Legal Counsel
AXA XL · Paris, Île-de-France, France
- On site
- Full-time
- €75,000 / year
- Paris, Île-de-France, France
Job highlights
- Provide legal advice to underwriting and operations.
- Review and draft various contractual documents.
- Partner with underwriting teams on legal matters.
- Manage legal projects and deadlines effectively.
- Ensure compliance with French and international law.
About the role
About the Role
The Legal Counsel will support the Legal France Team, particularly the Senior Legal Counsel, in managing daily legal advice requests from local Underwriting and Operations teams, as well as international network colleagues interested in French business opportunities. This role acts as a key Business Partner to various underwriting departments.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary point of contact and Business Partner for assigned underwriting departments.
- Review and validate diverse contractual documents, including (re)insurance contracts, confidentiality agreements, mandates, brokerage protocols, and commercial contracts.
- Propose legal solutions to underwriters and underwriting assistants that comply with applicable law and align with AXA XL's client and partner needs.
- Manage projects and deadlines, especially those related to new product implementation and monitoring.
- Conduct legal watch activities, contribute to legal culture updates, and train company underwriters, underwriting assistants, CDLs, and claims handlers.
- Provide assistance to AXA XL teams on Multinational programs and support international transversal teams as needed.
- Help coordinate activities managed by external counsels.
Reporting Structure
Reporting to the Head of Legal France & Southern Europe.
What You'll Bring
- Master's degree in French private law, with a preference for insurance law.
- Experience within an insurance company, brokerage firm, or law firm.
- Broad knowledge of insurance law, reinsurance, common contract law, and tort law.
- Excellent writing skills, particularly in contractual matters.
- Adaptability to a dynamic work environment with evolving needs and priorities.
- Proactive, independent, and collaborative working style within a multidisciplinary team.
- Curiosity, attention to detail, and strong pedagogical skills.
- High responsiveness and ability to manage workload with minimal supervision.
- Team player with strong relationship-building abilities.
- Excellent analytical and synthesis skills.
- Fluency in English and French (oral and written) is mandatory.
What We Offer
Inclusion: AXA XL is dedicated to equal employment opportunity and fostering an inclusive culture. We support five Business Resource Groups, offer flexible working arrangements, enhanced family-friendly benefits, and are recognized for our commitment to diversity.
Total Rewards: Our comprehensive reward program covers health, wellbeing, lifestyle, and financial security, providing competitive compensation and personalized benefits.
Sustainability: Sustainability is central to our business strategy, focusing on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and integrating ESG across our operations. Our initiatives include valuing nature, addressing climate change, integrating ESG, and supporting community through 'AXA Hearts in Action' programs.
Who We Are
AXA XL, the P&C and specialty risk division of AXA, excels at solving complex risks for mid-sized companies, multinationals, and individuals. We reinvent re/insurance through a strong capital platform, data-driven insights, leading technology, and talented professionals in an agile and inclusive environment.
Key Skills/Competency
- Legal Advice
- Contractual Law
- Insurance Law
- Reinsurance Law
- French Private Law
- Business Partnering
- Risk Management
- Legal Watch
- English Fluency
- French Fluency
Skills & topics
- Legal Counsel
- Insurance Law
- Contract Law
- Reinsurance
- French Law
- Legal Advice
- Business Partner
- Risk Management
- AXA XL
- Legal
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your Master's in French private law and insurance law experience, emphasizing contractual drafting and legal watch skills relevant to AXA XL's business.
- Showcase language proficiency: Clearly state your fluency in both English and French, as this is an imperative requirement for the Legal Counsel role.
- Demonstrate business acumen: Provide examples of how you've acted as a 'Business Partner' and offered practical legal solutions in previous roles within insurance or law firms.
- Prepare for behavioral questions: Be ready to discuss your adaptability, initiative, attention to detail, and ability to work independently and within a team in a fast-paced environment.
- Research AXA XL's values: Understand their commitment to inclusion, sustainability, and their innovative approach to solving complex risks.
Technical preparation
Master's in French private/insurance law.,Study insurance and reinsurance law specifics.,Practice drafting various contractual documents.,Review French legal regulations impacting insurance.
Behavioral questions
Describe handling conflicting priorities.,How do you build relationships with clients?,Share an example of proactive problem-solving.,How do you adapt to changing work environments?
Frequently asked questions
- What specific legal expertise is most critical for the Legal Counsel position at AXA XL in France or Spain?
- The Legal Counsel role at AXA XL requires a strong foundation in French private law, with a significant emphasis on insurance and reinsurance law. Broad knowledge of common contract law and tort law is also essential. Demonstrating excellent writing skills, especially in contractual matters, and the ability to provide business-oriented legal solutions are key.
- Is fluency in both English and French mandatory for the Legal Counsel job at AXA XL?
- Yes, fluency in both English and French, both orally and in writing, is an imperative requirement for this Legal Counsel position at AXA XL. This dual language capability is crucial for effective communication with various internal teams and international colleagues.
- What kind of experience is AXA XL looking for in a Legal Counsel candidate?
- AXA XL seeks candidates with a Master's degree in French private law, ideally specializing in insurance law. Prior experience in an insurance company, brokerage firm, or law firm is highly valued, particularly if it involves handling insurance, reinsurance, and contractual matters.
- How does AXA XL support professional development for its Legal Counsel team?
- While specific professional development programs aren't detailed, AXA XL emphasizes a culture of learning through legal watch, updating legal knowledge, and training underwriters. The opportunity to work on diverse projects and collaborate within multidisciplinary teams suggests ample avenues for skill enhancement and growth within the legal department.
- What is the work environment like for a Legal Counsel at AXA XL?
- The work environment at AXA XL for a Legal Counsel is described as fluid, with rapidly changing needs and priorities. It requires adaptability, initiative, and the ability to work independently while also being a strong team player. You'll be a 'Business Partner' to underwriting departments, necessitating strong analytical, synthesis, and relationship-building skills.
- Does AXA XL offer remote or hybrid work options for the Legal Counsel role?
- The job description mentions La Défense, France, or Madrid, Spain, as locations, suggesting a physical presence is expected. However, AXA XL also states they have 'Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements,' which may imply hybrid options could be discussed, though it's not explicitly defined as remote for this role.
- What are the key differences between supporting the French market and international business for this Legal Counsel role?
- Supporting the French market involves day-to-day advice to local Underwriting and Operations, validating French-specific contracts, and ensuring compliance with French law. Supporting international business means assisting with queries from network colleagues on French opportunities and providing support on issues related to AXA XL's international transversal teams and Multinational programs.