Legal Counsel

UCAS; Gloucester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Christmas concessionary days

Bank holidays

Perkbox wellbeing support

Training academies

Onsite gym & café

Job summary

UCAS, the world's leading shared admissions service for higher education, is seeking a Legal Counsel to join its Finance and Corporate Services team in Gloucester, England, United Kingdom. The role focuses on providing timely, commercially astute legal advice on contracts, procurement, company law, and intellectual property for the charity and UCAS Media.

The successful candidate will draft and negotiate contract documents, identify and mitigate legal risks, and collaborate across business units

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or legal executive.
• Proven track record of drafting and advising on commercial contracts and procurement.
• Experience identifying and managing legal risk across a diverse portfolio, in-house experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify legal risks within the company and advise on mitigation strategies.
• Prepare, negotiate, draft, revise and finalise contract documents (Terms of Service, supplier terms, bespoke contracts).
• Update legal agreements, precedents and the Legal and Regulatory Register.
• Collaborate across business units with a can-do, flexible attitude.

Skills

Contract drafting

Procurement

Risk management

Job description

Legal Counsel

U

Organising Institution / Firm

UCAS

Rolling Basis (Official)

Gloucester, England, United Kingdom

up to £50,000

Qualified solicitor or legal executive with a proven track record of drafting and advising on commercial contracts and procurement. Experience of identifying and managing legal risk. In-house experience is ideal.

Job

Full Opportunity Brief

Contextual Overview

UCAS, the world's leading shared admissions service for higher education operating as a charity, is seeking a Legal Counsel to join its Finance and Corporate Services business unit in Gloucester, England, United Kingdom. The role focuses on providing timely, outcomes-focused, and commercially astute legal advice covering contracts, company law, intellectual property, and procurement for both the charity and its trading subsidiary, UCAS Media.

Key Eligibility Criteria

• Qualified solicitor or legal executive.
• Proven track record of drafting and advising on commercial contracts and procurement.
• Experience in identifying and managing legal risk across a diverse legal portfolio using a risk-based approach.
• Ideally, prior experience in an in-house legal environment.
• Strong technical skills, attention to detail, and ability to present legal advice in a plain and concise manner.

Responsibilities & Scope of Work

• Identify legal risks within the company and advise on appropriate, proportionate mitigation strategies.
• Prepare, negotiate, draft, revise, and finalise various contract documents, including Terms of Service, standard terms, supplier terms, and bespoke contracts.
• Support the Legal and Governance teams by updating legal agreements, precedents, and maintaining the Legal and Regulatory Register.
• Collaborate positively and proactively across different business units with a can-do, flexible attitude.

Stipend, Compensation & Mode

Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum
Mode: Hybrid working model with a 35-hour work week, based in Gloucester.
Benefits: 30 days annual leave plus Christmas concessionary days and bank holidays, internal training academies, Perkbox wellbeing support, and onsite facilities including a subsidised gym and café.