Admitted Attorney – In-House Legal Opportunities
Location: Johannesburg Metropolitan Area (Hybrid & On-site Opportunities Available)
Employment Type: Full-Time | Permanent
Industry: Financial Services | Technology | Commercial | Professional Services
WatersEdge Solutions is partnering with a number of leading South African and international organisations to recruit ambitious Admitted Attorneys with approximately 2+ years' post-admission experience who are looking to transition from private practice into an exciting commercial in-house legal career.
These opportunities are ideal for attorneys who want to move beyond billable hours and become trusted business partners, working alongside executive leadership to provide commercially focused legal advice, influence strategic decision-making, and support business growth across a variety of industries.
About the Role
As an In-House Legal Counsel, you will provide practical, commercially focused legal support across a broad range of business functions. You'll work closely with senior stakeholders to manage legal risk while enabling commercial success through sound legal guidance and strategic thinking.
Depending on the opportunity, you may gain exposure to:
- Commercial Legal Counsel
- In-House Legal Counsel
- Legal Project Management
- Client Success & Commercial Relationship Management
- Commercial Contracts & Contract Negotiation
- Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management
- Corporate Governance & Legal Operations
- International Trade & Customs Compliance
- Supply Chain & Logistics Compliance
- Technology, SaaS & Global Mobility
- Cross-Border Business Operations
- Commercial Strategy & Business Development
- Branch Leadership & International Business Expansion
Key Responsibilities
- Provide practical, commercially focused legal advice to business stakeholders
- Draft, review, negotiate, and manage commercial agreements
- Identify and manage legal and commercial risks across the business
- Advise on regulatory compliance, governance, and corporate policies
- Support procurement, supplier, customer, and partnership negotiations
- Partner with executive leadership on strategic legal matters
- Assist with dispute resolution and litigation management where required
- Interpret legislation and provide practical business guidance
- Develop and maintain legal policies, governance frameworks, and internal processes
- Manage contract lifecycle processes and legal documentation
- Work collaboratively with Finance, HR, Sales, Operations, Compliance, and Executive teams
- Support international legal matters and cross-border business initiatives where applicable
What You'll Bring
- LLB Degree
- Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa
- Approximately 2+ years' post-admission experience
- Strong drafting, negotiation, and contract management skills
- Commercial mindset with strong business acumen
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical business advice
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving ability
- High attention to detail and organisational skills
- Ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives
- Self-motivated, proactive, and solutions-oriented approach
Experience We Value
We welcome applications from attorneys with experience in areas including:
- Commercial Law
- Corporate & Mergers & Acquisitions
- Banking & Finance
- Competition Law
- Labour & Employment
- Regulatory Compliance
- Data Privacy (POPIA/GDPR)
- Mining & Energy
- Insurance
- Tax
- Procurement & Supply Chain
- Commercial Litigation
Nice to Have
- Experience advising corporate or commercial clients
- Exposure to multinational or cross-border transactions
- Company Secretarial experience
- Compliance or Risk Management exposure
- Experience working with executive leadership teams
- Exposure to international commercial contracts
- Interest in commercial strategy and business operations
- Experience within highly regulated industries
What's On Offer
- Competitive market-related salary
- Opportunity to transition into a long-term in-house legal career
- Exposure to executive leadership and strategic business decision-making
- Diverse legal work across multiple industries and business functions
- Clear career progression and leadership opportunities
- Mentorship from experienced legal and commercial leaders
- Opportunity to influence business strategy beyond legal advisory work
- Collaborative, high-performance working environments
Company Culture
Our clients are forward-thinking organisations that view their legal teams as strategic business partners. They foster collaborative, commercially focused environments where legal professionals work alongside executive leadership to drive growth, manage risk, and support innovation. These businesses value ownership, curiosity, continuous learning, and proactive problem-solving, offering meaningful work and long-term career development opportunities.
Please Note: If you have not been contacted within 10 working days, consider your application unsuccessful.
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