Senior Legal Counsel in London

Senior Legal Counsel in London

London Temporary 90000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
1

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Provide legal advice on corporate and strategic projects while managing complex legal matters.
  • Company: Join Standard Life, a leading retirement specialist with over 200 years of experience.
  • Benefits: Starting salary from £90,000, 38 days leave, private medical cover, and flexible working options.
  • Other info: Embrace flexibility and inclusivity in a supportive workplace culture.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while deepening your legal expertise.
  • Qualifications: Senior qualified lawyer with strong technical expertise and experience in financial services.

The predicted salary is between 90000 - 90000 £ per year.

Job Type: 12-month secondment

Location: This role could be based in our Birmingham, Edinburgh or London office, with time spent working both in the office and at home.

Flexible working: All roles are open to part-time, job-share and other types of flexibility. We will discuss what is important to you and balancing this with business requirements during the recruitment process.

Closing Date: 30/08/2026

Salary and benefits: Starting from £90,000 plus bonus, private medical cover, 38 days annual leave, excellent pension, 12x salary life assurance, career breaks, income protection, 3x volunteering days and much more.

Who are we? We’re Standard Life, a retirement specialist focused entirely on retirement savings and income. We champion the belief that everyone’s journey to and through retirement can be better, and for more than 200 years, we’ve been helping our customers plan and prepare for their financial futures.

The role: This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced senior lawyer to join as Senior Legal Counsel on a 12-month fixed term contract as maternity cover, providing legal advice across corporate and strategic projects at Standard Life. Working as part of the Corporate and Investments Legal team, you’ll provide pragmatic, commercially focused advice to senior stakeholders and colleagues across the business. You’ll take ownership of complex legal matters, work with a high degree of autonomy and use external counsel effectively where specialist support is required. This role offers the opportunity to apply and deepen your legal expertise while supporting the delivery of key corporate and strategic projects.

What are we looking for? We’re looking for a senior qualified lawyer with experience gained in-house or in private practice. You’ll bring strong technical expertise, sound legal judgement and the ability to advise with confidence on complex matters. A background in financial services would be helpful, together with an understanding of asset management operations, asset classes and investment vehicles. Excellent legal drafting, negotiation and analytical skills, with the ability to provide clear, practical and commercially focused advice on complex matters. Significant experience advising on and negotiating investment services agreements, such as investment management agreements, custody agreements, fund link agreements and ancillary services agreements. Experience advising on investment-related commercial contracts, such as IT agreements and market data licences, with the ability to identify and manage key legal and commercial risks. Experience managing external counsel to deliver cost-effective, business-aligned advice on complex or specialist matters. Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to collaborate effectively across General Counsel, senior stakeholders and external suppliers.

We want to hire the whole version of you. We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we’ve advertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best.

Senior Legal Counsel in London employer: 107632 Capital Markets Operations

At 107632 Capital Markets Operations in Edinburgh, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values customer-centric leadership and innovation in the financial services sector. Our collaborative work culture fosters professional growth, offering extensive training and development opportunities, alongside a competitive salary and generous benefits package, including private medical cover and 38 days of annual leave. Join us to make a meaningful impact on customer experiences while enjoying a rewarding career in a vibrant city.

1

Contact Details:

107632 Capital Markets Operations Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Legal Counsel in London

Get Involved in Legal Networking Events

Jump into local or virtual legal networking events to meet industry pros and get your foot in the door! Use platforms like Eventbrite or Meetup to find gatherings, as these are great for making connections and hearing about temporary roles at firms like 107632 Capital Markets Operations.

Showcase Your Skills Online

Create a simple online portfolio to showcase your legal work, whether that's case briefs, research papers, or even blog posts on legal topics. This public display can really set you apart when looking for temp roles in law, especially if you can make it relevant to the work that 107632 Capital Markets Operations does!

Tap into Law School Resources

If you're near a law school, hit up their career services. They often have leads on temporary positions and can help connect you with alumni working at firms. Plus, they might host workshops or job fairs specific to the legal sector—great for scoring that temp position!

Stay Updated with Legal Job Boards

Regularly check specialised legal job boards like LawCareers.Net or TotallyLegal for temporary listings. Many firms post their openings directly there, and applying quickly can give you an edge over the competition when looking to join a prestigious firm like 107632 Capital Markets Operations.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Legal Counsel in London

Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Flexibility
Adaptability
Compassion
Organizational Skills
Teamwork

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Legal Know-How:In the legal services world, it's all about demonstrating your understanding of relevant laws and regulations. Make sure your CV highlights your legal training, internships, or any relevant projects you've worked on. If you've done any mooting or legal research, include those too - they can really set you apart!

Tailor Your Application for the Temp Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should stress your adaptability and readiness to jump in right away. Highlight any previous temp roles where you quickly got up to speed, or any diverse experiences that show you can handle a variety of cases or tasks with ease.

Keep it Specific with Your Documents:Make sure your application includes essential legal documents, such as any relevant certifications or memberships in legal bodies. These can add credibility to your CV and show that you're serious about the profession – especially useful in a competitive field like law!

Express Your Enthusiasm in the Cover Letter:Your cover letter is a golden opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and the organisation. Let them know why you’re excited about this temporary position with 107632 Capital Markets Operations and how you're motivated to contribute to their success during your limited time with them!

How to prepare for a job interview at 107632 Capital Markets Operations

Show Off Your Legal Know-How

Prepare to discuss your understanding of legal terminology and concepts that might come up during the interview for the Senior Legal Counsel role at 107632 Capital Markets Operations. Brush up on relevant laws or recent cases that could be pertinent to the temporary position, as they'll likely appreciate candidates who can think on their feet and adapt to the fast-paced legal environment.

Talk About Your Flexibility

Since this is a temporary role, employers want to know you can hit the ground running. Be ready to highlight past experiences where you've had to quickly adapt to new tasks or work cultures. Flexibility is key in a short-term position like this, so share specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage changing priorities efficiently.

Prepare for the Casework Challenge

You might face hypothetical scenarios where you'd have to advise on a legal issue or case. Practice articulating your thought process clearly, as interviewers in the legal sector often expect candidates to walk them through their reasoning step-by-step. This will not only showcase your legal acumen but also demonstrate your communication skills, which are crucial in law.

Pitch Your Legal Portfolio

If you have any relevant work samples, such as briefs, contracts, or legal research, this is your chance to shine! Be ready to discuss what you did, what challenges you faced, and the outcomes. This speaks volumes more than just listing your skills; it shows you're proactive and results-oriented, which is essential for a temporary role at 107632 Capital Markets Operations.