Paralegal (we have office locations in Cambridge, Leeds & London) London

Genomics England is a global leader in enabling genomic medicine and research, focused on creating a world where everyone benefits from genomic healthcare. Building on the 100,000 Genomes Project, we support the NHS’s world‑first national whole genome sequencing service and run the growing National Genomic Research Library, alongside delivering numerous major genomics initiatives. By connecting research and clinical care at national scale, we enable immediate healthcare benefits and advances for the future.

Our mission is to provide the evidence and digital systems so that by 2035 genomics could play a role in up to half of all healthcare interactions, whilst securing the UK’s position as the best place to discover, prove and benefit from genomic innovations. We are accelerating our impact and working with patients, doctors, scientists, government and industry to improve genomic testing, and help researchers access the health data and technology they need to make new medical discoveries and create more effective, targeted medicines for everybody.

Behind the Healthcare and Research outcomes, Genomics England delivers through designing, developing and operating complex healthcare software systems. We’re on the cusp of big changes with the real prospect of genomics becoming the fabric of everyday healthcare through the lifetime – from birth to old age.

We are seeking a proactive Paralegal to keep the Legal Team running smoothly, taking the lead on administrative and operational tasks while serving as the first point of contact through the shared Legal inbox, managing, triaging, and escalating queries efficiently. This role will work closely with Commercial Procurement and the Information Governance team to support collaborative legal and compliance matters. You will assist with reviewing standard contracts, maintaining legal systems and registers, and coordinating legal documents and logs, while ensuring contract management information is accurate across the commercial lifecycle.

Additionally, you will prepare execution ready documents and manage the deployment of electronic signature tools such as DocuSign. This is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to a wide range of Genomics England projects and programmes while actively promoting legal best practices across the organisation.

Everyday responsibilities include:

• Coordinate key meetings by scheduling sessions, preparing agendas, and producing accurate minutes.
• Maintain legal data, information and reporting across the commercial lifecycle.
• Manage legal documentation by coordinating registers, inboxes, and logs (e.g., Contract Register, Legal Inbox, HighQ – the team’s new Thomson Reuters tool).
• Support contract work by reviewing standard contracts (such as NDAs, Services Agreements and other types of commercial and/or research contract) and assisting with self‑service legal tools.
• Provide support to internal clients on the management of contracts post execution.
• Oversee contract execution by preparing execution ready documents and managing electronic signatures (e.g. DocuSign).
• Collaborate across the organisation by working with Commercial Procurement, Information Governance, and the Ethics and Data Protection Group relevant matters while promoting legal best practice.
• Provide legal updates and insights by monitoring legal literature, conducting bespoke research, and building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills and experience for success:

• Experience as a Paralegal or similar legal support role, with hands‑on involvement in contract review and management, legal documentation, research, and supporting the operations of a legal team.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in all aspects of legal work.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Confidence using contract management systems and preparing documents for signature.
• Good understanding of basic contract law.
• Familiarity with legal AI tools.
• Comfortable adapting to change and working in a flexible environment.
• Awareness of public procurement processes.
• Awareness of basic data protection principles.
• Experience managing company‑wide legal projects or workflows.
• Skilled in reviewing and updating legal precedents.
• Interest in the healthcare or life sciences sectors.

Qualifications:

• Previous paralegal experience, ideally supporting an in‑house legal team, commercial legal function or law firm.
• Law degree or equivalent legal qualification, training or experienced demonstrating a sound understanding of core legal principles.

Additional Information:

• Salary from: £40,000
• Closing date for applications - Tuesday 21st July
• A cover letter is mandatory for this role; applications that do not include a cover letter will unfortunately not be reviewed. Cover letter content: please explain how your skills and experience align with this role and its requirements, please write about the following in particular:
• Your experience managing contracts throughout their lifecycle and what software you used.
• The areas of law you have come across the most in your current and previous roles and the types of contracts you have reviewed.
• Your experience using Legal AI or other types of AI and/or legal technology in your current or previous roles. Please give examples. If you have little or no experience of using Legal AI or legal technology, please set out how you think Legal AI and legal technology will change the nature of legal practice in the next 2 – 3 years and why you are interested in that.

Being an integral part of such a meaningful mission is extremely rewarding in itself, but in order to support our people, we’re continually improving our benefits package. We pride ourselves on investing in our people and supporting them to achieve their career goals, as well as offering a benefits package including: Generous Leave: 30 days’ holiday plus