Legal Counsel in Devon, Willand

This is not a narrow legal role sitting on the side lines of the business.

PenCarrie is one of the UK’s leading B2B suppliers to the garment decoration industry, with over 3,500 product lines, more than 75 major brands, and a 300-person team supporting customers across the sector. We are a long-established family business, but one with the scale, pace and complexity to offer a genuinely interesting in-house legal role.

We’re looking for a Legal Counsel to join our growing legal team and work closely with our Head of Legal across a broad mix of commercial, governance, regulatory and operational matters. For a lawyer looking to build their in-house career, this is a rare opportunity: you’ll get close to the commercial decision-making, see how a substantial private business really operates, and develop the judgement needed to advise in a practical, business-focused way.

We are a family business of 300 team members, proud of our culture, customer focus, and the values that make us one of the leading companies in our market.

Our purpose: The distribution partner that enables exceptional customer success.

The opportunity: We’re looking for a Legal Counsel (0–5 PQE) to join our growing team, reporting into the Head of Legal. This is a fantastic opportunity for a junior to mid-level lawyer to gain broad, hands-on in-house experience, working closely with senior colleagues while managing a varied workload with increasing autonomy.

The hours: This role will follow our hybrid policy and we're open to discussing alternatives to full time hours for the right candidate so please get in touch if you'd like to discuss other arrangements.

What you’ll be doing:

• You’ll play a key role in ensuring legal compliance across the business while supporting our commercial objectives.
• Contracts & commercial support: Review, draft and negotiate contracts with suppliers, customers and partners. Safeguard the company’s interests while aligning with commercial objectives and risk appetite. Support new business opportunities and escalate complex matters where needed.
• Governance & compliance: Support corporate governance and Board processes, including preparation of Board and committee papers. Assist with company secretarial duties, filings and statutory compliance. Maintain and update company policies and governance frameworks.
• Regulatory & specialist areas: Ensure compliance with data protection legislation including UK GDPR. Monitor regulatory developments and support compliance activities. Support intellectual property protection, including trademarks and brand matters. Assist with insurance programme renewal and claims coordination.
• Operational responsibilities: Maintain the contracts database for accuracy and accessibility. Support broader legal and compliance projects across the business.

Person specification:

Essential:

• Qualified Solicitor with at least 2+ years post-qualification experience in a corporate, commercial or private practice legal environment.
• Proven track record in contract negotiation and management.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.

Desirable:

• Previous in-house legal experience desirable but not essential.
• Experience in similar type of sales and distribution business.

Why join PenCarrie? Our values shape everything we do:

• We’re dedicated to customer success.
• We build strong and respectful relationships.
• We look forward and embrace change.
• We’re proud of everything we do.
• We grow responsibly.

At PenCarrie, you’ll be part of a collaborative, values-driven environment where your voice is heard and your development is supported. If you’re looking to build your in-house legal career in a dynamic and supportive business, we’d love to hear from you.