Legal Associate

About the Role

This hands-on consulting role blends legal analysis with practical implementation, focused on delivering anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing work for clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, draft, and update client AML and CTF policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Lead client KYC and KYB reviews for onboarding and periodic refresh.
• Perform enhanced due diligence for higher-risk clients, individuals, and sanctions exposure.
• Build and maintain client risk assessments including enterprise-wide and customer risk models. Prepare heat maps, scoring logic, and risk registers.
• Review client screening alerts and investigations. Prepare well-evidenced case files and recommend dispositions with clear rationales.
• Support transaction monitoring setup and tuning. Document scenarios, thresholds, and change-control notes for audit trails.
• Prepare suspicious transaction or activity reports for clients. File on goAML or equivalent portals and maintain evidence packs.
• Track legal and regulatory changes across relevant jurisdictions. Issue client impact assessments and implementation plans.
• Prepare Board and senior management reports for clients with meaningful metrics and commentary.
• Support client internal and external audits. Close findings to agreed timelines and provide remediation plans.
• Draft and review AML clauses in client and vendor contracts with attention to data protection and confidentiality.
• Deliver client training for frontline, operations, and senior management.
• Liaise with regulators and law enforcement on client matters under the guidance of the Engagement Lead.
• Contribute to proposals, statements of work, and project plans. Manage day-to-day delivery, timelines, and stakeholder communication.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Demonstrable knowledge of AML and CTF laws and guidance.
• Excellent legal research, drafting, and citation skills.
• Precise legal writing and the ability to translate regulation into workable client controls.
• Sound judgement and a practical, commercial mindset.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort with data in Excel or Google Sheets.
• Working knowledge of screening, transaction monitoring, and case management tools.
• High integrity, discretion, and disciplined record-keeping.
• Communication with client stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to manage multiple engagements and meet deadlines.

Qualifications

• LLB and LLM from a recognised university.
• Experience in financial crime compliance, regulatory law, or consulting.
• Exposure to DNFBPs and financial institutions is an advantage.
• Strong trainees with relevant internships will be considered for an Associate level.