At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide legal support on football regulations, litigation, and risk management.
- Company: Join The FA, the heart of English football, promoting inclusivity and excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hybrid working, free lunches, medical cover, and event day tickets at Wembley.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team impacting football while developing your legal expertise.
- Qualifications: 5+ years as a qualified solicitor with strong contentious legal knowledge required.
- Other info: DBS check mandatory; diverse workplace committed to inclusion and personal growth.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
The FA is looking for a Senior Legal Counsel to provide proactive legal support to The FA Group across a full range of contentious, regulatory and risk issues.
What will you be doing?
- Delivering robust legal advice in an efficient and effective manner to The FA Group.
- Protecting the organisation from litigation and reputational risk.
- Providing legal support on football regulatory matters.
- Providing legal and disciplinary support to the England national teams.
- Advising on FIFA/UEFA regulatory matters.
- Providing advice on player status issues, transfers and agents.
- Handling contentious intellectual property issues.
- Dealing with insurance issues affecting The FA Group.
- Providing support to the safeguarding team on legal issues.
- Providing focused instructions to external law firms when authorised to do so.
- Execute additional tasks as required to meet the FA's changing priorities.
- Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure that the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being can be maintained.
As part of The FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.
What are we looking for?
Essential for the role:
- 5+ years experience working as a qualified solicitor at a major law firm or in-house.
- Must be able to demonstrate a breadth of relevant contentious legal knowledge gathered in a major law firm and/or corporate.
- Ability to demonstrate clear and concise written and oral legal advice.
- Ability to demonstrate the application of robust legal advice in a practical manner.
- Excellent organisation skills.
- Demonstrable ability to work and deliver under pressure.
- Excellent customer service skills with ability to adapt and tailor approach dependent on needs.
- Excellent planning, prioritisation and time management skills.
Beneficial to have:
- Previous experience of sports law.
- Experience of dealing with arbitration.
- Previous in-house experience.
- Previous experience of instructing external law firms.
What's in it for you?
We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, to achieve this we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders. We pride ourselves in offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role.
We also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:
- Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encouraging you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well-being.
- Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
- Free private medical cover.
- A contributory pension scheme.
- An additional 'Thank You' days leave, volunteering days as well as 25 days annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract).
- A hybrid working model, which offers greater flexibility.
For more information on what it is like to work at The FA, please visit our FA Careers page. We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work. We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.
As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.
Senior Legal Counsel - Football Regulation & Litigation employer: The Football Association
Contact Detail:
The Football Association Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Legal Counsel - Football Regulation & Litigation
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest developments in football regulation and litigation. Understanding current issues and trends will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the sports law field. Attend relevant events or webinars to connect with others who work in football regulation, as they may provide insights or even referrals that could help you land the job.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for potential interview questions by practising how you would handle specific legal scenarios related to football. This will showcase your practical application of legal knowledge and your ability to think on your feet.
✨Tip Number 4
Research The FA's values and recent initiatives. Tailoring your conversation during interviews to align with their mission and demonstrating how you can contribute to their goals will make you a more appealing candidate.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Legal Counsel - Football Regulation & Litigation
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should clearly outline your interest in the Senior Legal Counsel position and highlight your relevant experience. Make sure to address how your background aligns with the responsibilities mentioned in the job description, such as providing legal support on football regulatory matters and handling contentious issues.
Showcase Relevant Experience: In your CV, emphasise your 5+ years of experience as a qualified solicitor, particularly any work related to sports law or arbitration. Include specific examples of how you've provided robust legal advice and managed litigation risks in previous roles.
Demonstrate Your Skills: Highlight your organisational skills, ability to work under pressure, and customer service skills in both your cover letter and CV. Use concrete examples to illustrate how you've successfully managed competing priorities and delivered effective legal solutions.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application to reflect The FA's values and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Mention any relevant experiences that demonstrate your adaptability and understanding of the unique challenges within the sports sector.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Football Association
✨Showcase Your Legal Expertise
Make sure to highlight your experience as a qualified solicitor, especially any relevant contentious legal knowledge. Be prepared to discuss specific cases or situations where you provided robust legal advice, particularly in the context of sports law or regulatory matters.
✨Demonstrate Clear Communication Skills
Since the role requires clear and concise written and oral legal advice, practice articulating your thoughts on complex legal issues. You might be asked to explain legal concepts in layman's terms, so being able to simplify your language is key.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess how you would handle real-life scenarios related to football regulation and litigation. Think about past experiences where you had to manage risk or provide legal support under pressure, and be ready to share those examples.
✨Understand The FA's Values and Culture
Familiarise yourself with The FA's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and safeguarding. Be prepared to discuss how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to creating a safe environment in football.