Solicitor (12 months fixed term)

The opportunity

UAL’s Legal Services team provides advice, support and representation on a broad range of issues across the University. This role of 12 month fixed term maternity cover solicitor offers an exciting opportunity within a stimulating arts environment involving drafting, reviewing, negotiating and advising on contracts and regulatory matters for a wide range of University projects. 

Working alongside solicitors and contracts managers within the Legal Services team, you will advise and interact with motivated colleagues across the University at all levels.  

The successful candidate will be a qualified solicitor with a background or training in contract, intellectual property and commercial law and the ability to draft to a high standard, work independently and engage with internal stakeholders with support and supervision from senior solicitors.  

UAL’s Legal Services team deals with a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters and the right candidate will be willing to expand their knowledge and assist with a wide variety of different matters. 

The key duties of this role are: 

• Reviewing, drafting and advising on a variety of agreements including consultancy, agency, grants, research and development, confidentiality, data sharing/processing, supply and purchase, scholarship, sponsorship and development, collaboration, academic, student agreements – plus  other diverse student, commercial and publicly funded project agreements; 

• Advising generally on intellectual property law, charity law and regulatory matters.  

About you

You are a qualified solicitor who has gained contracts experience in private practice or an in-house legal team. You are looking to take the next step in your career to grow your skills.

You need to be able to write fluently and have the ability to convey highly technical information in a clear way. 

Importantly, you have a strong commercial focus and an excellent grasp of legal and commercial work across a broad range of projects. You will also have a good working knowledge or some experience of intellectual property law issues. 

Detail conscious, you approach work with a practical and proactive mind-set – quickly identifying problems, understanding the context and proposing constructive commercial solutions. 

Knowledge of or an interest in higher education law would be an advantage. Individuals with a range of experience in private or in-house environments are welcomed.  

The essential criteria for this post are: 

• Qualified to practise as a solicitor in England and Wales with post-qualification experience in respect of contract and commercial law gained within private practice or an in-house legal team; 

• Excellent drafting skills and the ability to provide clear and practical advice; 

• Experience of working under pressure and to strict deadlines; 

• Good research skills and a willingness to maintain and expand your legal knowledge. 

What we offer

To recognise the hard work of our staff and their contributions, we provide a wide range of benefits – please check our careers site/Canvas for further information as conditions and exclusions apply:

▪ 34 days of annual leave and 2 days off to volunteer plus bank holidays
▪ Flexible and Dynamic working options available from the first day
▪ Discounted Medical Insurance including Digital GP service, therapies, in-patient and day-case treatment
▪ Free counselling and advice via our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
▪ Sector-leading Equal Parental Leave policy (6 months full pay for both parents) 
▪ Defined-benefit LGPS pension scheme
▪ In-house training and development including apprenticeships and free places on creative courses
▪ Interest free loans on travel and tech, discounts on gym memberships, nursery fees, eye care and much more
▪ Various opportunities to attend student shows and exhibitions

We are UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) generates and inspires the creativity the world needs for a better future. Since 1842, our colleges have been defining creative education. With curiosity, imagination and intent we make work which creates lasting change for people and our planet. London is core to who we are, a place where we meet and share ideas with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Our creative network influences learning, culture, industry and society on a global scale. Our academics and practitioners deliver creative education and inspire new ways of thinking through research and innovation. We work with students at every level from pre-degree and short courses to postgraduate and online learning, enabling them to build the careers they want. Together, we are a community of makers, thinkers, pioneers and storytellers redesigning the future.

As a University, we are ranked second in the world for Art and Design. We are formed of 6 Colleges with unique histories and identities: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts. UAL also has 4 Institutes, 5 Research Centres, 1 Pre-Degree School and 2 subsidiary companies delivering specialist activities.

We are a global University, welcoming over 22,000 students and 6,000 staff from 130 countries. We aim to be a university where people can be themselves and feel supported to reach their full potential. That's why we are proud to hold a Bronze Award from the Race Equality Charter (REC), are members of the Business Disability Forum and Employers for Carers, and maintain our status as a Disability Confident Scheme and Living Wage employer.