Junior Legal Counsel

The Nottingham; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A mutual financial institution in Nottingham is seeking a Junior Legal Counsel to join their Legal team. The role involves drafting and negotiating contracts, providing guidance on regulatory areas, and supporting risk management. The ideal candidate will have a law degree and some experience in commercial legal roles. This position offers a competitive salary, various benefits, and a focus on training and personal development.

Benefits

Annual discretionary bonus

Medicash healthcare scheme

29 days of annual leave

Enhanced family leave

Paid volunteering days

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a commercial legal role, ideally within financial services.
• Solid grasp of key legal clauses and principles.
• Experience with legal tech tools.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements.
• Provide legal guidance across regulatory areas.
• Support with governance and documentation.

Skills

Contract drafting and negotiation

Knowledge of regulatory areas

Detail-oriented communication

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Law or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft 365

Legal research tools

Job description

About The Role

We’re looking for a passionate and proactive individual to join our Legal team in a role that offers real variety and the chance to make a difference across the organisation.

In this role, you’ll be involved in a wide range of legal matters, with support where needed. You’ll work on commercial contracts, provide general legal guidance across key regulatory areas including PRA, GDPR, consumer rights, mortgages, savings and payments, and help implement regulatory changes. You’ll also play a key part in managing legal risk across our operations.

Beyond legal advisory work, you’ll support the smooth running of the Legal function by helping manage legal fees and contributing to broader budget oversight.

This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your legal career in a collaborative and inclusive environment where your ideas and contributions are valued.

Here’s a taste of what you will be doing as a Junior Legal Counsel (Commercial and Mortgage Operations) at Nottingham Building Society:

• Contract Management: Help draft, review and negotiate a range of commercial agreements, including supplier contracts, NDAs and software licences, with support available when needed.
• Transactional Support: Get involved in key projects and contracts such as outsourcing, resilience planning, securitisations and building strategic partnerships.
• Horizon Scanning: Support the team in keeping an eye on changes in laws and regulations, helping us stay informed and ready to adapt.
• Business Partnering: Work closely with teams across the business, including procurement, IT, marketing, savings and mortgages, to provide clear and timely legal advice.
• Governance and Documentation: Help maintain legal records, manage templates and make sure our internal policies and procedures are kept up to date.
• Risk Management: Play a role in identifying and reducing legal and commercial risks, and support with reporting and managing risk events.
• Training and Education: Occasionally provide training and guidance to colleagues on contract processes and legal best practice, helping build confidence and understanding across teams.

About you

• Knowledge and Skills: Confident in drafting and reviewing commercial contracts, with a solid grasp of key legal clauses and the ability to apply legal principles to business situations. Comfortable using legal research tools and staying up to date with changes in the law.
• Experience: Previous experience in a commercial legal role, ideally within financial services. Familiar with legal tech tools and confident using Microsoft 365.
• Behaviours to Succeed: Organised, detail-focused and a clear communicator. Able to manage multiple priorities independently and work flexibly to meet deadlines.
• Contract Management: Skilled in handling NDAs, service agreements and supplier or customer contracts, ensuring clarity and compliance.
• Risk Awareness and Legal Insight: Able to monitor legal developments and advise on their impact, helping the business stay informed and prepared.
• Qualifications, Certificates and Training: Holds a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with a legal qualification such as CILEX or LPC preferred.

Reward & Benefits

• Rewarding You Fairly: Enjoy a competitive salary benchmarked against market data, plus an annual discretionary bonus. You’ll also have access to our Medicash healthcare scheme, 29 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, and enhanced family leave to support life’s important moments.
• Investing in Your Growth: We’re committed to your personal and professional development. Whether you’re building confidence in your current role or planning your next career move, we’ll support you every step of the way.
• Supporting Work-Life Balance: Our standard full-time working week is 35 hours, giving you the flexibility to thrive both at work and at home.
• Inclusive and Supportive Culture: Be part of a friendly and welcoming team where people genuinely care about doing the right thing for each other and for our customers.
• Making a Positive Impact: We’re serious about sustainability and always looking for new ways to reduce our environmental footprint. You’ll also have the chance to give back through two paid volunteering days each year, supporting causes that matter to you.
• Prioritising Your Wellbeing: Your health matters. We offer a range of wellbeing resources, including access to trained mental health first aiders, so you feel supported every day.

Embracing Diversity Together

We proudly embrace and celebrate diversity as a fundamental cornerstone of our values. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace is not just essential for our success but is also a reflection of the vibrant communities we serve. Our commitment to diversity extends beyond our internal culture to the way we approach advertising and engage with our customers.

Our commitment means actively working to eliminate barriers and biases that may hinder equal opportunities within our organisation. We strive to ensure that all individuals, regardless of background, have an equal chance to thrive and advance in their careers.

We acknowledge that diversity is not just a goal to be achieved but a continuous journey toward creating an environment that embraces differences and promotes equal opportunities for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that encourages collaboration, creativity, and a sense of belonging for every member of our community.

About Us

We are a mutual, which means we don’t have shareholders. Instead, we’re owned by our members and use our money to do good, investing in our community, responsible causes, and – well, you. So, we’re always striving to do the right thing for our team, communities and members.

Although our history spans over 170 years, our purpose of helping our members save, plan for and protect their financial futures is enduring. At The Nottingham Building Society, we are dedicated to overcoming obstacles and turning challenges into opportunities. At the heart of our mission is our unwavering commitment to breaking down barriers and building better futures by helping our customers achieve the significant milestone of owning their own home.