Charities Solicitor

Department: Private Client – Charities/Not for Profit team

Our Purpose: To forge long-term relationships that have a positive impact on our people, our clients, our business partners, and our community.

Our Commitment to Our People: We do not think there is a magic formula to the Higgs culture. The key is to listen to and respect our people. If we take care of our people and our people take care of our clients, then everything we want as a firm will take care of itself. We are friendly and open to new ideas.

Our Core Values: Higgs core values are “CLEAR” – Care, Legacy, Excellence, Authenticity, Relationships.

Role Purpose: We are a specialist legal team with a passion for supporting the charitable and not-for-profit sector. Our clients include household-name charities, start-up social enterprises, grant-making foundations, and philanthropic initiatives. We are expanding our team and looking for a solicitor with a commercial, corporate or private client law background who is looking to apply their skills in a sector that focuses on public benefit and committed to real-world social impact. This is an exciting opportunity for a solicitor to join our charity law team. You may have trained in a commercial, corporate or private client environment, but you are now looking to transition into a social impact-focused area of practice. Working alongside experienced charity lawyers, you will advise clients on governance, regulatory compliance, commercial contracts, restructures, and charity registrations.

In turn we can offer you:

• Supportive team culture with dedicated charity law specialists
• Structured learning and mentoring for your transition into the sector
• Opportunities for client interaction and business development from the outset

Key Responsibilities: You will be involved in a wide range of matters, such as:

• Setting up new charities and not-for-profits, including drafting governing documents and supporting policy documentation
• Advising on charity governance, mergers, and incorporations
• Drafting and reviewing commercial contracts, funding agreements, and collaborations
• Supporting clients with Charity Commission applications and regulatory issues
• Providing advice on corporate structures, joint ventures, and charity trading
• Advising donors on their relationships with charities and executors on the implications of charitable will trusts

Person Specification: Qualified solicitor with strong training experience in commercial, corporate, private client or regulatory law. Most importantly we are looking for an individual that has a genuine interest in the charity and not-for-profit sector – previous charity law experience is not essential but a demonstrable enthusiasm is required. Strong drafting, analytical, and advisory skills with a pragmatic and client-focused approach. Ability to manage multiple matters and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Confident communicator with a collaborative mindset and willingness to learn.

What You Need to Know: Higgs offers hybrid working wherever possible. Our Higgs’ Best FIT (flexible, inclusive, together) principles are designed to ensure that people can complete their best work from the most appropriate location. If you are looking to work flexibly then let us know and we will do what we can to accommodate your request. We encourage a ‘dress for your diary’ approach which means dressing in a manner appropriate for your schedule or the specific appointments you have on any given day.

Equal Opportunities: As charter signatories to The Law Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Charter, Higgs are committed to developing a diverse business by engaging with the widest pool of talent. We recognise this is an ongoing journey and regularly monitor our figures.

People Driven. Legal Excellence.