Legal Counsel in Nottingham

Location: Head Office, Nottingham (Hybrid working, minimum 2 days per week)

At Nottingham Building Society our talent acquisition approach is rooted in openness and inclusive hiring, so even if you don’t feel you tick every box, we’d still genuinely love to hear from you. Join Nottingham Building Society as a Legal Counsel at an exciting time of growth and transformation for the Society. You’ll play a key role in shaping strategic decisions and supporting major commercial activity across the business. This is a mid-level PQE newly created, business‑facing role reporting to the Head of Legal, offering a broad and varied workload.

You’ll provide high‑quality legal advice on commercial contracts with a particular focus on technology, digital change and operational resilience, advice on our consumer agreements, and support a wide range of strategic transactions across the business. You’ll work closely with teams across the organisation, helping them to deliver the growth and transformation agenda within legal risk, drive compliance, and enable confident decision‑making. With opportunities to mentor junior lawyers and influence exciting programmes of work, this role offers autonomy, visibility, and the chance to make a real difference in a modern, purpose‑led mutual.

Here’s a taste of what you will be doing as a Legal Counsel at Nottingham Building Society:

• Deliver Expert Legal Advice: Provide proactive, business‑focused legal guidance across commercial, corporate, contract, data protection, real estate, and litigation matters.
• Support Strategic Transactions: Advise on complex deals, including Treasury‑related transactions and other high‑impact strategic programmes.
• Drive Contract Excellence: Ensure robust, compliant contracts with suppliers, partners, and customers across all products and services.
• Manage External Counsel: Select, brief, and oversee external law firms to ensure effective, cost‑efficient support.
• Monitor Legal & Regulatory Change: Track shifts in legislation and regulation, recommending and implementing necessary actions.
• Enable Risk‑Smart Decision Making: Identify legal risks, support risk mitigation, and influence high‑quality, well‑informed business decisions.
• Mentor & Support Junior Lawyers: Share expertise and help develop the skills and confidence of less experienced team members.

About you:

• Commercial Law Expertise: Strong knowledge of corporate, commercial, and contract law, with confidence advising across varied legal areas.
• Data Privacy Awareness: Solid understanding of UK data protection and privacy legislation. Other legal specialisms are also desirable: particularly in consumer contracting, payments, mortgage lending.
• Skilled Communicator: Exceptional negotiation, communication, and analytical abilities that build trust and influence decisions.
• Stakeholder Partner: Excellent stakeholder‑management skills and the ability to work collaboratively across the business.
• Deal Experience: Proven track record handling complex transactions and high‑value commercial agreements.
• Process‑Driven Mindset: Experience designing or improving processes and procedures to enhance legal operations.
• Supportive Leader: Experience mentoring or guiding junior lawyers, helping them grow in confidence and capability.
• Qualified Professional: Qualified solicitor (5+ PQE recommended), with data privacy certification desirable.

Competitive Package: Fair salary benchmarked against market data, annual discretionary bonus, and 29 days holiday plus bank holidays. Health & Wellbeing: Access to Medicash healthcare, mental health first aiders, and a suite of wellbeing resources to support you inside and outside of work. Work-Life Balance: 35‑hour working week for full‑time roles, with flexibility to help you perform at your best. Career Growth: Ongoing personal and professional development, we’ll support your ambitions and help you grow your potential. Inclusive Culture: Be part of a friendly, values‑led team that genuinely cares about doing the right thing for colleagues and customers. Giving Back: Use two paid volunteering days each year to support causes close to your heart, through our Samuel Fox Foundation. Sustainability Focus: Join a business committed to reducing its carbon footprint and making a positive impact on the environment. Free access to Octopus Money: Financial coaching & tools that help you plan, manage, and make the most of your money.

Embracing Diversity Together: We proudly embrace and celebrate diversity as a fundamental cornerstone of our values. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace is not just essential for our success but is also a reflection of the vibrant communities we serve. Our commitment to diversity extends beyond our internal culture to the way we approach advertising and engage with our customers. Our commitment means actively working to eliminate barriers and biases that may hinder equal opportunities within our organisation. We strive to ensure that all individuals, regardless of background, have an equal chance to thrive and advance in their careers. We acknowledge that diversity is not just a goal to be achieved but a continuous journey toward creating an environment that embraces differences and promotes equal opportunities for all. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture that encourages collaboration, creativity, and a sense of belonging for every member of our community.