At a Glance
- Tasks: Support Shieldpay's growth by enabling commercial activity and managing legal processes.
- Company: Join a dynamic fintech company focused on innovation and growth.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, hybrid work options, and opportunities for career advancement.
- Other info: Gain broad exposure to various legal matters and potential for leadership roles.
- Why this job: Be a key player in shaping a modern, tech-driven legal function.
- Qualifications: Qualified UK Solicitor with 2-4 years’ PQE and strong contract negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Impact and Responsibilities
You will directly support Shieldpay's growth by ensuring legal enables, rather than constrains, commercial activity. This role sits across both commercial execution and strategic scaling: you will be partnering with revenue-generating teams to increase contracting capacity, improve deal velocity and remove legal process bottlenecks as the business scales. You will safeguard the business through corporate governance workstreams and also be crucial to our legal automation initiative to build a modern, tech-driven legal function. This role is a practical opportunity to act as a genuine commercial partner to the business, giving you direct ownership of a broad legal portfolio spanning corporate, commercial, and compliance work.
- Commercial contracting: own and manage the end-to-end client contracting process, proactively identifying and mitigating bottlenecks to ensure seamless business continuity. You will work closely with our Contracts Manager to oversee deal flow, maintain consistency in our legal approach, and drive highly efficient contract turnaround times. Additionally, you will partner directly with front-line commercial teams to deliver pragmatic, agile, and solutions-focused legal advice that enables business growth.
- High-value and complex legal support: provide critical support on high-stakes, bespoke, and higher-risk contractual negotiations for key institutional clients and strategic payment accounts. You will also assist on complex litigation-related client structures and dispute management.
- Corporate governance: support a range of corporate and strategic legal matters including corporate governance, cap table management, share option scheme maintenance, and shareholder documentation. This role also involves providing ad hoc legal support during funding rounds and strategic corporate events, alongside overseeing corporate housekeeping to ensure strict statutory compliance.
- Legal operations, risk & compliance: support and contribute to our legal automation and legal technology initiatives by developing scalable legal templates, playbooks, and modernising internal workflows. Help to optimise our contract lifecycle management processes, internal legal workflows, and data management systems, while supporting the business on regulatory compliance, GDPR/data protection queries, DSAR responses, and broader internal data governance.
- Employment and general advisory: act as a trusted internal advisor, providing ad hoc support on employment related matters and addressing general day-to-day legal queries from across Shieldpay.
What we're looking for
- Qualified UK Solicitor with ideally 2–4 years’ PQE.
- Strong foundation in drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts.
- Exposure to corporate work (fundraising, governance, shareholders and cap table management), financial services/fintech, or data protection/GDPR.
- Ability to balance legal risk with business objectives and deliver pragmatic solutions.
- Delivery-focused, calm under pressure, and comfortable managing multiple matters in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong organisational skills and a willingness to take ownership of matters from instruction through to completion.
- Skilled at engaging effectively and translating legal risks for non-legal stakeholders.
- Be process driven, naturally curious and genuinely interested in improving systems, workflows, and templates.
Growth and Development
This role is designed to provide broad exposure across commercial, corporate, governance, regulatory and strategic legal matters. You will work directly with the General Counsel and closely with senior stakeholders across the business, gaining experience well beyond a traditional commercial contracts role. For the right individual, there is a clear opportunity to develop into a senior Legal Counsel role and ultimately progress into broader legal leadership responsibilities as Shieldpay continues to grow.
Our Promise
Shieldpay is an equal opportunities employer. For Shieldpay building a fair and transparent workforce begins with the recruitment process that does not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age. We offer flexible working options, such as flexible hours and hybrid work, to support our employees' work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Legal Counsel
✨Get Involved in Law Societies
Join local law societies and attend their events – they're often a goldmine for networking and job opportunities in the legal field. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other budding lawyers and experienced solicitors who could provide vital insights and connections.
✨Tap into Online Legal Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online platforms like LinkedIn and specific legal forums. Get active in discussions or share your thoughts on recent legal developments – this not only builds your visibility but also showcases your passion and knowledge in law.
✨Attend Career Fairs and Workshops
Look out for career fairs and workshops specifically focused on law. Many law firms, including Shieldpay, will be scouting for fresh talent, so bring your A-game and don’t shy away from making a memorable impression.
✨Leverage Your University’s Career Services
If you’re still in university or have recently graduated, latch onto your career services! They often have connections with law firms looking for graduates and can guide you through the application process tailored for the legal sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Legal Counsel
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Legal Knowledge:When applying for a full-time role in legal services at Shieldpay, make sure to demonstrate your understanding of key legal principles and areas of law relevant to the position. Include any specific coursework, modules, or certifications, like LPC or BPTC qualifications, that showcase your legal expertise directly on your CV.
Showcase Your Research Skills:In the legal field, strong research skills are crucial. Use your application to illustrate how you've utilised these skills in past studies or work experiences – whether that's through past internships or significant projects. Mention any legal databases or tools you’re proficient in, as this can give you an edge.
Tailor That Cover Letter!:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Make it personal by expressing your genuine interest in Shieldpay and the specific role of Legal Counsel. Talk about why you want to be part of their team, how your unique experiences align with their values, and why you’re passionate about the legal sector.
Stay Formal but Friendly:While we all know the legal world can be pretty formal, don’t be afraid to let a bit of personality shine through in your written application. Use a respectful tone, but feel free to inject a little warmth; this approach can help you stand out and show you're a great fit for Shieldpay’s culture!
How to prepare for a job interview at Shieldpay
✨Know Your Legal Principles
Brush up on foundational legal principles relevant to the specific area of law you’re applying for, whether it’s corporate, criminal, or family law. We might get asked situational questions to test your knowledge, so being articulate about key concepts will make you stand out.
✨Be Ready for Case Studies
Full-time legal roles often involve case studies during interviews. Prepare to analyse a hypothetical case and discuss your approach to it. Practising this with a peer or mentor can help us refine our reasoning and articulate a solid legal argument.
✨Show Off Your Research Skills
As legal professionals, strong research skills are a must. Have examples ready of how you've effectively used legal databases or conducted thorough legal research in your past experiences. It's a great way to demonstrate your readiness for the role at Shieldpay.
✨Exude Professionalism and Confidence
In the legal field, professionalism is key. During the interview, we should maintain good eye contact and communicate clearly to show that we’re not just knowledgeable, but also confident. This can make a positive impression on your potential colleagues at Shieldpay.
