Cape Town: Legal Collections Specialist posted by O’Brien Recruitment

We are seeking an experienced Legal Collections Specialist with strong expertise in Magistrates Court debt recovery procedures. This role focuses on managing the end-to-end legal collections process, from pre-legal recovery through to litigation support and post-judgment enforcement.

The successful candidate will have a solid understanding of legal recovery processes within the Magistrates Court, including summons preparation, judgments, and execution processes. This role requires a detail-oriented professional who can work closely with attorneys, sheriffs, and internal stakeholders to ensure effective recovery of outstanding debts while maintaining compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

Please forward your CV to .za or apply here directly.

Key Responsibilities Legal Collections Management

• Manage and oversee the legal collections process for delinquent accounts.

• Assess accounts and determine the appropriate legal recovery strategy.

• Ensure cases are prepared and progressed in line with Magistrates Court procedures.

Litigation Support

• Prepare and coordinate documentation required for issuing summons.

• Liaise with attorneys, advocates, and collection agencies on legal matters.

• Monitor progress of legal matters and ensure timely progression through court processes.

Magistrates Court Processes

• Draft and manage documentation related to:

  • Letters of demand

  • Summons issuance

  • Default judgments

  • Section 65 proceedings

  • Warrants of execution

• Coordinate with sheriffs for execution of court orders.

Account Recovery & Negotiations

• Engage with debtors to negotiate repayment arrangements where appropriate.

• Monitor compliance with repayment agreements.

• Ensure recoveries align with legal mandates and company policies.

Case Management & Reporting

• Maintain accurate case files and legal documentation.

• Track legal matters and report on recovery progress.

• Provide regular updates to management on litigation and recovery performance.

Compliance & Risk

• Ensure all legal recovery activities comply with:

  • National Credit Act (where applicable)

  • Magistrates Court Rules

  • POPIA and relevant legal frameworks

• Identify and mitigate potential legal or reputational risks.

Minimum Requirements

Education

• Relevant legal qualification (e.g. LLB, Paralegal Diploma, or Legal Secretarial qualification) advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 35 years experience in legal collections or debt recovery within a legal environment.

• Proven experience working with Magistrates Court collection processes.

• Experience working within a law firm, collections environment, or corporate legal recoveries department.

Technical Knowledge
Strong knowledge of:

• Magistrates Court Rules and procedures

• Legal debt recovery processes

• Litigation lifecycle in collections matters

• Execution and post-judgment recovery processes

Key Competencies

• Strong legal administration and documentation skills

• Attention to detail and procedural accuracy

• Negotiation and conflict management skills

• Ability to manage high-volume legal matters

• Strong organisational and case management abilities

Advantageous

• Experience working with legal collections systems or case management software.

• Exposure to high-volume debt recovery environments.