the ERP, various invoices and reimbursements.

Relationship Building

• Develop and maintain relationships with all levels of staff as a trusted resource.
• Maintain strong working relationships with and have open and transparent communication between all members of the team
• Develop and maintain relationships with vendors to ensure quality of service delivery

Meeting Deadline

• Work is completed efficiently and effectively in the stipulated time frame.
• Pro-active time management to ensure all deadlines are met.

Competencies:

• Adaptability
• Attention to Detail
• Interactive Communication
• Initiative,
• Problem solving
• Resilience
• Writing Skills