At a Glance
- Tasks: Advise on contracts, negotiate terms, and deliver commercial legal advice.
- Company: Join the Financial Times, a leading global news organisation.
- Benefits: Generous leave, medical cover, gym memberships, and community engagement opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working model with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a collaborative environment while working with innovative legal AI tools.
- Qualifications: UK qualified solicitor with strong contract drafting and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
About us
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading news organisations, globally recognised for its authority, integrity and accuracy, with a mission to deliver quality information and services worldwide. At the FT, curiosity thrives and ambitious thinking is rewarded. Here, you’re given the chance to reach millions, create work that matters and deliver impartial journalism in a polarised world. In our warm, collaborative culture, you’ll connect with a diverse community of experts who support your growth, career aspirations and wellbeing. Your future at the FT will be filled with opportunities that challenge and inspire you. With no fixed path, you’ll discover new skills and forge a career that can take you anywhere.
Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be heard, respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and operate to their full potential. We are committed to removing barriers for everyone, with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups.
The Role
The Financial Times is recruiting for maternity cover for one of the commercial contracts lawyer roles based at our office in Belfast, Northern Ireland OR based fully remotely anywhere in the UK. This is a three month fixed term maternity cover position, and we are looking for someone available for an immediate start. This is a salaried position.
The FT’s highly regarded in-house legal team is based across offices in both London and Belfast. The Belfast team currently comprises four commercial lawyers who report into a Senior Legal Counsel (also based in Belfast) and the FT’s deputy company secretary. The Belfast legal team provides dedicated support to important business divisions within the Financial Times, including the FT corporate subscriptions and licensing business, the Financial Times Live global conferences and events business, FT’s thought leadership business, FT Longitude, and the FT Specialist range of titles. This fixed term contract provides the opportunity to work either fully remotely from anywhere in the UK, or as hybrid working based at either our Belfast or London office.
Key responsibilities
- Advising the business on contracts with clients from a wide range of industries and jurisdictions
- Engaging directly in negotiating contract terms with external customers
- Providing highly responsive and commercial advice
- Managing contracts which are usually based on standard templates, but can be subject to extensive negotiation
- Understanding how the templates reflect the FT’s business model and updating templates as required to meet changing business needs and product developments
- Delivering training to business partners
- Using leading legal AI tools to develop and implement agentic solutions that streamline workflows and enhance the delivery of high-quality legal advice
Required skills and experience
Essential
- Solicitor qualified in the UK.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong commercial contract drafting skills and legal knowledge, with a good understanding of copyright, licensing, indemnity and liability issues
- Demonstrates commercial awareness that takes strategic objectives into account
- Highly organised, flexible and with the ability to prioritise and keep colleagues and managers informed
- Can build effective relationships within the legal team and wider business
Desirable
- Previous in-house experience.
- A forward-thinking approach to legal practice, with a strong interest in—or practical experience of—utilising advanced legal AI tools to design workflows and agentic solutions that improve efficiency.
What’s in it for you?
Our benefits vary by location but we are committed to providing best-in-class perks across all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. Full details of our benefits are available here. We currently operate a hybrid model which requires staff to work onsite 50% of the time, subject to role requirements & regular review. While flexible working requests will be considered, not all patterns are suitable for all roles. We believe this balanced approach supports flexibility and protects our culture, making collaboration and communication easier, building stronger relationships and team cohesion, and supporting peer learning.
Accessibility
We are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments/personalisation as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements or have any questions, email talent@ft.com and a member of our team will be happy to help.
Further information
At the FT, we embrace innovation and the use of technology and appreciate that individuals may leverage AI tools as part of their job application process. Whilst we are happy for you to use AI to assist with your application, it is essential that all information provided is authentic and accurately represents your skills, experience, and qualifications. Candidates should be aware that the use of AI throughout the application process may be monitored to ensure a fair and transparent hiring process for all. Please beware of fraudulent job postings and offers claiming to be from the Financial Times. All legitimate opportunities will direct you to apply through the official Financial Times careers site, and the FT will never ask for financial information, payments, or referrals to third parties during the hiring process. If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a job posting or suspect any scam activity, please contact talent@ft.com.
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Legal Counsel - 3 month FTC, immediate start in London employer: Financial Times
The Financial Times is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where curiosity and ambition are celebrated. With a strong commitment to employee growth, you will have access to diverse opportunities that challenge and inspire you, whether working remotely or in our Belfast office. Our collaborative culture, combined with competitive benefits such as generous leave and wellness support, ensures that you can thrive both personally and professionally while contributing to meaningful journalism.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Legal Counsel - 3 month FTC, immediate start 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 Financial Times.
✨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 Financial Times 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 Financial Times.
We think you need these skills to ace Legal Counsel - 3 month FTC, immediate start in London
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 Financial Times and how you're motivated to contribute to their success during your limited time with them!
How to prepare for a job interview at Financial Times
✨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 Legal Counsel - 3 month FTC, immediate start role at Financial Times. 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 Financial Times.
