Legal Officer

Job Summary

Legal Ocer is expected to be knowledgeable and experienced in all Insurance legal matters namely Motor Third Party Property and Injury cases, Employer’s liability/Common Law, Breach of contract of insurance, Tort, Employment Matters and legal disputes in commercial law.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Handling of Recoveries

• Prompt pursuance and recovery of all amounts due to the Company from third parties through knock-for-knock and litigation in court.
• Prepare demand letters for all matters referred for recovery from the claims department.
• Conduct tracing where necessary.
• Maintain a register for all recovery matters with properly marked status.
• Prepare matters for filing in court before they are time-barred.
• Arrange for witnesses to attend court.
• Attend court on behalf of the company to give evidence.
• Ensure advocates forward all recovered monies to the company promptly.
• Process filing fees and advocates fees in recovery matters.
• Report on all successful recoveries on a monthly basis.
• Conduct recoveries for motor and non-motor, GIT, Marine, and Carrier liability

Handling of Judgements

• Maintain judgement register and appeals registers.
• Review all judgements within 7 days of delivery.
• Initiate negotiations and conclude within the stay period.
• Ensure all judgements are paid or appeals lodged within the stay period.
• Issue notice to insureds for judgements above the policy limit.
• Review all outstanding appeals.
• Negotiate the appeals with guidance from the supervisor.
• Ensure we recover in appeals any money due to the company.
• Raise payments for judgements and advocate final fees.

Hearings – Ensure all files coming up for hearing are reviewed before the hearing date and instructions issued to dealing advocates.

• Maintain a Hearing diary.
• Aggressively initiate out-of-court negotiations in order to reduce claims outlay.
• Opinions – All opinions by our advocates are reviewed and instructions are given to the lawyers.
• Attend to advocate queries on matters pending in court.
• Secure attendance of witnesses in court.
• Refer claimants for re-examination by our doctors.
• Call for any outstanding excess, especially in Employer’s liability matters.
• Ensure the company’s interest is safeguarded at all times for matters pending in court.
• Where instructions are given to settle, ensure consents are duly recorded in court or consents filed with a stay period of 30 days.

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Bachelor of Law degree (LLB)
• Legal Diploma (Dip. in Law, KSL)
• An advocate of the High Court
• Knowledge of insurance products, services, principles and practice
• Claims management and handling process in a legal section
• Excellent Verbal and written communication

EXPERIENCE

• Cumulative 5 Years post admission experience in a legal department in an insurance company

CORE TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES REQUIRED FOR THE ROLE

• High-level interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, including the ability to build alliances and collaborative relationships with sensitivity to diversity.
• Must be a self-starter, highly organized, and able to work well with people at all levels in the organization.
• High levels of integrity.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Analytical and creative thinking skills.
• Good customer relationship management skills (internal and external customers).
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Self-motivated but able to work as part of a team.
• Good organizational and time-management skills.
• Positive attitude, self-motivated, self-driven and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Good negotiation skills and persuasiveness.
• Confidence in presenting to large groups of people.
• Trustworthiness and discretion when handling confidential information.
• A smart appearance and professional manner.
• Proficient knowledge in IT.
• Conflict resolution skills.