Legal Counsel

Mitie; Scotland; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK service provider is looking for a proactive junior legal counsel to support its Projects business with day-to-day legal needs. The role requires a professional Solicitor qualification, experience in construction law, and strong negotiation and communication skills. Successful candidates will have a clear commercial approach and the ability to work under pressure. This position offers a varied work environment with opportunities to develop valuable hands-on legal experience.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification as a Solicitor in England and Wales. Candidates from other jurisdictions may apply.
• Experience in projects and construction law, including standard form construction contracts.
• Ability to give concise legal advice with client service excellence.
• Good influencing and communication skills.
• Proficiency in multitasking and working under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Review and negotiate construction and services contracts.
• Steer compliance with governance and approval processes.
• Support the rollout of legal training exercises.
• Collaborate with legal team on strategic development.
• Build relationships to provide timely legal support.
• Manage external legal advisers for effective advice.

Skills

Knowledge of construction law

Negotiation skills

Client service excellence

Communication skills

Multi-tasking ability

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Education

Professional qualification as a Solicitor in England and Wales

Tools

Microsoft Office suite

Sharepoint

Job description

Job Overview

We are looking for a proactive junior legal counsel who is keen to learn and develop real hands‑on experience in a varied work environment supporting the Projects business units with their day‑to‑day legal needs. A clear commercial approach, enthusiasm and a flexible and questioning attitude are the key requirements – as well as some commercial contract negotiation experience.

Main Duties

• Review new business opportunities, advise on and negotiate various forms of construction and related services contracts, and identify and work with the business units to develop strategies to manage and mitigate risks.
• Steer business units through compliance with Mitie's governance and approval processes.
• Support the development of and the rollout of legal training exercises within the division.
• Collaborate with other members of the legal team to support the development and implementation of strategy and policies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with business units, to provide timely and commercial legal support.
• Provide swift support on other legal and commercial issues as they arise, such as proposed termination of contracts, payment issues and other formal and informal dispute related matters, working closely with finance, commercial and operations directors within the business, and taking the lead on legal decisions concerning those matters.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of a reliable, and comprehensive precedent bank to enable standard documents to be prepared, adapted and produced quickly.
• Instruct and manage external legal advisers, ensuring advice received is concise, constructive and commercially appropriate.

What we are looking for

Essential

• Professional qualification as a Solicitor in England and Wales (we may also consider candidates admitted in other jurisdictions (e.g. Scotland) provided they have a working knowledge of English law)
• Experience in projects and construction law, including familiarity with some standard form construction contracts such as JCT, NEC and/or FIDIC, or other experience in drafting, negotiating and advising on complex commercial contracts
• A commitment to excellence in client service with a pragmatic approach and the ability to give concise legal advice
• Good influencing and communication skills
• Ability to multi task, work well under pressure and to use own initiative
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and Sharepoint

Desirable

• Experience of a fast paced in‑house legal function
• Experience of instructing/managing external legal services providers
• Dispute resolution experience (although this is a predominantly non‑contentious role)
• Experience of utilising AI systems to increase working productivity.

General

If you meet some but not all of the above technical and experience criteria, but feel you would be a good fit with our culture and values, and are keen to learn, we would like to hear from you.