Risk Lawyer

AJ FOX COMPLIANCE; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

AJ FOX COMPLIANCE is supporting a renowned national law firm in Manchester to hire a Risk Lawyer for its Risk & Compliance team. The role requires a qualified solicitor with at least three years’ PQE, strong risk management experience, and expertise in negotiating complex contractual terms within a law firm setting.

The successful candidate will advise on SRA standards, policies, and cross-border regulatory requirements while collaborating with HR and external regulators.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with minimum 3 years PQE in risk management.
• Experience negotiating bespoke contractual arrangements within a law firm.

Responsibilities

• Managing partnership office matters, including onboarding and governance documentation.
• Partnering with HR to ensure compliance during high-level transitions.
• Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating client engagement terms, outside counsel guidelines, and framework agreements.
• Assessing and advising on supplier agreements to mitigate risk.
• Conducting reviews of firm-wide policies and implementing enhancements.
• Providing practical legal advice on SRA standards, regulations, and codes of conduct.
• Advising on cross-border regulatory requirements of the Law Societies.
• Engaging with external regulators and advising internal stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Proactive mindset

Collaboration

Education

Qualified solicitor

Job description

We are working with an award-winning national law firm to hire a Risk Lawyer to join their highly regarded Risk & Compliance team, based in Manchester with 1 or 2 days per month in the office.

The firm is seeking a qualified solicitor with a minimum of three years' PQE who possesses direct experience in risk management and the negotiation of sophisticated contractual arrangements within a law firm environment. They are looking for candidates with strong analytical, communication, and organisational skills, combined with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.

The responsibilities will include:

• Managing partnership office matters, including lateral partner onboarding, partner retirements, and the drafting of complex partnership governance documentation.
• Partnering closely with the Human Resources department to ensure seamless compliance during high-level internal transitions and lateral partner moves.
• Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating bespoke client engagement terms, outside counsel guidelines, framework agreements, and panel terms.
• Assessing and advising on supplier agreements to mitigate commercial and operational risk for the firm.
• Conducting rigorous periodic reviews of firm-wide policies and procedures, recommending enhancements, and driving their implementation.
• Providing high-quality, practical legal advice on the SRA Standards and Regulations, Principles, and Codes of Conduct.
• Navigating cross-border jurisdictions by advising on the distinct regulatory requirements of the Law Society of Scotland, the Law Society of Northern Ireland, and the Law Society of Ireland.
• Engaging professionally with external legal regulators and acting as a trusted risk advisor to internal stakeholders across all office locations.
• Supporting the professional development and mentoring of junior analysts and specialists within the compliance function.

If you are a collaborative risk lawyer looking for a role that offers genuine flexibility and a high level of professional ownership,