Legal Counsel
Salary: £47,389 to £56,535 per annum
Full time
Permanent
Milton Keynes / Hybrid
About the Role
This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified legal professional (2 years’ PQE upwards) to join Our Clients in-house legal team. The role holder will be responsible to the Director of Legal Services and work with a team of lawyers to provide high-quality legal advice to Our Client and its subsidiaries. The successful applicant will be required to support research, curricular and commercial activities by drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of agreements and also to advise on legal and regulatory compliance issues and contentious matters.
Key Responsibilities
* Drafting, reviewing and negotiating legal agreements (standard form and bespoke) and other documentation relating to the supply of goods and services, consultancy, research funding, academic collaborations nationally and internationally (including validations and distance delivery) and data sharing agreements.
* Undertaking research into a variety of legal, compliance and governance issues, reporting on and facilitating the implementation of related outcomes.
* Providing advice on legally contentious matters and disputes, drafting related documents and managing outsourced litigation.
* Providing advice in relation to compliance with the requirements of the Office for Students, including conditions of registration, quality standards and student protection measures.
* Providing advice in relation to compliance with Competition and Markets Authority requirements and the University’s consumer protection duties.
* Providing advice relating to intellectual property issues (in particular copyright, trademarks and internet domain rights) arising from the activities of the University.
* Advising Our Clients procurement team on legal issues relating to tenders, drafting documents relating to procurements made by Our Client, advising on compliance with procurement law and Our Clients internal procurement regulations.
* Providing advice in relation to legal aspects of Our Clients appeals and complaints procedures.
* Other duties and responsibilities consistent with the grade and scope of the role.
About You
Essential:
* Qualified Solicitor or equivalent with a minimum of 2 years’ post qualification experience in a legal role, preferably in the higher education and/or charity sectors.
* Excellent written and oral skills for contract, report and letter writing and communicating with staff, students, external legal advisers and other professionals.
* Proven ability to maintain a high-quality work output under time pressure, the ability to prioritise workload and be flexible in response to the demands of the role.
* Proven ability to be sensitive to internal client needs and to adapt the provision of legal advice and services accordingly.
* Ability to work in a higher education environment and a commitment to the values of a modern university.
* Proactive, positive and energetic commitment to the work of the legal team and the University.
* Competence in core IT applications, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and a commitment to the use of evolving IT in a working environment.
Desirable:
* Experience relating to governance, compliance, policies and regulations in a university or equivalent complex regulated organisation.
* Knowledge and understanding of legislation relating to public procurement, in particular the Procurement Act 2023.
If this role is of interest and you meet the above criteria, then please apply immediately