Law Jobs update by Akinchan Aggarwal, Advocate — B.A. (Hons.) Gold Medalist, LL.B. (University Rank 2), LL.M. (Dispute Resolution), UGC-NET, Ph.D. (Pursuing)
Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited has invited online applications for the post of Legal Manager in its Two-Wheeler Finance business, based at Vijayawada.
Read the job description before you read the job title.
The post is advertised for two-wheeler finance. But of the four listed responsibilities, two are about immovable property — conducting due diligence on properties the company intends to take on mortgage, and giving opinions on Title Search Reports.
A two-wheeler is hypothecated, not mortgaged. So this is not a pure vehicle-finance role. Whoever takes it will be doing secured lending and property title work alongside the two-wheeler portfolio. If your strength is title verification and security documentation, this advertisement is aimed at you even though the heading does not say so.
Key Details at a Glance
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited |
| Name of the Post | Legal Manager — Two-Wheeler Finance |
| Location | Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh |
| Qualification | Law degree obtained as a regular full-time student from a recognised university |
| Preferred | Post Graduate Degree in Law (LL.M.) |
| Experience | Finance industry, preferably banking and finance, with a proven track record |
| Mode of Application | Online, through the Kotak careers portal |
| Last Date | Not specified — rolling application, apply early |
Eligibility
- A graduate degree in Law obtained as a regular full-time student from a recognised university.
- Candidates holding a Post Graduate Degree in Law will be given preference.
- Experience in the finance industry, preferably the banking and finance sector, with a demonstrable track record.
- A proven record of adding value through comprehensive contract documentation that mitigates risk.
The words "regular full time student" are doing real work. They are there to exclude law degrees taken through distance or correspondence mode. If your LL.B. was obtained otherwise than through regular attendance, expect this to be checked at the document-verification stage rather than overlooked. Applicants should be able to produce attendance and enrolment records if asked.
Roles and Responsibilities
The advertisement lists four:
- Reviewing finance facility agreements and related documentation.
- Conducting due diligence of properties which the company intends to take on mortgage.
- Providing legal advice or opinions on matters and issues referred to the legal function.
- Giving opinions on Title Search Reports of immovable properties.
What that means in practice
Two of these four are the daily reality of a lending-side legal officer, and they are worth spelling out because candidates from a litigation background often underestimate them.
Title due diligence and Title Search Report opinions. This is the core skill. It means tracing the chain of title over the statutory period, reading the sale deeds, gift deeds, partition deeds, wills and succession documents in the chain, checking encumbrance certificates from the Sub-Registrar, identifying gaps, and then writing an opinion that tells the credit team whether the security is good and, if it is not, exactly what has to be cured before disbursement. A bank relies on that opinion when it parts with money. It is unforgiving work: an overlooked minor's interest, an unreleased earlier mortgage or a defective attestation surfaces years later at the enforcement stage.
Facility agreement review. Loan agreements, hypothecation deeds, deeds of guarantee, mortgage documentation and the security creation formalities that follow — registration where required, and filing of charges under Section 77 of the Companies Act, 2013 where the borrower is a company. The advertisement's reference to documents that "mitigate risk" points at exactly this: drafting so that the bank's position holds up when the borrower defaults, not merely when everyone is cooperating.
Anyone in this role will also live close to the recovery function — the SARFAESI Act, 2002, proceedings before the Debts Recovery Tribunal, and cheque dishonour complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. The advertisement does not list these, but they are the natural downstream consequence of secured retail lending and it is sensible to be prepared to discuss them at interview.
How to Apply
- Applications are to be submitted online through the Kotak Mahindra Bank careers portal.
- Apply here: Kotak Mahindra Bank careers portal — Legal Manager (Req. 233320)
- Full job listing: Job requisition 233320 — official listing
- Official website: kotak.com
No closing date has been announced. Private-sector listings of this kind are usually filled on a rolling basis and taken down once a suitable candidate is found, so there is no advantage in waiting.
Who Should Apply
In-house counsel in banks and NBFCs. This is a lateral move within a familiar function. If you have handled retail asset documentation — vehicle loans, loans against property, business loans — the work will be recognisable from day one.
Advocates with a property and title practice in Andhra Pradesh. This is the group most likely to overlook the advertisement, and it should not. If you have been issuing title opinions for banks as an empanelled advocate, you already do the central task of this job, and doing it in-house converts irregular panel fees into a salaried position. Local knowledge of Andhra Pradesh revenue records, registration practice and the local Sub-Registrar offices is a genuine advantage here, not an incidental one.
Litigators looking to move in-house. Possible, but be realistic. The advertisement asks for finance-industry experience and a track record in transactional documentation. A pure litigation profile will need to show concrete drafting and title-verification work to compete. If you have appeared in SARFAESI or DRT matters, foreground that.
Two practical points. The bank has not disclosed the CTC, which is normal for private-sector listings but means compensation is a matter for negotiation once you reach that stage. And the role is location-specific to Vijayawada — this is not a remote or Mumbai-headquarters position, and candidates should be willing to be based in coastal Andhra.
For a comparable corporate in-house opening, see our post on the Tata Communications Senior Manager (Corporate Legal) vacancy at Mumbai. For more private-sector and PSU legal openings as they are notified, see our Law Jobs section.
Disclaimer: This post is published for information purposes only. The particulars set out above — including the location, qualification, experience requirement and responsibilities — are as reported from the recruitment listing issued by Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited. The explanatory passages on title due diligence, security documentation and recovery law reflect the author's own commentary on the nature of such roles and are not part of the employer's advertisement. Candidates are advised to read the official listing in full on the bank's careers portal and to satisfy themselves as to eligibility, remuneration, reporting structure and closing date before applying. Lawizard is not connected with the recruiting organisation and does not charge any fee in relation to any recruitment. Please read our Disclaimer for more details.
