Legal Counsel

NatWest Group; Belfast; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent banking institution in Northern Ireland is seeking a Legal Counsel for a 12-month contract. The role involves managing legal advice for unsecured lending within Retail and Private Banking, driving improvements through technology, and maintaining financial discipline in legal costs. The ideal candidate is a qualified solicitor with strong commercial awareness and experience in the banking sector. This position offers a fast-paced work environment and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with experience in-house or at a leading UK law firm.
• Strong understanding of Retail, Premier, and Private banking legal issues.
• Ability to leverage AI and legal technology.

Responsibilities

• Deliver commercial legal advice for unsecured lending and financial health.
• Drive improvements in operating practices using legal technology.
• Manage legal costs effectively while promoting financial discipline.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Strong communication skills

Tech-savviness

Education

Qualified solicitor

Job description

Join us as a Legal Counsel (12 months)

• This is an opportunity to join us in the Unsecured Lending and Financial Health and Support Legal team within Retail and Private Banking
• If you’re delivery-focused, a self-starter, committed to continuous upskilling, and eager to learn and grow, then this high-profile role could offer the development opportunities you need to succeed
• This is your chance to demonstrate your expertise, drawing on your curiosity and deep understanding of general banking law and practice, as well as the Retail, Premier, and Private Banking sectors
• This role will be offered for a period of 12 months

What you'll do

As a Legal Counsel, you’ll manage a fast-paced and varied workload, supporting the unsecured lending parts of our Retail, Premier, and Private Banking businesses, as well as the Financial Health and Support team. You’ll also work closely with stakeholders at all levels and partner with colleagues across Legal, Governance & Regulatory Affairs to deliver timely, effective, and efficient advice, projects, and initiatives, either independently or as part of a team.

In addition, you’ll be:

• Delivering strategic, commercial, and clear legal advice that’s easily understood by non-lawyers and provided at pace in line with business priorities
• Actively driving improvements in team operating practices and processes by identifying efficiencies and opportunities to save time and reduce costs through artificial intelligence (AI) and legal technology
• Managing legal costs through e-billing, auctions, and other cost-management tools, while fostering a culture of disciplined spending and strong financial controls

The skills you'll need

We’re looking for a tech-first, driven, and commercially curious Legal Counsel. To succeed in this role, you’ll need to be a qualified solicitor with experience providing legal and commercial advice on transactions and projects, either in-house or within a leading UK law firm. You’ll also need to bring a customer-back mindset, an appetite to leverage AI and technology, and strong communication skills. A solid understanding of the bank’s strategic priorities and a commitment to delivering excellent service to our stakeholders is essential as well.

In addition, you’ll need:

• Knowledge of the Retail, Premier, and Private banking activities, along with the commercial and regulatory environments they operate in and the associated legal issues
• Experience working with leading law firms, professional advisers, and consultants
• The ability to stay up to date with relevant legal and market developments and share them as needed