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- Tasks: Join our legal team to advise on commercial contracts and support various business functions.
- Company: 1st Central is a leading insurance company known for its innovative approach and excellent employee satisfaction.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, volunteer days, and perks like an electric car scheme and health cash plan.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a supportive environment while working on diverse legal challenges.
- Qualifications: Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with 5+ years of experience in insurance or financial services.
- Other info: Hybrid work model allows you to balance office and remote work effectively.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
We’re 1st Central, a market-leading insurance company utilising smart data and technology at pace. Rapid growth has been based on giving our 1.4 million customers exactly what they want: great value insurance with an excellent service. And that’s the same for our colleagues too; we won Insurance Employer of the Year at the British Insurance Awards 2024 and our Glassdoor score is pretty mega too!
Ready to be part of the driving force behind 1st Centrals Legal operation? We’re on the lookout for a Senior Legal Counsel who’s confident working across commercial and corporate matters and wants to get stuck into more than just the small print. This is a chance to be part of a smart, collaborative legal team where your opinion really matters, and your work helps shape how we do business.
You’ll be advising senior stakeholders, negotiating big contracts, and supporting everything from underwriting to claims to finance – and no two days are the same.
We’re all about hybrid flexibility. You can be based near Haywards Heath (and go into the office 1 day per week to collab with the team) or we’re open to remote working – we just ask you to pop in to see the team every now and then.
Skills you’ll need to be a great fit for the role:
- Proven Legal Experience – you’ve worked as a lawyer in-house and/or in private practice, and you\’re confident navigating a wide range of complex legal matters.
- Qualified & Practised – you’re a qualified Solicitor or Barrister (or equivalent) with a strong/provable track record under your belt and plenty of real-world legal expertise.
- Insurance Industry Know-How – you bring experience from Insurance, Financial Services, or another commercial setting – bonus points if that includes Insurance distribution or listed company work.
- Strong Stakeholder Management – you’re confident communicating with senior leaders and can translate legal jargon into practical advice they can act on.
- Coaching & Mentoring Skills – you enjoy developing others, supporting junior team members, and sharing your knowledge across the business.
What’s involved:
- Primary responsibility for advising all levels of stakeholder Group-wide on legal and quasi-legal matters and taking ownership of driving Group and team level strategy and particular projects.
- Depth and breadth of expertise in commercial contract, including SAAS, IT, Licence, data processing, IP, material outsourcing and loan agreements.
- Work closely with key business stakeholders including Underwriting, Finance, Tax and Claims teams.
- Draft a wide variety of agreements (both regulated and non-regulated).
- Primary responsibility for and managing the progress of and provision of advice in respect of challenges from regulatory or quasi-regulatory bodies such as HMRC and any non-UK financial services regulatory bodies.
- Oversee the maintenance of the Group’s Contracts Register, Intellectual Property, Litigation Register, Legal Issues Register and day to day transaction records.
- Support broker and distribution ancillary activities including consumer lending and CCJs.
- Conduct legal research and provide advice to the Group in a range of legal matters.
- Advise on regulatory issues, particularly, FCA, Gibraltar Financial Services and Guernsey Financial servicers matters.
- Review, draft, and lead negotiations of a range of commercial contracts, including material outsourcing agreements.
- Advise upon matters of general company law and broader corporate/strategic matters.
- Draft company policies and procedures, and complete legal research to ensure they are in line with legislation from the relevant jurisdictions.
- Liaise with stakeholders for relevant documentation (external and external) and maintain an accessible filing system for these documents.
- Manage and maintain the companies’ County Court decisions log, liaising with the Courts for updates and information and ensure the relevant documentation/filings are completed in respect of any litigation.
- Engage with the relevant departments to manage risks related to CCJs and work to reduce impact to credit rating reports.
- Work in conjunction with the Group General Counsel in dealing with legal and regulatory issues as required and deputise for the Group General Counsel by attending meetings from time to time as required.
- Supervise, support and mentor more junior team members and work collaboratively across the business.
- Handling bailiffs, following established procedure, and communicating with relevant departments.
- Be fully aware of the Company’s Health and Safety Policy and ensure personal compliance with corporate policies and rules, and other relevant standards/ regulations at all times.
Experience, knowledge & skills:
- Qualified Lawyer (Solicitor or Barrister) in England & Wales (or equivalent)
- Circa 5+ years PQE, ideally with in-house and/or private practice experience
- Strong background in insurance, financial services, or regulated environments
- Confident negotiating commercial contracts including outsourcing
- Excellent communication, research, and organisational skills
- Strong commercial awareness and risk management mindset
- Experience with mentoring or managing junior legal professionals
Behaviours:
- Detail-focused, organised, and proactive
- Positive, flexible, and approachable
- Comfortable presenting complex info clearly and simply
- Driven to improve processes and support business growth
- Discreet and professional with confidential information
- Growth mindset and love for continuous learning
If you\’re a strategic thinker who wants to make a real impact, work on meaningful projects, and be part of a supportive, down-to-earth legal team, apply now and let’s talk .
What can we do for you?
People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive. To get a taste of the advantages you’ll enjoy, take a look at all our perks in full here .
Intrigued? Our Talent team can tell you everything you need to know about what we want and what we’re offering, so feel free to get in touch.
86% of people would recommend a friend to work at First Central
Simply Health Cash plan. Reclaim the cost of your eye tests, dental appts, physiotherapy and more
Flexible Bank Holidays
Eight flexible bank holidays; you can choose which festivals you observe
We’re passionate about it. Everyone gets a paid day off annually to volunteer
Electric Car Scheme
Plug into our Electric Car Scheme for a deal with insurance, road tax and servicing
Flexible Working
We’re flexible; most roles let you mix office and home working. We work fluidly around core hours
Your Time in Need
Your Time in Need: five days’ leave so you can deal with life stuff. We’ll support you
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Senior Legal Counsel employer: First Central Services
Contact Detail:
First Central Services Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Legal Counsel
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the insurance industry, especially the regulatory landscape. Understanding FCA regulations and other compliance requirements will give you an edge in discussions with stakeholders.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the legal and insurance sectors. Attend industry events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and learn about the latest trends and challenges in the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your negotiation skills, particularly in commercial contracts. Being able to demonstrate your ability to negotiate effectively will be crucial during interviews and discussions with senior leaders.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience in mentoring and supporting junior team members. Highlighting your coaching skills will show that you can contribute to the team's growth and development.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Legal Counsel
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your relevant legal experience, particularly in commercial and corporate matters. Emphasise your qualifications as a Solicitor or Barrister and any specific experience in the insurance industry.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your understanding of the role and the company. Mention your proven track record in handling complex legal matters and your ability to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders.
Highlight Stakeholder Management Skills: In your application, provide examples of how you've successfully managed relationships with senior leaders and translated legal jargon into practical advice. This is crucial for the Senior Legal Counsel position.
Showcase Coaching Experience: If you have experience mentoring junior legal professionals, make sure to include this in your application. Highlight how you’ve supported their development and contributed to a collaborative team environment.
How to prepare for a job interview at First Central Services
✨Showcase Your Legal Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your previous legal experience in detail, especially in commercial and corporate matters. Highlight specific cases or projects where you successfully navigated complex legal issues, as this will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of a Senior Legal Counsel.
✨Understand the Insurance Industry
Familiarise yourself with the insurance sector, particularly the nuances of insurance distribution and regulatory frameworks. Being able to speak knowledgeably about industry trends and challenges will impress your interviewers and show that you're ready to contribute from day one.
✨Communicate Clearly with Stakeholders
Practice translating legal jargon into clear, actionable advice for non-legal stakeholders. During the interview, provide examples of how you've effectively communicated complex legal concepts to senior leaders, showcasing your strong stakeholder management skills.
✨Demonstrate Coaching and Mentoring Skills
Since the role involves supporting junior team members, be ready to discuss your experience in mentoring or coaching others. Share specific instances where you've helped develop talent within your team, as this aligns with the collaborative culture they value at 1st Central.
