Legal Counsel – Banking (FS experience not essential) 

Legal Counsel – Banking (FS experience not essential) 

The client 

My client is an exciting and unique organisation at the heart of the Financial Services sector.

A fantastic opportunity has come up for an interested and motivated qualified lawyer to join a small diverse team, covering the broadest subject matter you can possibly imagine. 

This is probably the best place to be to gain exposure to some of the newest and most on-trend issues that affect the financial service sector. With the wealth of knowledge that exists internally and the supportive nature of the culture, all you need is the motivation to learn and the proactive energy get up to speed.  

With a mix of internal and external projects as well as the ongoing operational BAU, this role will be both challenging and refreshing. 

My client does not mind which sector you are coming from as it is almost impossible for one person to have the experience in all areas that you will be dealing with in this role. So the most important thing the successful candidate can bring with them is drive and the vision to appreciate what you will be gaining by doing this role and the many opportunities that this will open up. 

Job purpose  

This role is for a legal counsel role in the Legal Team.  The candidate will be expected to work closely with the General Counsel and the Legal team as well as a broad range of internal stakeholders across all functions of the business (including internal support departments) to provide commercial and pragmatic advice, guidance and counsel on a broad range of legal issues that affect the firm across both operational and policy areas.  

As the Legal Counsel you will assist the General Counsel, but also lead on a number of initiatives. You will be the second most senior person in this small team of four and be the primary point of contact for all external legal matters, overseeing work outsourced to law firms. You will get the chance to sit in on some of the most exciting industry round-table work groups on key initiatives of the day e.g. consumer protection in banking, economic crime (AML and Fraud), data sharing in banking, Authorised Push Payments and electronic ID. 

Key responsibilities 

Supporting the General Counsel and the Legal team and providing legal advice and guidance to various areas and stakeholders across the business.  The role will include the following specific responsibilities:  

Ensure that the exposure of legal risk to the business is minimised through the provision of sound advice and guidance in respect of any issues relating to dispute resolution, data protection, procurement, intellectual property, contracts, external private sector partnerships, advertising, marketing, competition law and policy matters where appropriate and as they may arise.  

Provide effective advice and guidance in respect of contractual matters between us and our clients, employees or third parties to include reviewing, drafting, and entering into negotiations, as may be appropriate. 

Provide effective advice and guidance on legal issues relating to our governance, including risk management and policy implementation. 

Assist in coordinating and overseeing the activities of external legal suppliers who deliver work for, or on our behalf in all areas of our business, including policy development, consultation responses, human resources, intellectual property rights and obligations, and insurance coverage issues. 

Alongside the Legal team, maintaining and monitoring the material contracts register. 

Act as a sounding board within the business, with activities including the approaches taken by the policy teams, human resources, finance and digital marketing, when required. 

Keep up-to-date with changes to UK, EU and international law or commitments. 

Qualifications 

The minimum eligibility criteria are as follows:  

Academic  

Applicants must be qualified to practise as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales. 

Ideally have achieved at least a 2:1 degree (in any subject) at undergraduate level or the overseas equivalent.  

Applicants qualified outside of England and Wales must have successfully completed the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme.  

We may consider applicants who have not achieved a 2:1 undergraduate degree (or overseas equivalent) where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and / or professional achievement can be provided (e.g. via relevant experience and results achieved for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) / Common Professional Exam (CPE), Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)). 

Essential Experience 

Applicants must have experience of working in a legal environment, including working in a law firm or as an in-house lawyer.  Experience of both environments is preferred. 

Applicants will similarly have had experience working in a general corporate environment, providing legal advice on general corporate matters such as contracts, data protection, procurement etc.  Some experience in competition law matters is preferred.  

To book an appointment to discuss this fantastic opportunity, please send your current CV quoting ref no LC20001.