Legal Counsel

LV=; Bournemouth; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday + 5 advanced

Pension scheme with 14% match

Annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Flexible benefits

Life discount on LV= products

Group life cover 4x salary

Group Income Protection

Employee Assistance Programme

Virtual GP service

Shared parental leave

Job summary

LV=, a leading UK life and pensions mutual insurer, is seeking a dynamic Legal Counsel to provide trusted advice across the business. The role involves drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, managing legal risk, and guiding external advisers.

This hybrid role requires regular presence at the Bournemouth office. You will partner with stakeholders to align legal strategy with business objectives, monitor regulatory developments and contribute to the development of the legal function.

Qualifications

• Qualified legal professional with a strong technical background.
• Experience advising on, drafting and negotiating a broad range of contracts.
• Excellent analytical, communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly.
• Commercially minded, with a strong understanding of how legal advice supports business objectives.
• Experience managing external legal counsel and associated budgets.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• A proactive, continuous improvement mindset.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear, practical and timely legal advice across a broad range of business matters.
• Draft, review and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements.
• Support the management of legal risk in line with LV= policies and standards.
• Instruct and manage external legal advisers when required, including oversight of costs and delivery.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the business to ensure legal considerations are understood and addressed.
• Monitor legal, regulatory and market developments and communicate relevant changes to the business.
• Maintain accurate records and adher to departmental processes and governance requirements.
• Promote good risk management practices and continuous improvement across legal and business processes.
• Support legal projects and act as a subject matter expert when required.
• Contribute to team development, training and knowledge sharing, including mentoring colleagues where appropriate.

Skills

Contract drafting

Contract negotiation

Legal risk assessment

Stakeholder management

External counsel management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Solicitor qualification

Job description

About The Role

We have a new opportunity for a dynamic Legal Counsel to play a key role in providing trusted legal advice across the business. You'll help manage legal risk, support strategic objectives, and contribute to the ongoing development of the Legal team.

As a leading UK life and pensions mutual insurer with a proud history dating back to 1843, we exist to help people live financially confident lives - protecting their income while they work and maximising it when they stop. Today, over one million members and customers trust us to look after their futures, families and finances.

Joining us means becoming part of a team that puts our members, customers and advisers at the heart of everything we do. We're committed to creating an inclusive culture where colleagues can thrive. We are proud to have built a workplace where our colleagues feel welcomed, respected, supported and valued - reflected in our recognition as one of the Financial Times UK's Best Employers in 2025 and 2026. We celebrate individuality and believe our differences make us stronger, so bring your true self and help shape the future of LV=.

The role follows a hybrid working pattern, with regular attendance required at our Bournemouth office.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide clear, practical and timely legal advice across a broad range of business matters.
• Draft, review and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements.
• Support the management of legal risk in line with LV= policies and standards.
• Instruct and manage external legal advisers when required, including oversight of costs and delivery.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the business to ensure legal considerations are understood and addressed.
• Monitor legal, regulatory and market developments and communicate relevant changes to the business.
• Maintain accurate records and adher to departmental processes and governance requirements.
• Promote good risk management practices and continuous improvement across legal and business processes.
• Support legal projects and act as a subject matter expert when required.
• Contribute to team development, training and knowledge sharing, including mentoring colleagues where appropriate.

About You

• Qualified legal professional with a strong technical background
• Experience advising on, drafting and negotiating a broad range of contracts
• Excellent analytical, communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly
• Commercially minded, with a strong understanding of how legal advice supports business objectives
• Experience managing external legal counsel and associated budgets
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
• A proactive, continuous improvement mindset
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels

Rewards & Benefits

At LV= Savings and Retirement, you'll go above and beyond to do the right thing for our customers. We'll reward your hard work with an attractive, competitive salary and benefits package, which includes:

• 30 days' holiday, with the option to buy up to 5 additional days
• Competitive pension scheme - LV= Life and Pensions will double-match the amount you pay, up to 14% (subject to National Minimum Wage requirements)
• An annual bonus scheme based on personal performance
• Single-cover private medical insurance (with the option for you to upgrade to family cover)
• Flexible benefits, including a cycle to work scheme, personal accident insurance, critical illness cover and dental insurance
• Up to 20% discount on our life products for you and your immediate family
• A group life assurance policy with 4 x your basic pay to go to your dependents (you'll have the option to increase to 8 x cover)

• Group Income Protection once you reach 5 years of service.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for support when you need it
• A virtual GP service
• Shared parental leave
• Up to 20% discount on our life products for you and your immediate family.

Please note all salary sacrifice benefits are subject to National Minimum Wage requirements i.e. you are unable to select any benefits that would reduce your base pay below the minimum wage threshold.

About Us

We're proud of our inclusive culture at LV= and, as an equal-opportunity employer, we continually work to remove unconscious bias from our recruitment process. We value our colleagues for what they bring to our team regardless of any protected status or characteristics they may have. Talk to us about flexible working as part of your application; if it's right for you, our members and customers, and our business, then we'll do everything we can to make it happen.

Please note that we are unable to offer Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship for this role. Therefore, you must ensure that you are eligible to work in the UK without our sponsorship in order for your application to be considered.

Go on, bring your true self to LV=.