Senior Legal Associate at Heritage Dwellings Limited

Heritage Dwellings Limited - We are a creative and dynamic real estate development companycommitted to delivering premium properties and advisory services across Lagos and key locations in Nigeria. Our clients range from local homeowners to international investors seeking secure, well-documented, and high-yield properties.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Legal Associate

Location: Lekki, Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time
Department:Legal / Business Development / Compliance
Reports To:Managing Partner / Principal Counsel

Role Summary

• The Senior Legal Associate is responsible for providing high-level legal advisory services, drafting and reviewing legal documentation, litigation support, regulatory compliance, business development, client relationship management, report writing, and strategic legal solutions for the firm and its clients.
• The role also includes supervising junior associates, managing externs and interns, coordinating real estate transactions, handling external legal counsel relationships, closing up legal briefs, preparing management reports, and contributing to firm growth through client acquisition, visibility, and revenue generation.
• The ideal candidate is commercially minded, proactive, highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of combining legal excellence with business growth.

Key Responsibilities
Legal Research & Advisory:

• Conduct legal research and analysis on corporate law, property law, litigation, commercial transactions, and compliance matters.
• Provide accurate legal opinions and practical solutions to clients and management.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting the firm and clients.
• Translate legal risks into practical business advice.

Drafting & Documentation:

• Draft, review, and vet contracts, deeds, tenancy agreements, employment contracts, MOUs, NDAs, policies, and legal correspondence.
• Prepare memoranda, legal notices, board resolutions, and advisory reports.
• Ensure legal documents are enforceable, clear, and compliant.
• Maintain legal templates and documentation systems.

Real Estate & Property Transactions:

• Conduct due diligence, title verification, perfection processes, and land documentation.
• Support acquisition, sale, lease, transfer, and development transactions.
• Liaise with land registries, surveyors, agencies, and stakeholders.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks in property deals.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution:

• Prepare court processes, affidavits, briefs, case summaries, and supporting documents.
• Coordinate litigation, arbitration, mediation, and recovery matters.
• Liaise with courts, regulators, and opposing counsel.
• Maintain litigation calendars, deadlines, and hearing schedules.

External Legal Counsel / Brief Management:

• Manage relationships with external legal counsel, chambers, and partner law firms.
• Prepare, issue, and monitor legal briefs assigned to external counsel.
• Follow up consistently on outsourced matters to ensure progress and closure.
• Obtain status updates, filings, judgments, and next actions on pending matters.
• Ensure external counsel meets timelines, service standards, and reporting obligations.
• Maintain records of briefs, court dates, milestones, and counsel performance.
• Review counsel fees, invoices, and outsourced legal costs.
• Recommend suitable counsel for specialized matters.
• Escalate delayed, urgent, or high-risk matters to management promptly.

Compliance & Corporate Governance:

• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and internal policies.
• Handle CAC filings, statutory returns, governance matters, and company secretarial support.
• Conduct internal compliance reviews and legal audits.
• Develop governance frameworks and controls for clients.

Report Writing & Management Reporting:

• Prepare weekly, monthly, and quarterly legal activity reports for management.
• Draft status reports on litigation, transactions, compliance matters, and external briefs.
• Prepare client progress reports and executive summaries.
• Produce incident, risk, and advisory reports when required.
• Maintain accurate records of departmental KPIs, targets, and deliverables.
• Present written updates during management meetings where required.

Business Development & Revenue Growth:

• Bring in new clients across corporate, SME, property, employment, and private client sectors.
• Develop strategies to secure retainerships, transactions, and advisory mandates.
• Convert consultations and inquiries into paying engagements.
• Build referral relationships with developers, accountants, HR firms, banks, and business owners.
• Prepare proposals, pitches, fee structures, and capability statements.
• Re-engage dormant clients and grow repeat business.
• Support revenue growth targets monthly and quarterly.

Marketing & Brand Visibility:

• Coordinate weekly posts on TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and approved platforms.
• Create monthly legal awareness and business advisory content calendars.
• Support webinars, seminars, live sessions, and public education campaigns.
• Build thought leadership to attract new business opportunities.

Team Leadership & Supervision:

• Supervise junior associates, externs, interns, and support staff.
• Review legal drafts, filings, research, and assignments.
• Allocate tasks and monitor execution.
• Provide mentorship, training, and performance feedback.
• Ensure punctuality, accountability, discipline, and productivity.

Administrative & Client Service Duties:

• Schedule meetings, consultations, and client appointments.
• Maintain client files, confidential records, and internal reporting systems.
• Ensure excellent client communication and service delivery.
• Submit weekly legal operations and activity reports.

Qualifications and Experience

• LL.B and BL qualification is mandatory.
• 5 - 7 years post-call experience is required.
• Strong and proven experience in property law and real estate practice is mandatory.
• Demonstrated experience in property transactions, land documentation, and due diligence is required.
• Proven track record in business development and client acquisition is essential.
• Strong knowledge of Nigerian legal and regulatory frameworks is required.
• Proximity to Lekki, Lagos is mandatory.

Key Competencies:

• Strong expertise in property law and real estate transactions.
• Commercial awareness and revenue generation capability.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving ability. Leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills.
• Strong relationship management and client engagement ability. High attention to detail.
• Skilled Competence in Managing a Law Department
• Good Communication and writting Skill.

Role Expectation:

• This role is suited for a professional who is legally strong with deep technical expertise in property and commercial law, and commercially driven with the ability to generate business, build client relationships, and contribute directly to revenue growth.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary (Salary: N350,000 - N400,000 monthly).
• Commission and performance-based incentives
• Career growth and development opportunities
• HMO
• 13th Month Salary.

Application Closing Date
25th July, 2026.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their updated Curriculum Vitae to: hr@heritagedwellings.ng using the job title as the subject of the mail.