At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire a dynamic legal team while driving innovative legal solutions.
- Company: Join Cancer Research UK, a leading charity making a real impact in the fight against cancer.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of innovation and collaboration while contributing to life-saving work.
- Why this job: Be part of a transformative journey in legal service delivery with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor or barrister with significant experience in-house or private practice.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 98000 £ per year.
Reports to: Head of Legal
Directorate: Finance, Governance & Assurance
Grade: P4
Location: Office-based with high flexibility (2 days per week in the office)
Salary: £90,000 - £98,000 per annum
Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week)
Application method: Please complete the anonymous application form, making sure all of your experience is included.
Application Deadline: 9th August 2026: 23:59 hours
Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.
This role will provide parental leave cover for a senior leader within CRUK's Legal team, to provide expert strategic and legal leadership within both the team and across dedicated business partner areas, driving high-quality legal service delivery. This is a newly created role, and an exciting time to join to cover a period of transformation. You'll be joining a legal team with dedicated legal operations capabilities leading the organisation with our bold use of gen AI and AI for legal processes and legal work and enabling legal work via data-driven service insights.
This is a highly impactful role, and a particularly exciting time to join us as we continue to transform our Legal Service Delivery. We're looking for innovators, pathfinders, and changemakers who:
- Can act as a strategic partner, embedding legal into strategy and decision-making across the charity
- Thrive in complexity and challenge the status quo, whilst delivering pragmatic timely legal strategies and solutions to enable our work
- Are bold in their approach to legal service delivery and design and curious about how to best deploy legal tech and gen AI and AI capabilities for legal work
- Care deeply about purpose and impact
You will be doing more than just legal delivery, you will empower teams across the organisation, gaining broad exposure to the internal operations of the UK's leading cancer charity, deliver real impact, and get involved in shaping the future of Legal at CRUK.
What will be some of the main responsibilities?
- Lead, develop and inspire the service delivery team, providing effective line management, coaching, performance management and professional development support, fostering a high-performing, collaborative and inclusive culture aligned with organisational values and strategic objectives.
- Effectively manage resourcing and work allocation for all transactional matters coming into legal, working with other legal leads, ensuring matters are seen through to timely completion.
- Lead strategic legal activity within the Lead area of focus, providing specialist oversight, direction, and quality assurance to the team on complex matters in this area, and identifying opportunities to develop and embed specialism-led capability across the team and organisation.
- Develop and present innovative, feasible solutions to complex legal challenges.
- Maintain strategic oversight of business partnering relationships across dedicated business partner areas including the CFO Directorate, and the Research & Innovation Operations team, delegating responsibilities appropriately within the team while retaining overall accountability for service quality, client satisfaction, and relationship depth.
- Support the design of and ensure delivery against team SLAs and KPIs to support operational excellence across the Legal team.
- Develop strong GenAI legal capability and contribute to training and knowledge-sharing on GenAI across the Legal team and the wider organisation.
What skills are we looking for?
- Qualified solicitor, barrister or equivalent with significant post-qualification experience in-house and/or private practice.
- Strong track record of delivering high-quality, efficient and client-focused legal services, balancing service demand, team capacity and organisational priorities.
- Demonstrable experience designing, improving or overseeing legal service delivery models, processes, triage systems and operational performance.
- Ability to develop innovative, pragmatic solutions to complex legal and organisational challenges.
- Strong business partnering skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence senior stakeholders across the organisation.
- Experience managing external legal providers and ensuring cost-effective, high-quality delivery of legal services.
- Enthusiasm for legal technology, matter management systems, data-driven service delivery, GenAI and continuous improvement.
What will I gain?
Each and every one of our employees contributes to our progress and is supporting our work to beat cancer. We think that's impressive. In return, we make sure you are supported by a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools, policies and processes to enable you to do your job well. Our benefits package includes a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on anything from travel to technology, gym membership, and much more. We don't forget people have lives outside of work too and so we actively encourage a flexible working culture. Our work - from funding cutting-edge research to developing public policy - will change the world. It's exciting to be part of our team.
How do I apply?
We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively. For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at.
For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Legal Lead (8-12 month fixed term contract) in London employer: Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Stratford, London, where you can make a meaningful impact on health partnerships. With a strong emphasis on employee well-being, we provide flexible working arrangements and a comprehensive benefits package that supports a healthy work/life balance, alongside ample opportunities for professional growth and development within the organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Legal Lead (8-12 month fixed term contract) in London
✨Get Involved in Law Societies
Join local law societies and attend their events – they're often a goldmine for networking and job opportunities in the legal field. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other budding lawyers and experienced solicitors who could provide vital insights and connections.
✨Tap into Online Legal Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online platforms like LinkedIn and specific legal forums. Get active in discussions or share your thoughts on recent legal developments – this not only builds your visibility but also showcases your passion and knowledge in law.
✨Attend Career Fairs and Workshops
Look out for career fairs and workshops specifically focused on law. Many law firms, including Cancer Research UK, will be scouting for fresh talent, so bring your A-game and don’t shy away from making a memorable impression.
✨Leverage Your University’s Career Services
If you’re still in university or have recently graduated, latch onto your career services! They often have connections with law firms looking for graduates and can guide you through the application process tailored for the legal sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Legal Lead (8-12 month fixed term contract) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Legal Knowledge:When applying for a full-time role in legal services at Cancer Research UK, make sure to demonstrate your understanding of key legal principles and areas of law relevant to the position. Include any specific coursework, modules, or certifications, like LPC or BPTC qualifications, that showcase your legal expertise directly on your CV.
Showcase Your Research Skills:In the legal field, strong research skills are crucial. Use your application to illustrate how you've utilised these skills in past studies or work experiences – whether that's through past internships or significant projects. Mention any legal databases or tools you’re proficient in, as this can give you an edge.
Tailor That Cover Letter!:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Make it personal by expressing your genuine interest in Cancer Research UK and the specific role of Legal Lead (8-12 month fixed term contract). Talk about why you want to be part of their team, how your unique experiences align with their values, and why you’re passionate about the legal sector.
Stay Formal but Friendly:While we all know the legal world can be pretty formal, don’t be afraid to let a bit of personality shine through in your written application. Use a respectful tone, but feel free to inject a little warmth; this approach can help you stand out and show you're a great fit for Cancer Research UK’s culture!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cancer Research UK
✨Know Your Legal Principles
Brush up on foundational legal principles relevant to the specific area of law you’re applying for, whether it’s corporate, criminal, or family law. We might get asked situational questions to test your knowledge, so being articulate about key concepts will make you stand out.
✨Be Ready for Case Studies
Full-time legal roles often involve case studies during interviews. Prepare to analyse a hypothetical case and discuss your approach to it. Practising this with a peer or mentor can help us refine our reasoning and articulate a solid legal argument.
✨Show Off Your Research Skills
As legal professionals, strong research skills are a must. Have examples ready of how you've effectively used legal databases or conducted thorough legal research in your past experiences. It's a great way to demonstrate your readiness for the role at Cancer Research UK.
✨Exude Professionalism and Confidence
In the legal field, professionalism is key. During the interview, we should maintain good eye contact and communicate clearly to show that we’re not just knowledgeable, but also confident. This can make a positive impression on your potential colleagues at Cancer Research UK.
