Interim Legal Officer

Canterbury Christ Church University; Canterbury; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent UK university is seeking a qualified Interim Legal Officer or Interim Senior Legal Counsel to join its Governance and Legal Services Team. The role involves handling commercial contracts and providing legal advice across various areas of law, ensuring effective results and stakeholder engagement. This full-time position offers hybrid working and the opportunity to contribute to a collaborative environment focused on addressing the university's legal needs.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with a current practising certificate or extensive experience in commercial contracts.
• High knowledge and competency in handling casework within legal practice.
• Proven track record of effective stakeholder advice and engagement.

Responsibilities

• Undertake commercial contract work or provide legal advice in your practice area.
• Serve in current service areas: commercial contracts, property law, litigation, employment law.
• Utilise case management and document systems securely in a collaborative environment.

Skills

Qualified solicitor

Legal executive

Barrister

Stakeholder engagement

Commercial contract work

Education

Qualified to practise in England and Wales

Job description

Overview

We are looking to appoint either an Interim Legal Officer OR Interim Senior Legal Counsel to join the University's Governance and Legal Services Team to support with addressing its complex and varied legal needs. We are currently advertising for both roles but will only be recruiting up to one FTE. Please state clearly in your covering letter the role that you wish to be considered for.

Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Assistant Director of Legal Services, undertake commercial contract work or provide legal advice and support on matters within your existing area of legal practice experience.
• Serve the University in one or more of the team’s current service areas: commercial contracts; property law; civil litigation; consumer law; employment law; and data protection law.
• Operate in a multi-disciplinary team servicing the legal, information governance and corporate governance needs of the University.
• Utilise the in-house legal team’s case management and document storage systems in a digital-first environment to ensure work is completed securely and transparently in a collegiate, collaborative and supportive environment.

Qualifications and Experience

• You will be a qualified solicitor, legal executive or barrister, regulated and eligible to practise in England and Wales with a current practising certificate, or alternatively have extensive similar experience within a commercial contracts role.
• Demonstrate a high degree of knowledge, expertise and professional competency in handling casework or contributing to transactions or projects relevant to your practice area from beginning to end with limited need for supervision.
• Have a proven track record for advising and working with stakeholders in an organisation to drive forward effective and timely results.

Contract Type and Working Arrangements

• This role is a fixed term, full time position, but we welcome applicants who wish to be considered for a fixed term part time position (minimum 0.6 FTE).
• Hybrid working is available under the University's "flexible and connected (Professional Services)" model.
• Campus attendance will vary day-to-day and across the year to align with the needs of students, staff and stakeholders.

Additional Information

• We are committed to Disability Confident employment and invite applicants who declare a disability and meet the minimum criteria to apply; more details are available through the Disability Confident framework.
• Canterbury Christ Church University seeks to welcome fresh perspectives and perspectives that contribute to an inclusive working environment and a culture of fairness and justice. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
• Employment Visa Clarification: This position may not fulfil the requirements for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route application, according to the UK Government Points Based System.
• Please note applications must be made online via the University website; details sent directly via email cannot be considered.
• Prior consideration will be given to applicants in the University's redeployment pool.