Legal Counsel | S2 | Legal & Corporate Governance, Treasury & Structured Finance Legal | London TSQ

The Treasury & Structured Finance Legal team seeks a Trainee Solicitor/Paralegal for a 12‑month secondment. The role will support the CFO and CCB divisions across Santander UK and the broader Santander UK Group on a wide range of financial and capital markets matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support for the group’s unsecured wholesale funding programmes and issuances, including regulatory capital, MREL, Eurobonds, SEC‑registered notes, commercial paper and certificates of deposit.
• Assist with the execution of securitisation and structured finance transactions across various asset classes, such as retail mortgage loans, unsecured personal loans and commercial banking assets.
• Draft, negotiate and execute derivatives and securities lending transactions.
• Draft, negotiate and execute documentation for secured loan‑linked hedging transactions in commercial lending, real‑estate finance, social housing, project finance and private credit.
• Draft, review and negotiate documentation relating to the issuance and distribution of structured notes.
• Develop knowledge of the legal and regulatory frameworks applicable to the above financial products.

Qualifications

• Practicing trainee solicitor or paralegal (required).
• Understanding or exposure to capital markets transactions such as EMTN programmes, covered bonds, securitisations or structured notes.
• Some exposure to derivatives and/or securities lending/repo transactions (required).
• Some experience with secured lending, including facility agreements and intercreditor agreements (preferred).
• Experience working within a transactional environment (private practice or in‑house) (required).
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (required).
• Proactive and enthusiastic approach to learning and supporting colleagues (required).
• Ability to manage a varied workload (required).
• Numeracy skills and good experience with Excel and PowerPoint (preferred).
• Experience or aptitude for working with AI in a professional/legal environment (preferred).

Benefits

• Salary range: £52,181.00 – £78,271.00 per annum (depending on experience).
• £500 annual cash allowance for benefits.
• 27 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, increasing to 28 days after 5 years of service; option to purchase up to 5 contractual days per year.
• Voluntary health and dental insurance, reduced rates health assessments.
• Pension: 8% of salary automatically contributed; up to 12.5% if staff also contribute.
• Company‑funded death‑in‑service and income‑protection insurance, plus discounts on additional life assurance and critical illness cover.
• Share plans and access to Santander products and services without fees.
• Wellbeing support across physical, mental, social and financial pillars, with access to apps, gym/fitness discounts, weekly online classes and mental health support.
• Flexible family leave and childcare options.
• Volunteering opportunities and global career growth.

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for all candidates regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion or sexual orientation. All staff are expected to attend the office at least 12 days per month as part of a hybrid working pattern.