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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support legal needs for McDonald's property portfolio and deliver commercial legal advice.
- Company: Join McDonald's, a leading employer with over 1,500 restaurants in the UK and Ireland.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and hybrid working options.
- Why this job: Make an impact in real estate law while working in a collaborative and inclusive culture.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor with up to four years of experience in commercial property law.
- Other info: Access industry-leading training and excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
About the Role
Join to apply for the Junior Legal Counsel (Real Estate) role at McDonald\’s. McDonald\’s has been operating in the UK since 1974 and currently runs over 1,500 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, serving almost four million customers each day. The company is one of the UK’s largest private‑sector employers, employing more than 170,000 people.
Hybrid Working
This role is based in our East Finchley office and requires three days in the office and two days working remotely.
What You’ll Be Doing
We’re looking for a Junior Legal Counsel to join our in‑house Real Estate Legal team and support the legal needs of our property portfolio across the UK and Ireland. Reporting to a Senior Legal Counsel, you’ll play a key role in delivering commercial legal advice across a broad range of real‑estate matters, from lease renewals to acquisitions, that underpins our growth and operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage lease renewals, reversionary leases, under‑lettings, disposals, and licences with minimal supervision
- Conduct title investigations for potential acquisition sites
- Provide day‑to‑day legal support to Asset Management and Estates teams
- Own and manage Estate queries via the Real Estate Shared Inbox
- Review deeds, conduct searches, and report on registered titles and lease provisions
- Support legal projects and policy development within the department
- Assist with new store acquisitions and lease renewals, including title reviews and property searches
- Liaise with external solicitors where required and identify when external input is needed
What You’ll Need
- Qualified solicitor with strong academic credentials
- Up to four years of post‑qualification experience in commercial property law
- Transactional experience (e.g., licences for alterations, assignments, under‑lettings)
- Able to provide pragmatic, commercial legal advice
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, adaptable to different audiences
- High attention to detail and a solution‑focused mindset
- Commercial awareness and sound business judgement
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
What You’ll Get
- Access to industry‑leading training and career‑development opportunities
- A collaborative and inclusive culture where your ideas are valued
- Competitive salary plus a comprehensive benefits package, including bonus, car and location allowance, free parking, lunch, and gym access
- Hybrid working, offering a mix of three days in the office and two days remote
Our Culture & Values
At McDonald\’s, our vision is to be the UK’s and Ireland’s best‑loved restaurant. Our values—Serve, Inclusion, Integrity, and Family—guide how we treat each other and our customers. We celebrate diversity, foster an inclusive culture, and stand against inequality and discrimination.
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Junior Legal Counsel (Real Estate) employer: McDonald's
Contact Detail:
McDonald's Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior Legal Counsel (Real Estate)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the legal field, especially those working in real estate. Use platforms like LinkedIn to connect and engage with professionals; you never know who might have a lead on your dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching McDonald's and its real estate operations. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you showcase your fit for the role and impress the interviewers.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your legal knowledge and problem-solving skills. You might face scenario-based questions during interviews, so brush up on your commercial property law and think through how you'd handle real-life situations.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining the McDonald's team and contributing to their success.
We think you need these skills to ace Junior Legal Counsel (Real Estate)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Junior Legal Counsel role. Highlight your experience in commercial property law and any relevant transactional work. We want to see how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Show Off Your Communication Skills: Since strong written communication is key for this role, ensure your application is clear and concise. Use professional language but let your personality shine through. We love a bit of character!
Highlight Your Attention to Detail: As a Junior Legal Counsel, you’ll need to manage various legal documents and queries. Make sure to showcase your attention to detail in your application. A well-structured CV can really make a difference!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at McDonald's!
How to prepare for a job interview at McDonald's
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on commercial property law, especially lease renewals and acquisitions. Familiarise yourself with McDonald's real estate operations and recent developments in the industry. This will show that you're genuinely interested and prepared.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a Junior Legal Counsel, you'll need to communicate effectively with various teams. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Consider preparing examples of how you've successfully communicated complex legal concepts in the past.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Mindset
Be ready to discuss how you've tackled challenges in previous roles. Think of specific instances where you provided pragmatic legal advice or resolved issues independently. This will highlight your solution-focused approach, which is crucial for this role.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the role and the team dynamics at McDonald's. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if the company culture aligns with your values. Questions about their approach to legal projects or collaboration with external solicitors can be great conversation starters.
