Senior Legal Counsel

Salary: £58,863 - £73,579 p.a. (For exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £84,616 per annum)

Hours: Full-Time (37 Hours)

About the Department

Legal Services sits within the Legal, Governance & Assurance Services department, a central risk management and professional support function.

Comprising three specialist teams: Legal Services, Governance Services, and Assurance Services, the department plays a key role in assessing and mitigating legal, regulatory, financial, and reputational risk across the University.

The Department provides timely, high-quality, pragmatic, and commercially focused legal advice on complex, high-value, and strategic matters. Through its work, it supports the University’s strategic ambitions and ensures robust legal frameworks are in place to guide and protect institutional decision-making.

About the Role

This is a senior and influential position within the University's Legal Services team. As Senior Legal Counsel, you will provide expert legal advice on complex, high-value, and strategic matters while also leading the day-to-day operations of the Legal Services function.

Reporting to the Director of Legal, Governance & Assurance Services, you will manage a team of solicitors and support staff, ensuring high standards of service and legal risk management across the University. You will also oversee the University’s panel of external legal advisers, including the instruction of matters and billing oversight.

The role involves advising on a broad spectrum of legal issues and agreements, from commercial contracts and research collaborations to intellectual property, procurement, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance. You will work closely with senior stakeholders, including the Executive and Leadership Team, providing pragmatic, solutions-focused advice that supports the University’s strategic objectives.

About You 

The successful applicant will be a senior legal professional, qualified to practise as a solicitor or barrister, with significant post-qualification experience advising on complex and high-value legal matters. You will bring a strong track record in commercial law and contracting, coupled with excellent knowledge of contract law and regulatory frameworks relevant to a large, multifaceted organisation. 

As a confident leader, you will have demonstrable experience of managing legal professionals and guiding a team to deliver high-quality, client-focused legal services. You will be skilled in developing and overseeing legal processes and controls that ensure effective risk management and value for the organisation. 

Your communication and interpersonal skills will be exceptional, allowing you to influence and advise senior stakeholders, including executive-level colleagues, with credibility and clarity. You’ll be adept at navigating complex legal and organisational issues, taking a pragmatic and strategic approach to problem-solving.

Experience in the higher education or public sector, particularly in relation to intellectual property, research contracting, or procurement, would be advantageous.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 42 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Access to employer-funded Private Health Insurance
• Holiday purchase
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact James Fussell, Director of Legal, Governance & Assurance Services via j.fussell@derby.ac.uk

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk

Advert Closes: 18/05/2025

Advert information