Legal Officer

Role Purpose

The Legal Officer will be responsible for managing and overseeing litigation matters of the life insurance company, ensuring effective legal representation, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and timely resolution of disputes across judicial and quasi-judicial forums.

Key Responsibilities

Litigation Management

• Handle and monitor all litigation matters including consumer disputes, civil suits, criminal complaints, writ petitions, arbitrations, and regulatory proceedings.
• Liaise with external advocates, counsels, and law firms; brief them on facts, review pleadings, and monitor case progress.
• Prepare, vet, and approve legal documents such as replies, affidavits, written statements, appeals, and petitions.
• Represent the company before consumer forums, district/state/national commissions, insurance ombudsman, courts, and tribunals where required.
• Maintain a centralized litigation tracker and MIS, ensuring timely reporting and escalation of high-risk matters.

Legal Advisory & Risk Management

• Provide legal opinions on claims repudiation, fraud cases, policy interpretation, recovery matters, and dispute resolution strategies.
• Advise business, claims, and operations teams on litigation risk and preventive legal measures.
• Identify trends in litigation and recommend corrective actions to reduce future exposure.

Regulatory & Compliance Support

• Ensure adherence to IRDAI regulations, circulars, and applicable laws impacting litigation.
• Coordinate with compliance teams for regulatory audits, inspections, and responses related to legal matters.
• Support internal and external audits by providing litigation-related data and documentation.

Documentation & Records Management

• Ensure proper documentation and archival of case files, court orders, notices, and legal correspondence.
• Track limitation periods and critical dates to avoid adverse legal consequences.

Key Stakeholders

• Internal: Claims, Underwriting, Operations, Compliance, Risk, Finance teams
• External: Advocates, law firms, courts, tribunals, regulatory bodies

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: LL.B. from a recognized university (LL.M. preferred but not mandatory)
• Experience:
  • 4–8 years of post-qualification experience
  • Prior experience in life insurance, BFSI, or financial services litigation preferred

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of insurance laws, contract law, consumer protection laws, civil and criminal procedures
• Practical experience handling consumer complaints and insurance-related litigation
• Excellent drafting, analytical, and negotiation skills
• Ability to manage multiple cases and deadlines effectively
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills