Legal Assistant / Hold-Over Candidate

Location: Nairobi (Kilimani)

Working Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (occasional weekends depending on work demands)

About Us

KDS Advocates is a specialist compliance and corporate law firm with a strong footprint in cross-border practice, particularly in financial services, Fitch law, corporate compliance, and regulatory advisory. We also provide legal support across diverse areas including fintech, investment, environmental law, debt recovery, property, family, and litigation.

We pride ourselves on producing gold-standard legal frameworks and policies for both local and international clients, with a reputation for precision, innovation, and thought leadership.

About the Role

We are seeking a Legal Assistant / Hold-Over Candidate (female candidates encouraged to apply) to join our compliance team. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in policy development, regulatory advisory, and client consultations, supporting our mission to deliver cutting-edge compliance solutions to clients in Kenya and across borders.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in drafting gold-standard legal framework policies and compliance documentation.
• Conduct thorough legal and regulatory research across multiple jurisdictions.
• Support client consultations, particularly with foreign and international clients, requiring excellent spoken and written English.
• Draft articles, legal updates, and client advisories for publication.
• Apply advanced formatting (APA, OSCOLA, Bluebook, and legal drafting standards) in documentation.
• Use AI-powered tools to enhance research, drafting, and client deliverables.
• Schedule and set up virtual client meetings and support cross-border coordination.
• Collaborate with senior associates and partners in compliance, fintech law, Fitch law, and financial services.
• Provide administrative support in litigation preparation and case management when required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree.
• Completed the Kenya School of Law (KSL) coursework and awaiting admission to the Roll of Advocates.
• Strong academic writer with demonstrable experience in research and policy drafting.
• Familiar with compliance frameworks, cross-border transactions, and financial services regulation.
• Proficient in using AI tools for research, writing, and document management.
• Excellent command of fluent English, both spoken and written (foreign client engagement is essential).
• Strong article and report writing skills.
• Experienced in academic and legal formatting styles (APA, OSCOLA, Bluebook).
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to multitask under strict deadlines.
• Conversant with virtual meeting platforms (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, etc.).
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Why Join KDS Advocates

• Be part of a compliance-focused boutique law firm shaping cross-border business and financial services.
• Work closely with a highly skilled legal team on complex regulatory and international compliance matters.
• Gain hands-on experience in policy development, client advisory, and financial compliance law.
• Opportunity to grow within a firm that values research, innovation, and international best practices.