FCAS - Legal Counsel

BAE Systems; Lancaster; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

BAE Systems is seeking a Legal Counsel to support its FCAS programme. The role involves advising on contracts, managing legal matters, and ensuring compliance within a dynamic environment. Ideal candidates will be UK qualified solicitors or barristers with experience in relevant legal disciplines and a keen interest in the defence industry.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible health and wellbeing benefits

Shopping discounts

Potential eligibility for an annual incentive

Qualifications

• Experience in relevant legal disciplines from a leading law firm or in-house.
• Experience of delivering legal advice across a portfolio of matters.
• Interest in the defence industry and its products.

Responsibilities

• Supporting campaigns, bids, and programme delivery in key territories.
• Advising on a wide range of contractual matters.
• Leading on legal-focussed matters including data protection and litigation.

Skills

Contract drafting and negotiation

Legal advice delivery

Data protection

Litigation and disputes management

Governance and compliance

Education

UK qualified solicitor or barrister

Job description

Job Description - FCAS - Legal Counsel (00127164)

Job title:

FCAS - Legal Counsel

Location:

Warton - We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role.

What you’ll be doing:

1. Supporting campaigns, bids, and programme delivery in key territories
2. Advising on a wide range of contractual matters
3. Leading on legal-focussed matters including data protection, litigation, disputes, the management of legal entities, and investigations
4. Maintaining our “licence to trade” through good governance and compliance
5. Managing your portfolio of matters through appropriate prioritisation
6. Working closely with other members of the Legal and Export Control Function and embedding within business teams as a full team member
7. Proactively suggesting ways to improve how the Legal Function and wider business works and what it delivers

Your skills and experiences:

1. UK qualified solicitor or barrister, with appropriate experience in relevant legal disciplines from a leading law firm and/or in-house experience
2. Experience of drafting and negotiating contracts required by the business across a range of issues and in a changing business environment
3. Experience of delivering legal advice across a portfolio of matters and willingness to travel as required
4. Interest in the defence industry, the Company, and its products

Additional Benefits:

In addition to a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems offers employee share plans, flexible discounted health, wellbeing, and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans, shopping discounts, and potential eligibility for an annual incentive.

About the AIR Legal Team:

We are a truly international business dealing with a wide array of customers, suppliers, and industry partners. We operate under many different legal and regulatory regimes and engage in contracts of varying complexity. We need business-focused legal professionals who can quickly analyze data, identify key issues and risks, and provide practical solutions swiftly. These are our Legal Counsel – the core of our Legal Function.

Our team has received recognition, including awards at The Lawyer Awards 2024 (In-House Commerce & Industry Team of the Year), the Legal Business Awards 2024 (Highly Commended In-House Team of the Year), and a shortlist at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyer Europe Awards 2024.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you can make a real difference. We foster an inclusive culture that values diversity, rewards integrity and merit, and empowers you to reach your potential. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and strive for inclusive recruitment processes. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in assessments, please discuss potential reasonable adjustments with your recruiter.

Many roles at BAE Systems are subject to security and export control restrictions based on factors like nationality and residency. All applicants must meet at least the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, with some roles requiring higher security vetting, which may necessitate 5 to 10 years of UK residency.

We may close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received. We encourage early application to avoid missing out.