Legal Officer

Job Title: Legal Officer Department: Collections Location: Tanzania Job Purpose Manage the Company’s legal recovery process by coordinating litigation activities for defaulted loan accounts ensuring timely court filings, summons management, legal follow-ups, and debt recovery while safeguarding the Company’s legal interests. Key Responsibilities Litigation Management: Review files, prepare and file civil recovery cases, and maintain an updated litigation register. Court Process Management: Prepare/process summons, liaise with courts on hearing dates, track cases, and attend proceedings as required. Summons Management: Ensure summons are served via approved channels and maintain proof of service. Case Follow-up: Maintain a hearing calendar, follow up adjourned cases, obtain judgments, and coordinate execution. Debt Recovery: Work with Branch Managers, Collections Manager, and Regional Managers to maximize recovery; encourage and document out-of-court settlements. Documentation: Maintain complete legal files (agreements, demand letters, summons, court orders, judgments, settlements). Reporting: Prepare weekly/monthly reports on cases filed, pending, judgments, recoveries, and issues needing management attention. Compliance: Ensure litigation activities comply with Tanzanian law and protect confidential customer information. Key Performance Indicators Cases filed on time; summons served within required timelines. Recovery amount through litigation; number of cases concluded. Average turnaround from default to court filing; court attendance rate. Accuracy of legal documentation; on-time weekly status reports. Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL.B); Advocate’s Practising Certificate an added advantage. Knowledge of civil litigation, debt recovery, and Tanzanian court processes. Strong report writing, communication, and MS Office skills; fluent in English and Swahili. At least 2 years’ experience in legal practice, debt recovery, or litigation; financial/microfinance sector experience is a plus. Core Competencies Integrity, professionalism, and attention to detail. Excellent negotiation, interpersonal, and communication skills. Strong organizational and time management skills; able to manage multiple cases under pressure.