Legal Associate

Job Description

You will deliver anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing work for our clients. This is a hands-on consulting role that blends legal analysis with practical implementation. You will draft client documents, run reviews, advise frontline teams, and support regulatory engagement on our clients’ behalf.

Key responsibilities

Design, draft, and update client AML and CTF policies, procedures, and internal controls

Lead client KYC and KYB reviews for onboarding and periodic refresh. Perform enhanced due diligence for higher risk clients, politically exposed persons, and sanctions exposure

Build and maintain client risk assessments including enterprise-wide and customer risk models. Prepare heat maps, scoring logic, and risk registers

Review client screening alerts and investigations. Prepare well-evidenced case files and recommend dispositions with clear rationales

Support transaction monitoring setup and tuning. Document scenarios, thresholds, and change-control notes for audit trails

Prepare suspicious transaction or activity reports for clients. File on goAML or equivalent portals and maintain evidence packs

Track legal and regulatory changes across relevant jurisdictions. Issue client impact assessments and implementation plans

Prepare Board and senior management reports for clients with meaningful metrics and commentary

Support client internal and external audits. Close findings to agreed timelines and provide remediation plans

Draft and review AML clauses in client and vendor contracts with attention to data protection and confidentiality

Deliver client training for frontline, operations, and senior management

Liaise with regulators and law enforcement on client matters under the guidance of the Engagement Lead

Contribute to proposals, statements of work, and project plans. Manage day-to-day delivery, timelines, and stakeholder communication

Requirements

LLB and LLM from a recognised university

Experience in financial crime compliance, regulatory law, or consulting. Strong trainees with relevant internships will be considered for an Associate level

Demonstrable knowledge of AML and CTF laws and guidance. Exposure to DNFBPs and financial institutions is an advantage

Excellent legal research, drafting, and citation skills

Precise legal writing and the ability to translate regulation into workable client controls

Sound judgement and a practical, commercial mindset

Strong analytical skills and comfort with data in Excel or Google Sheets

Working knowledge of screening, transaction monitoring, and case management tools

High integrity, discretion, and disciplined record keeping

Clear communication with client stakeholders at all levels

Ability to manage multiple engagements and meet deadlines

Requirements

Educational Qualification : Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Law, Compliance, or Finance with specialisation in AML / CFT, Financial Crimes, or Regulatory Compliance. Experience : 3+ years of experience in legal research, regulatory analysis, or AML compliance within financial services, consultancy, or regulatory bodies. Strong understanding of FATF Recommendations, Wolfsberg Principles, Basel Standards, and key AML / CFT frameworks. Familiarity with AML laws and regulations in UAE, Singapore, Australia, UK, India, Saudi Arabia, and other key jurisdictions. Excellent legal writing and research skills with the ability to draft detailed regulatory reports and summaries. Proficiency in analysing financial crime risks, regulatory trends, and enforcement actions. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple research projects simultaneously. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking.