Legal Assistant – Insurance Claims & Litigation

About the role

The Legal Assistant supports the Legal and Compliance Department of Old Mutual, an insurance company, by assisting with legal documentation, regulatory compliance, litigation support, risk management and stakeholder coordination. The role helps the company operate within Kenyan laws, insurance regulations and internal policies, working with claims, underwriting and finance, external legal counsel and regulators such as the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA).

Key responsibilities

• Claims management: review and evaluate liability claims (personal injury, property damage, third-party recoveries), advise on settlement, litigation or repudiation, draft legal letters, settlement agreements and notices, and prepare the first draft of legal documents.
• Litigation oversight: follow up court cases, maintain the court diary, liaise with external advocates, visit the registry, assist with pleadings and affidavits, coordinate hearings and file deadlines, and update litigation trackers.
• Risk and compliance: handle claims in line with insurance laws and policy terms, keep records and reports, maintain a compliance calendar and escalate compliance issues to the Legal Counsel and Risk & Compliance Manager.
• Internal support and training: answer queries on legal procedures and policy compliance, conduct training on claims processes and court procedures, book appointments and meetings, and respond to shareholder queries.
• Stakeholder engagement: provide legal documentation on complex claims, help clients prepare as witnesses, liaise with investigators, advocates and brokers, gather documents from clients, and track court dates, pleadings and timelines.
• Anti-money laundering (AML): implement AML, sanctions and KYC policies, carry out customer due diligence and ongoing due diligence, and escalate suspected breaches to the Risk and Compliance Office.

Required profile

• Diploma in Law from a recognised university.
• At least 5-7 years of post-school legal experience, preferably in insurance litigation, claims or corporate law; experience in an insurance company or legal practice handling insurance matters is highly desirable.
• Additional training in insurance law, compliance or risk management.
• Strong understanding of Kenyan Insurance Law, the Insurance Act and IRA Regulations, and of court processes and litigation support.
• Detail-oriented, organised and proactive, able to work under pressure and manage several matters at once.

Required skills

• In-depth knowledge of insurance law, civil procedure and claims handling.
• Legal research and drafting.
• Familiarity with the Advocates Remuneration Order and Civil Procedure Act.
• Database administration and computer literacy.