Legal Counsel

Polo Works; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance services firm in Cheltenham is seeking a Legal Counsel to provide essential legal support and manage contracts. The ideal candidate will have experience in legal support, a strong understanding of UK contract law, and excellent organisational skills. This position involves assisting with the drafting and negotiation of contracts, as well as compliance with regulatory standards. Join us to empower your career in a diverse and inclusive environment.

Benefits

Inclusive workplace culture

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Previous experience in legal support or contract administration role.
• Strong understanding of UK contract law.
• Excellent drafting and proofreading skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation and review of contracts.
• Support client onboarding and manage outsourcing contracts.
• Conduct basic legal research and identify legal risks.

Skills

Legal support experience

Understanding of UK contract law

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Education

Law degree or paralegal qualification

Tools

Contract management tools

Job description

The Legal Counsel will provide comprehensive legal and administrative support to the Head of Legal in managing contractual matters across the UK insurance services business.

This role focuses on assisting with the drafting, review, negotiation, and administration of contracts, ensuring compliance with UK laws and regulations, and supporting the smooth onboarding of clients and management of outsourcing arrangements. The role is ideal for an individual with strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and an interest in developing expertise in contract law within the insurance and financial services sector.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Support

• Assist in the preparation, drafting, and review of client and outsourcing contracts under the guidance of the Head of Legal.
• Support contract negotiations by preparing summaries, highlighting key issues, and ensuring documentation reflects agreed terms.
• Maintain and update contract templates, ensuring alignment with current UK legal standards and internal policies.
• Track contract lifecycle milestones, including renewals, expirations, and required updates.

Client Onboarding & Outsourcing

• Support the Head of Legal in onboarding new clients by preparing required contractual documents and coordinating with internal teams.
• Assist in managing outsourcing contracts, ensuring compliance with UK regulatory requirements and maintaining accurate contract records.

Legal Research & Risk Management

• Conduct basic legal research on UK insurance and financial services regulations as they relate to contracts.
• Identify potential legal risks and escalate them to the Head of Legal for resolution.
• Assist in implementing strategies to mitigate contractual risks across the business.

Administrative & Organisational Support

• Manage contract databases, ensuring accurate record-keeping and accessibility.
• Prepare reports, summaries, and presentations for internal stakeholders.
• Support coordination between legal, compliance, and operational teams on contractual matters.

Key Relationships

Internal:

• Head of Legal
• Compliance and Risk Management Teams
• Operations and Business Development Teams

External:

• Clients and Partners
• Legal Service Providers
• Regulatory Bodies (as directed by Head of Legal)

Experience & Skills

• Previous experience in a legal support, paralegal, or contract administration role (preferably in insurance or financial services).
• Strong understanding of UK contract law and basic knowledge of insurance sector regulations.
• Excellent drafting, proofreading, and organisational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work to tight deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and proactive problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and contract management tools.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to liaise across teams and with external stakeholders.
• Demonstrates behaviours aligned to the PoloWorks PRIDE values:
• Pioneering – we don’t stand still
• Responsible – We do the right thing
• Inclusive – we all play a role
• Delivery Focused- we provide services we are proud of
• Empowering – we equip people to be their best

Knowledge & Qualifications

• Law degree or paralegal qualification preferred.
• Working knowledge of UK insurance and financial services regulatory framework is desirable.
• Familiarity with contract lifecycle management systems is an advantage
• Experience working within or supporting entities operating in the Lloyd’s of London insurance market is strongly preferred

It\'s our mission to empower our colleagues to achieve their potentialand we know that teams perform best when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. It is the unique contributions of all PoloWorks colleagues that drive our success, therefore we are committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone is empowered to do meaningful work and is recognised for their efforts. To that end, we are committed to providing an environment free of discrimination for everyone

Reports to: Head of Legal

Location: Cheltenham