Junior Legal Counsel

JR United Kingdom; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a proactive junior legal counsel to support its Projects business units. This role offers hands-on experience in a dynamic environment, focusing on contract negotiation, compliance, and legal training. The ideal candidate will possess a commercial mindset and strong communication skills, thriving in a fast-paced legal setting. Join a team that values integrity and diversity, while ensuring critical infrastructure operates efficiently and safely. This is an excellent opportunity for those eager to make a significant impact in the legal field.

Qualifications

• Experience in projects and construction law, including familiarity with standard form contracts.
• Ability to provide concise legal advice and manage external legal service providers.

Responsibilities

• Review and negotiate construction contracts while developing risk management strategies.
• Support legal training and collaborate with the legal team on strategy development.

Skills

Contract Negotiation

Communication Skills

Influencing Skills

Multitasking

Client Service

Education

Qualified Solicitor

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Job description

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Mitie is the UK's leading facilities management and professional services company. We manage and maintain some of the nation's most recognised landmarks and work with a wide range of private and public sector clients. Our expertise, care, technology, insight, and focus on sustainability create excellent work environments, helping our customers excel every day.

The Mitie Projects Division delivers transformational projects for Mitie's FM clients and others, including data centre construction, fit outs, design and build projects, mechanical and electrical critical infrastructure projects, design commissions, fabric services, fire protection, M&E, solar PV, and high voltage electrical works. For more details, see Engineering Project Management | Turnkey Solutions | Mitie.

The role:

We are seeking a proactive junior legal counsel eager to gain hands-on experience in a dynamic environment supporting the Projects business units with their daily legal needs. The ideal candidate will have a commercial mindset, enthusiasm, flexibility, a questioning attitude, and some contract negotiation experience.

Why Join Us?

• Exceptional Environments: Ensure critical national infrastructure operates efficiently and safely, enabling our customers to provide outstanding services.
• Dynamic Work Culture: Join a team that values integrity, trust, diversity, and going the extra mile.

Key Responsibilities:

• Review new business opportunities, advise on and negotiate construction contracts, and develop risk management strategies with business units.
• Ensure compliance with Mitie's governance and approval processes.
• Support the development and delivery of legal training within the division.
• Collaborate with the legal team to support strategy and policy development.
• Build strong relationships to provide timely, commercial legal support.
• Address legal and commercial issues promptly, including contract terminations, payment issues, and dispute matters, working closely with finance, commercial, and operations teams.
• Develop and maintain a precedent bank for standard documents.
• Manage external legal advisers, ensuring advice is clear, constructive, and commercially sound.
• Support other members of the Projects Legal team as needed.

What we are looking for:

• Qualified Solicitor
• Experience in projects and construction law, including familiarity with standard form contracts like JCT, NEC, or FIDIC, or experience drafting, negotiating, and advising on complex commercial contracts.
• Commitment to client service with a pragmatic approach and the ability to provide concise legal advice.
• Strong influencing and communication skills.
• Ability to multitask, work under pressure, and use initiative.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and SharePoint.
• Experience in a fast-paced in-house legal environment.
• Experience managing external legal service providers.
• Dispute resolution experience, although this role is primarily non-contentious.