About the Opportunity
ADSS is seeking a sharp, driven and commercially-minded Junior Lawyer or Paralegal to join its in-house Legal team in Abu Dhabi. This is a rare opportunity for a high-potential individual who is eager to build a serious legal career at the heart of one of the region's most dynamic financial institutions.
You will work directly alongside senior members of the Legal team, gaining broad exposure to complex commercial transactions, regulatory matters, corporate governance and technology-related legal issues. We are looking for someone who brings more than technical competence — we want ambition, initiative and a genuine desire to help drive excellence across everything the legal function touches.
What You Will Do
Your responsibilities will span a wide range of legal and operational matters, including:
- Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial contracts and flow documentation, including master agreements, NDAs, service agreements, vendor contracts and financial instruments.
- Support senior lawyers in complex negotiations, preparing summaries, redlines and risk assessments.
- Conduct thorough legal research on UAE and international laws, regulations and market developments, translating findings into clear, actionable advice.
- Monitor and assess the impact of new or amended legislation and regulatory guidance on ADSS's business activities.
- Assist with all aspects of corporate governance, including board matters, subsidiary management, regulatory filings and maintenance of corporate records.
- Review and advise on technology-related agreements, including SaaS, data processing, platform licensing and fintech partnerships.
- Liaise with internal business units (trading, technology, operations, compliance, finance) to provide timely and pragmatic legal support.
- Help identify and implement process improvements within the legal function, including the development of standard templates and playbooks.
- Manage and track legal matters and deadlines across an active portfolio of projects.
Who We Are Looking For
The ideal candidate will be:
- A qualified lawyer or paralegal with 1–4 years of experience, ideally in a financial services, commercial or technology-focused legal environment (private practice or in-house).
- Educated in law at an accredited university; an LLB, LLM or equivalent qualification is required.
- Fluent in English (written and spoken); Arabic language skills are highly desirable and will be a significant advantage, though not a strict requirement.
- Experienced in handling high-volume flow documentation and standard commercial contracts, with an eye for speed and accuracy.
- Knowledgeable in UAE commercial, corporate and financial law; familiarity with FSRA/ADGM or DFSA frameworks is a strong advantage.
- Technically literate and comfortable reviewing technology, fintech and data agreements.
- A proactive self-starter with genuine intellectual curiosity and an entrepreneurial mindset — someone who spots issues before they arise and brings solutions, not just problems.
- Highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality output under time pressure.
- A collaborative team player who communicates clearly and builds trust with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
What We Offer
- A front-row seat in the legal function of a leading regional financial institution.
- Direct mentorship from experienced senior lawyers with deep market and regulatory expertise.
- Exposure to sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional legal matters across trading, technology and corporate domains.
- A culture that rewards initiative, fresh thinking and intellectual rigour.
- Competitive compensation and benefits package, including support for continued legal education and professional development.
About ADSS
ADSS (Abu Dhabi Securities) is a leading financial institution headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE, offering a broad range of financial products and services including trading, investment solutions and institutional services. With a strong presence across global markets, ADSS is committed to building world-class capabilities across all its functions — and the Legal team plays a central role in supporting that ambition.
