About the Role
The Junior Legal Counsel is the execution engine within Zeraki’s lean Legal, Risk & Compliance (LRC) function. The role exists to operationalise Zeraki’s Legal strategy by ensuring disciplined contract coverage, demonstrable compliance, professionalised governance and product-integrated legal controls. It provides day-to-day legal support across the business – drafting and reviewing agreements, guiding product teams, maintaining regulatory filings and tracking risks – while upholding the documentation discipline and confidentiality required in a high-growth, multi-jurisdictional environment.
Strategic Context
Zeraki is expanding into regulated sectors such as embedded finance, telecommunications and online learning. Each new market introduces its own legal frameworks (data protection, telecom licensing, consumer protection, education law, fintech regulations and employment regimes) and requires structured contracting with schools, vendors and partners. Without dedicated legal capacity, the company risks ad-hoc agreements, inconsistent compliance and reputational harm.
The Junior Legal Counsel will:
1. Translate the company’s growth aspirations into legally compliant, scalable processes for contracting and compliance.
2. Provide proactive product advisory so that privacy, consumer protection and licensing requirements are built into new features rather than retrofitted; and
3. Ensure documents, licenses and consents are accurate and retrievable so that the company can withstand regulatory scrutiny.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities
The Junior Legal Counsel will have end‑to‑end responsibility for:
Contract lifecycle: intake, drafting, negotiation, execution and repository management for service agreements, partner agreements, vendor contracts, data processing agreements and click‑through terms. 100 % coverage is the baseline.
Regulatory compliance: preparing and submitting routine filings (license renewals, ODPC registration, annual returns), maintaining the compliance tracker and managing photo/video releases and consent logs.
Corporate governance: drafting board and shareholder meeting materials, minutes and resolutions; maintaining statutory registers and cap table; and ensuring beneficial ownership records are up to date.
Product and commercial advisory: providing legal input at ideation, build and pre‑launch stages so that new products incorporate required consents, disclosures and age‑appropriate protections.
Dispute management and external counsel coordination: conducting initial fact gathering for disputes, preserving evidence, summarizing exposure and interfacing with external counsel under the Legal Manager’s direction.
Risk identification: monitoring regulatory developments across jurisdictions, logging risks under the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework, recommending mitigations and escalating existential issues.
Team Structure
Manager – Legal (Reporting line): provides oversight, approves final positions and escalations.
Junior Legal Counsel (this role).
Risk & Compliance Officer (dotted): collaborates on compliance tracker and enterprise risk management.
Support from intern or legal assistant (where budget allows).
Key Accountabilities
Contract Lifecycle & Coverage – ~40 %
Conduct structured intake sessions with business leads to understand objectives, risk appetite and confidentiality considerations.
Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements using approved templates and maintain the clause library. Carefully redline counterparty forms and track versions.
Ensure reciprocal protections (liability caps, indemnities, confidentiality, termination) are balanced and document all concessions.
Obtain Legal Manager clearance before execution. Log executed contracts and click‑wrap consents in the central repository.
Monitor expirations and renewals; report monthly coverage metrics.
Compliance & Data Protection – ~25 %
Execute Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) with processors and controllers. Maintain consent logs showing when and how consent was obtained and ensure photo/video release forms are stored.
Administer the compliance tracker of licenses and statutory filings; file returns within statutory deadlines and log proof of payment.
Conduct legal research on licensing requirements in new jurisdictions and summaries obligations for the team.
Assist in drafting brief guides and training materials on privacy‑by‑design, marketing regulations and other relevant laws for internal teams.
Governance & Corporate Secretariat – ~15 %
Prepare notices and agendas at least seven days before meetings; circulate reminders.
Draft accurate minutes capturing decisions, dissent and action items; circulate within five business days and file in statutory records.
Update statutory registers, beneficial ownership filings, cap table and ESOP documentation; support due diligence by assembling data room materials.
Product & Commercial Advisory – ~10 %
At ideation, frame regulatory hypotheses and licensing assumptions for new products or features.
During build, review data flows, consent mechanisms and disclosures; advise on consumer protection and fintech laws.
Prior to launch, confirm that the product aligns with the approved legal framework and that clickwrap terms and disclosures are integrated into the user experience.
Dispute Management & Risk Identification – ~10 %
When disputes or potential breaches arise, gather facts, preserve evidence and stop further exposure.
Draft preliminary summaries of exposure and settlement options for the Legal Manager.
Coordinate document exchange and instructions with external counsel; review their advice for alignment with business objectives.
Maintain a risk log for assigned matters, noting likelihood and impact and recommending mitigations.
Performance Metrics
Contract outcomes
70 % of partners, clients, suppliers and users have signed agreements or recorded acceptance.
No contract is executed without legal clearance; all executed documents are stored in the central repository.
Expirations and renewals are tracked with no unplanned lapses.
Compliance
All statutory filings and license renewals across jurisdictions are submitted on time with proof of payment filed.
DPAs and consent logs exist for every data processor or controller; no data breach notifications are delayed beyond statutory period.
Zero fines or regulatory penalties arising from missed obligations.
Governance
Board packs distributed at least seven days before meetings; minutes circulated within five business days.
Statutory registers, cap table and ESOP documentation are up to date and audit‑ready.
Risk Management
All identified risks in meetings and operations are logged, assigned and tracked in the ERM system.
Material risks are escalated with recommendations for mitigation.
Contract Lifecycle & Coverage
Intake, drafting, negotiation, execution and repository management for service agreements, partner agreements, vendor contracts, data processing agreements and click-through terms.
Ensure 100 % contract coverage and central storage of signed documents.
Monitor expirations and renewals.
Regulatory Compliance & Data Protection
Maintain compliance tracker of licenses, returns and statutory obligations.
Implement privacy-by-design practices, consent logs and breach response documentation.
Prepare and submit routine regulatory filings.
Corporate Governance
Draft board and shareholder meeting materials, minutes and resolutions.
Maintain statutory registers and corporate records.
Ensure beneficial ownership records are up to date.
Product & Commercial Advisory
Provide legal input at ideation, build and pre-launch stages.
Ensure required consents, disclosures and protections are embedded in products.
Dispute & Risk Management
Conduct initial fact gathering and preserve evidence for disputes.
Interface with external counsel under Legal Manager direction.
Monitor regulatory developments and log risks under the ERM framework.
Candidate Profile
Education
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognized university with a First or Second Class Upper Division.
Demonstrated interest in technology, commerce or education (e.g., elective courses, research papers, moot competitions or projects).
Additional courses in data protection, fintech or intellectual property are advantageous but not mandatory.
Experience & Skills
0–2 years’ experience through internships, or entry‑level roles in corporate/commercial practice or an in‑house legal department. Exposure to drafting contracts, legal research and regulatory filings is expected.
Experience in moot court, research projects, leadership roles in university associations or organizing events demonstrates initiative and ability to see projects through end‑to‑end.
Evidence of having taken a legal or regulatory project from start to finish (e.g., registering a company, filing a trademark, compiling a license application or leading a compliance initiative).
Core Capabilities
Legal knowledge & analytical ability: Strong grounding in contract, corporate and regulatory law; ability to interpret statutes and propose pragmatic solutions.
Attention to detail and precision: Excellence in drafting and reviewing documents, with a focus on accuracy and completeness.
Communication & interpersonal skills: Clear written and verbal communication; ability to translate legal jargon into practical guidance. Approachability and solution‑orientation to support cross‑functional teams.
Time management & organization: Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously; proficiency in using trackers and systems to stay organized.
Problem‑solving & initiative: Proactive identification of issues and proposing of solutions rather than merely flagging problems.
Adaptability & learning agility: Eagerness to learn new areas of law and adapt to changing business models and regulations.
Integrity & ethical mindset: High ethical standards, confidentiality and commitment to doing things the right way.
What we offer
● A chance to contribute to a mission-driven company that's making a real difference in education across Africa.
● A collaborative, inclusive, and dynamic work environment where your input is valued.
Our culture
At Zeraki, our strength is rooted in our vibrant culture, driven by a shared commitment for integrity, learning, and excellence. Our environment demands the highest standards and focuses on delivering results. We hire and develop the best, manage through trust, value empathy, and practice having a backbone in all our dealings. We are a team that thrives on freedom, responsibility, and the pursuit of excellence. Joining us means being part of a community dedicated to growth, innovation, and transformation.
About the Company
Zeraki is a pioneering EdTech startup on a mission to redefine education across Africa. Our innovative technology tools are designed to make learning more accessible, effective, and engaging for parents, teachers, and students alike. At the heart of Zeraki is a deep-rooted passion for harnessing the power of education to unlock the potential of the continent's youth and drive transformative change. Zeraki proudly serves over 2.7 million users in 10 countries, establishing itself as one of Africa's leading EdTech companies.