Solicitor / Legal Counsel

Centre for Process Innovation; Sedgefield; Hybrid; ZAR 1,096,000 - 1,274,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability Confident employer scheme

Job summary

Centre for Process Innovation is seeking a Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive to join its legal team on a permanent basis, providing practical legal support across a range of commercial activities. You will review and draft commercial agreements, including NDAs, conduct legal research, and provide day-to-day legal advice to internal stakeholders.

A sound understanding of intellectual property will be important, with data protection and regulatory knowledge beneficial.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor status in England and Wales with current practising certificate.
• Chartered Legal Executive status is acceptable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Commercial and pragmatic approach to legal problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing, drafting and negotiating commercial agreements including NDAs.
• Provide practical legal advice to internal stakeholders.
• Conduct legal research and summarise findings.
• Assist with intellectual property matters and contract law.
• Support the wider legal team on projects and documentation.

Skills

Solicitor status (Eng & Wales)

Chartered Legal Executive

Legal communications

Organisational skills

Commercial pragmatism

Job description

CPI is looking for a Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive to join its legal team on a permanent basis, providing practical legal support across a range of commercial activities.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified legal professional with a background in commercial contracts, whether already working in-house or looking to make the move from private practice. We are looking for someone who can build strong relationships and become a trusted legal partner to the business.

The work will be varied but will predominantly involve reviewing and drafting commercial agreements, including non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), conducting legal research and providing day-to-day legal advice to internal stakeholders. A sound understanding of intellectual property will also be important for this role. Knowledge or experience in other areas, such as data protection, employment law, regulatory matters or litigation, would be beneficial, although not essential. The successful candidate will gain exposure to a wide range of commercial and contractual matters while working closely with colleagues across the organisation.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Reviewing, drafting and negotiating NDAs and other commercial agreements.
• Providing practical legal advice to colleagues across the business on contractual and commercial matters.
• Conducting legal research and summarising findings for internal stakeholders.
• Assisting with intellectual property, contract law and commercial legal matters.
• Supporting the wider legal team with ongoing projects and business initiatives.
• Assisting with the maintenance of legal templates and documentation.
• Working collaboratively with teams across the organisation to provide practical and commercially focused legal support.

About You

We're looking for a solicitor who can quickly build relationships, provide pragmatic legal advice and confidently manage a varied workload. You will likely have:

• Either Qualified Solicitor status in England and Wales with a current practising certificate or Chartered Legal Executive status.
• Up-to-date knowledge of contract and commercial law.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• The ability to prioritise work effectively and manage competing deadlines.
• A commercial and pragmatic approach to legal problem-solving.
• Experience gained in private practice or an in-house legal team.

Particularly Relevant ExperienceExperience in one or more of the following areas would be advantageous:

• Commercial contracts
• NDAs and confidentiality agreements
• Legal research
• Intellectual property matters
• In-house legal support
• Corporate and commercial law
• Stakeholder management
• Contract review and negotiation
• Employment
• Data Protection
• Regulatory

Essential requirements

About YouWe're looking for a solicitor who can quickly build relationships, provide pragmatic legal advice and confidently manage a varied workload.You will likely have:• Either Qualified Solicitor status in England and Wales with a current practising certificate or Chartered Legal Executive status.• Up-to-date knowledge of contract and commercial law.• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.• The ability to prioritise work effectively and manage competing deadlines.• A commercial and pragmatic approach to legal problem-solving.• Experience gained in private practice or an in-house legal team.Particularly Relevant ExperienceExperience in one or more of the following areas would be advantageous:• Commercial contracts• NDAs and confidentiality agreements• Legal research• Intellectual property matters• In-house legal support• Corporate and commercial law• Stakeholder management• Contract review and negotiation• Employment• Data Protection• Regulatory

Solicitor / Legal Counsel

Company: Centre for Process Innovation Salary: £49,058 to £56,999 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Sedgefield, TS21 3FG Working pattern: Hybrid - 3 days remote Job type: Permanent Posting date: 28 Oct 2026 Closing date: 11 Nov 2026

Summary

About the Role

CPI is looking for a Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive to join its legal team on a permanent basis, providing practical legal support across a range of commercial activities.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified legal professional with a background in commercial contracts, whether already working in-house or looking to make the move from private practice. We are looking for someone who can build strong relationships and become a trusted legal partner to the business.

The work will be varied but will predominantly involve reviewing and drafting commercial agreements, including non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), conducting legal research and providing day-to-day legal advice to internal stakeholders. A sound understanding of intellectual property will also be important for this role. Knowledge or experience in other areas, such as data protection, employment law, regulatory matters or litigation, would be beneficial, although not essential. The successful candidate will gain exposure to a wide range of commercial and contractual matters while working closely with colleagues across the organisation.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.