At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide legal support for commercial partnerships, media, and governance in women's football.
- Company: Join WSL Football, transforming women's football and society.
- Benefits: Be part of a pioneering team with growth opportunities in a dynamic environment.
- Other info: Office-based role in London with travel across the UK to engage with clubs.
- Why this job: Shape the future of women's football while working closely with industry leaders.
- Qualifications: Solicitor/lawyer with experience in commercial agreements and strong relationship-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Welcome to a new era of women's professional football in England. WSL Football was created to transform the women's game and, by transforming football, transform society. As the independent organisation responsible for the Barclays Women's Super League and Barclays Women's Super League 2, we are building the most distinctive, competitive and entertaining women's football ecosystem in the world. This is a pivotal moment in our journey. From record attendances and global audiences to world-class talent and cultural influence, women's football is entering a new phase of growth. Driven by our positioning statement, New Wave Football, we are bringing new energy, new ideas and new ways of engaging fans, partners, clubs and communities.
As part of this next chapter, we are now looking to appoint our first dedicated Legal Counsel. This is a rare opportunity for a commercially minded and hands-on lawyer to help shape the legal foundations of one of the most exciting and fast-evolving organisations in global sport. You will work closely with senior leaders across the business, building trusted relationships, supporting strategic growth and helping establish scalable legal frameworks during a transformational stage of the organisation's evolution. We are looking for someone who thrives in agile environments, enjoys building from the ground up and wants to play an active role in shaping the future of women's football.
The Opportunity
As Legal Counsel, you will provide commercially focused legal support across a broad range of business areas including commercial partnerships, media, governance, operations, innovation and club engagement. This is a highly visible role that requires someone comfortable balancing day-to-day legal execution with longer-term thinking as the organisation continues to grow. Alongside supporting internal stakeholders, you will also spend time building relationships across the game, including regular engagement with clubs and external partners across the country.
Key Responsibilities
- Commercial Contracting & Advisory
- Draft, review, negotiate and advise on a wide range of commercial agreements including sponsorship, partnership, media, licensing, supplier and technology agreements.
- Provide commercially pragmatic and solutions-focused legal advice to stakeholders across the organisation.
- Support digital transformation initiatives including software, SaaS, data processing and data licensing arrangements.
- Legal Operations & Execution
- Take ownership of day-to-day legal matters, ensuring an efficient and responsive legal service across the business.
- Manage NDAs, template development, competition terms and conditions, and bespoke talent and player-related agreements.
- Help establish scalable legal processes, improve workflows and contribute to the development of legal operations as the organisation grows.
- Support the implementation of legal technology and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Regulatory & Governance Support
- Provide support and guidance on relevant football regulatory frameworks including FA, UEFA, FIFA and league regulations.
- Assist with governance matters, board documentation and regulatory communications.
- Support the interpretation and practical application of rules and compliance frameworks.
- Stakeholder & Club Engagement
- Build trusted relationships with stakeholders across commercial, football, operations and medical teams.
- Work collaboratively with clubs and external partners across the women's game.
- Travel nationally as required to support relationship building and ongoing engagement across the league ecosystem.
- External Counsel Management
- Support the management of external legal advisers on specialist or high-risk matters.
- Ensure external advice is delivered efficiently and integrated effectively into business decision-making.
About You
You will combine strong legal and commercial judgement with a collaborative, adaptable and relationship-led approach. This role will suit someone who enjoys being close to the business, operating with autonomy and helping organisations scale. You will be comfortable navigating ambiguity, balancing multiple priorities and building strong relationships across a broad stakeholder landscape. Character and mindset will be just as important as technical capability. We are looking for someone who is proactive, pragmatic, emotionally intelligent and energised by the opportunity to build something meaningful within an ambitious and purpose-driven organisation.
You will likely bring:
- Qualification as a solicitor/lawyer with experience gained in private practice and/or in-house environments.
- Strong experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements.
- The ability to manage a varied workload independently and prioritise effectively.
- Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
- A pragmatic, commercially aware and solutions-focused mindset.
- Confidence operating in environments where priorities evolve quickly and no two days are the same.
Experience within sport, media or entertainment would be advantageous, but is not essential.
Working at WSL Football
This role is based at WSL Football's offices in Farringdon, London. Given the collaborative and evolving nature of the organisation, a strong in-person office presence will be important, particularly in the early stages as relationships, processes and ways of working continue to develop. The role will also involve travel across the UK to build relationships with clubs and stakeholders throughout the women's game.
Legal Counsel employer: The Football Association
At WSL Football, we are not just transforming women's football; we are redefining the landscape of sport and society. As an employer, we offer a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation, providing our Legal Counsel with unique opportunities to shape the legal framework of a rapidly growing organisation. With a focus on employee development and a commitment to building meaningful relationships within the football community, this role in Farringdon, London, promises a rewarding career path in an exciting and purpose-driven environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Legal Counsel
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the women's football scene. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that you didn’t even know existed.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for the game! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers or during interviews, let your enthusiasm for women's football shine through. Share your ideas on how you can contribute to the growth of the sport and make a real impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Be prepared for anything! The world of women's football is fast-paced and ever-changing. Brush up on your knowledge of current trends, regulations, and key players in the industry. This will help you stand out as someone who’s not just qualified but also genuinely invested in the field.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application come through directly. It shows initiative and gives us a chance to see your commitment to being part of this exciting journey in women's football. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be part of something transformative!
We think you need these skills to ace Legal Counsel
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Women's Football:When you're writing your application, let your love for women's football shine through! We want to see how you connect with our mission and how you can contribute to this exciting journey.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant legal experience, especially in commercial agreements. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so show us how your background aligns with the role!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make it easy for us to see why you’re the perfect fit for the Legal Counsel position.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this amazing opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Football Association
✨Know Your Legal Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of commercial agreements, especially in the context of sports and media. Be ready to discuss how you've navigated complex legal situations in the past and how that experience can benefit the organisation.
✨Show Your Collaborative Side
This role is all about building relationships, so be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with different stakeholders. Highlight your ability to adapt and work closely with teams across various functions.
✨Embrace the Agile Environment
The organisation is evolving quickly, so demonstrate your comfort with change. Share experiences where you've thrived in fast-paced settings and how you managed multiple priorities without losing focus.
✨Be Solutions-Focused
Prepare to discuss how you've provided pragmatic legal advice in challenging situations. Show that you can think on your feet and offer creative solutions that align with business goals, especially in a sports context.
