Interim Senior Legal Counsel

Canterbury Christ Church University; Canterbury; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK university in Canterbury seeks either an Interim Legal Officer or Interim Senior Legal Counsel for a fixed-term role. The successful candidate will support complex legal needs, focusing on commercial contracts, civil litigation, and employment law. Applicants should be qualified solicitors or have equivalent experience and demonstrate a track record of effective stakeholder engagement. This role promotes hybrid working and is ideal for someone looking to make impactful contributions in a collaborative legal environment.

Benefits

Flexible work arrangements

A collaborative work environment

Commitment to inclusivity

Qualifications

• Must hold a current practising certificate valid in England and Wales.
• Demonstrated ability to handle legal casework effectively.
• Experience advising stakeholders to drive timely results.

Responsibilities

• Undertake commercial contract work and legal advisory tasks.
• Support the legal team's areas of service including property and employment law.
• Work within a digital-first environment for secure document handling.

Skills

Commercial contracts

Property law

Civil litigation

Consumer law

Employment law

Data protection law

Stakeholder management

Education

Qualified solicitor, legal executive, or barrister

Tools

Case management systems

Document storage systems

Job description

Overview

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Please note a full application including a covering letter detailing your experience alongside a CV is required for applications to be considered. Applications made without providing a cover letter will not be accepted.

Fixed term contract (12 months)

Background of department/role

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.

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Legal Services, you will undertake commercial contract work or provide legal advice and support on matters within your existing area of legal practice experience. The University invites applications from those with a legal practice background that aligns with one or more of the legal team's current areas of service: commercial contracts; property law, civil litigation; consumer law; employment law; and data protection law.

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 you will have extensive similar experience within a commercial contracts role. You must be able to 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. You will also have a proven track record for advising and working with stakeholders in an organisation to drive forward effective and timely results.

The successful candidate will join a multi-disciplinary team servicing the legal, information governance and corporate governance needs of the University. You will operate in a 'digital-first' environment, utilising the in-house legal team's case management and document storage systems to ensure work is completed securely and transparently in an environment that is collegiate, collaborative and supportive.

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).

How will you work?

We are committed to supporting flexible methods of working wherever possible. This role is intended to involve hybrid working under the University's 'flexible and connected (Professional Services)' model. Campus attendance will vary on a day-to-day basis and across the year but must purposefully align to the needs of our students, staff, and stakeholders. It is expected that there will be a relatively even balance between time spent on and off campus; but in most cases the work location will be determined by the service required or the tasks/activities being undertaken.

How to apply

Start date for applications: 27/01/2026

Closing date for applications: 17/02/2026

Interviews are to be held: 26/02/2026

Please note, Canterbury Christ Church University reserve the right to bring the closing date of this position forward where a high volume of applications is received.

If you require further information regarding the post please feel free to contact Louis Harman, Assistant Director of Legal Services (strictly no agencies, thank you) quoting reference number REQ06022 (Interim Legal Officer) OR REQ06023 (Interim Senior Legal Counsel).

Additional Information

Canterbury Christ Church University truly welcomes fresh perspectives and new voices. We want you to bring the real you to work, so we are committed to building a genuinely inclusive working environment where everyone is welcomed and where everyone can have a true sense of belonging. Our spirit of community will help us to eliminate discrimination and will enable us all to thrive in a culture that is underpinned by fairness and justice. We therefore seek people to join us who will proactively support and shape this aim and contribute in their own unique way. If this is you, then we are waiting to hear from you. #yourCCCU

Our University is deeply committed to shaping sustainable futures as a key part of its mission and values. If you share this passion, we encourage you to join us in making CCCU a more socially and environmentally conscious, sustainable place to study and work

Employment Visa Clarification: According to the UK Government Points Based System, this position may not fulfil the requirements for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route application.

Please ensure you include contact details of two employment referees in your application, one of which must be your current / most recent line manager.

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.

For more information about this role, please view the job description via the links above.