Commercial Lawyer (1-3 PQE) - Project based

We’re looking for a junior legal professional with a strong foundation in commercial law and a genuine interest in legal technology. This role offers a unique opportunity to grow your legal career while working at the intersection of law and innovation.

You’ll support contract management processes, contribute to legal tech initiatives, and gain hands-on experience with AI-powered tools and contract lifecycle management systems.

If you're excited about using technology to improve legal workflows and have a passion for commercial contracts, we’d love to hear from you.

Company Profile

Cognia seamlessly extends corporates, banks and law firms’ legal capability to deliver sustainable outcomes. Our goal is to connect the legal sector, moving it from a siloed approach to integrated partnerships. We help in-house legal teams by bringing simplicity to complex matters and replacing broken procedures with efficient processes.

Cognia is a Chambers-ranked law company which integrates how legal services are provided so our team, partners, clients and communities thrive together with people at the heart of what we do. We encourage our people to bring their whole self to work and focus on enabling them to realise their full potential.

For more information, please visit www.cognialaw.com

Job Responsibilities

Key responsibilities could include, but is not limited to,

• Reviewing, drafting, and/or negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements such as NDAs, MSAs, SOWs, procurement and vendor contracts, service agreements, licensing arrangements etc
• Conducting contract analysis to ensure compliance with legal requirements, internal policies, industry best practices and data privacy regulations such as GDPR.
• Identifying legal and commercial risks, advising on mitigation strategies, and ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Supporting contract lifecycle management (CLM) processes, including template optimisation, workflow improvements, and document consistency.
• Leveraging AI and legal tech tools to enhance the speed and accuracy of contract review and analysis.
• Collaborating closely with in-house legal teams, procurement, and other stakeholders to ensure contracts meet operational and strategic needs.
• Assisting with large-scale contract remediation, repapering, or regulatory compliance projects as required.
• Providing clear and concise contract abstraction and summarisation, highlighting key obligations, risks, and opportunities.

Requirements

• BA Law, LLB, LLM, or BCom Law degree from a South African tertiary institution
• 1-3 years of experience in commercial law.
• Strong interest in legal technology and innovation
• Understanding of contract lifecycle management (CLM) processes and best practices.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and ability to work in high-volume, fast-paced environments.
• Strong communication skills to liaise with team leads, project managers, and occasionally, clients.