Senior Legal Counsel

Full-Time

Grade J= £44,263 – £54,395 per annum

(Salary band provided is based on full-time hours)

Background of Department/Role

Are you a practising lawyer or barrister and experienced problem solver who enjoys working independently on a wide range of complex and strategic projects as well as part of a team?  Are you an aspiring leader who enjoys a challenging fast-paced environment where no two days are the same?  Would you like to manage, guide and inspire others to grow and develop while working in a supportive team who will invest in your development?

If so, Canterbury Christ Church University has created a new role that could be for you.  The new Senior Legal Counsel – Academic, Student and Consumer will join our Governance and Legal Services (GLS) team.  You will lead in overseeing the provision of legal advice and support as well as managing ‘legal’ risk in relation to academic, student and consumer related matters. You will also be the kind of lawyer who enjoys contributing to and developing the processes and training required to manage such risk effectively.

The Opportunity

In this role, you will be the primary point of contact and lead GLS’ day to day working relationship with a variety of key University teams by providing expert, high quality professional, solution oriented legal advice to support the University’s strategic aims.

Working independently as well as part of the GLS team and when required, taking responsibility for instructing external counsel, you will support and advise on a variety of complex matters including high profile and high value matters.  Amongst other matters, you will be responsible for advising (including undertaking due diligence) on all collaboration agreements with UK and non-UK partners for the provision of education, agreements relating to the recruitment of students to courses, dispute resolution and litigation relating to students, matters relating to students as ‘consumers of education’, student placement and work experience agreements, the University’s safeguarding obligations and other legal and regulatory requirements.  You will be a senior member of GLS and will work closely and collaboratively with key teams such as the Senior Management Team, Senior Leadership Team, academic Faculties, the UK Partnerships and Apprenticeship Unit, International Partnerships and Development, the Finance team including the Insurance office, the Directorate of Student Resolution and Student Protection and the Quality and Standards Office.

You will combine your technical expertise with a very human approach and communicate technical and legal concepts and risks in a way that engages people working at different levels and in different areas of the University. In this role, you will not only be providing legal advice.  You will be training colleagues, promoting best practice across the university (a large and complex organisation), maintaining a repository of template agreements and ensuring the University manages its legal risks effectively and complies with its legal, statutory and regulatory obligations.  You will see how managing ‘legal’ risk fits into the bigger picture of what our values-driven University stands for and will help others see that too.

You will join a small, friendly team, sitting within Governance and Legal Services, where personal development is highly supported. We will offer training opportunities, both in-house and externally, to the successful candidate, making this a great opportunity develop as a lawyer and a leader.

Who are we looking for?

We are excited to hear from qualified solicitors or barristers with outstanding drafting, negotiation, interpersonal and communication skills who can provide client-focussed and practical legal advice.   An ability to analyse complex issues and make decisions independently together with the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships both inside and outside of the University are key.

We will be looking for lawyers with experience of working at a senior, strategic level.  Significant knowledge and experience of preparing, reviewing and negotiating a range of commercial contracts for senior internal and external stakeholders is essential.  The role holder is not expected to be a specialist in all legal disciplines but will need to demonstrate substantial core experience in advising on a wide variety of commercial contracts, IP law and a capability for quickly understanding and leading on all legal matters within their remit. An excellent knowledge and experience of advising clients on pervasive legal considerations such as contract, company, consumer and data protection law, legal practice, dispute resolution, and litigation are essential. A sound understanding of charity and consumer law together with the information governance and safeguarding obligations of a public body is desirable.  Experience in the higher education sector and/or experience of consumer claims and litigation, working with insurers in respect of insured losses, whilst not essential, will be an advantage.

Working at Canterbury Christ Church University

Our compassionate and dynamic university strives to transform lives through outstanding higher education and to enrich the communities we serve. We offer a supportive working environment, friendly colleagues, flexible working opportunities, occupational pension scheme and use of University facilities such as the library and fitness centre.

Additional information

Canterbury Christ Church University truly welcomes fresh perspectives and new voices. We want you to bring the real you to work, so we are committed to building a genuinely inclusive working environment where everyone is welcomed and where everyone can have a true sense of belonging. Our spirit of community will help us to eliminate discrimination and will enable us all to thrive in a culture that is underpinned by fairness and justice. We therefore seek people to join us who will proactively support and shape this aim and contribute in their own unique way.

How to apply

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to Canterbury Christ Church University. Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence or for details on how to progress your application, please direct all enquiries to our advising consultant Az Ahmed who can be reached at az.ahmed@andersonquigley.com or 07873 628 945.

Closing date for applications:  Friday, 20 October 2023