Legal Counsel Ref: 41577

University of Sussex; Brighton; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious UK university is seeking a qualified solicitor or barrister to provide timely legal advice across diverse matters. The role demands strong legal knowledge, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills. Join a vibrant institution dedicated to governance and compliance, situated near the beautiful South Downs in Brighton.

Benefits

Cycle to work scheme

Beautiful campus

Public transport access

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or barrister in England and Wales.
• Strong legal knowledge in public law, contract law, and employment law.
• Commitment to continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice across a broad range of matters.
• Collaborate with colleagues to deliver legal support.
• Embed compliance and risk awareness in the institution.

Skills

Legal knowledge in higher education

Strategic thinking

Risk awareness

Communication skills

Planning and organisational abilities

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About The Role

The role is to provide timely, solution-focused legal advice across a broad range of legal matters affecting the University. The postholder will work collaboratively with academic and professional services colleagues, contributing to the delivery of robust legal support and helping to embed compliance and risk awareness across the institution.

This role is suited to a qualified solicitor or barrister seeking their first in-house position or a move into the higher education sector as well as experienced higher education practitioners.

About You

You should be a qualified solicitor or barrister in England and Wales with a current practising certificate and have strong legal knowledge in areas relevant to higher education (e.g., public law, contract law, employment law, IP, regulatory law).

You will be a strategic thinker with strong risk awareness and excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong planning and organisational abilities will be essential. You should have a commitment to CPD and supporting legal awareness in others and be proficient in Microsoft Office.

About Our Division

We drive good governance and high-quality decision making to support the delivery of the University’s strategic and operational objectives by providing professional legal, governance, information management and risk management expertise and advice to help the University realize opportunity and manage risk.

We support governance across the University to ensure high quality decision making which keeps pace with our changing needs. Also, we oversee and drive compliance with key legislative and regulatory requirements.

Please find further information regarding the division at General Counsel, Governance and Compliance: University of Sussex.

Why work here

Our university is situated off the A27, next to the beautiful South Downs where you will enjoy everything that our 150-acre campus has to offer. We are accessible by public transport; Falmer train station is a five-minute walk to campus and several bus stops are located within campus. We also have dedicated cycling paths and encourage our staff to use these with our offering of a cycle to work scheme.

Sussex is a renowned, multi-accredited, research-led International University and this is only possible because of the people that work here. Whether you are a member of Faculty, part of a Professional Services team or a Student, it’s our people that make us great and we want you to be part of that.

Find Out More About Our Reward And Benefits Package.

Find out about our equality, diversity and inclusion.

Further Key Information

Please contact Caroline Roberts ([e-mail]) for informal enquiries.

The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK.

Role

This role has been assigned a SOC code (2419 Legal professionals not elsewhere classified) and is eligible for sponsorship in the following circumstance:

• If the successful candidate’s first CoS was issued on or before 3 April 2024 then the salary of the post at Grade 7.1 (£38,784) meets the requirement of the SOC code (£33,400).
• However if the first CoS was issued after the aforementioned date, or if you are a new applicant looking to relocate to the UK, then it will depend on your individual circumstances. You would either need to be appointed at Grade 7.4 to meet the salary threshold of £41,700 or use tradeable points to lower the salary requirement. Appointment above the starting point of the grade must be based on experience.