At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage corporate cases, advise clients, and draft key documents in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join a modern law firm that values collaboration and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, performance bonuses, and healthcare benefits.
- Other info: Be part of a friendly team culture with excellent career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Gain autonomy and work on high-quality projects with ambitious clients.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor (NQ - 5+ PQE) with strong commercial awareness and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 75000 € per year.
Jonathan Lea Network (JLN) is seeking a technically strong and commercially minded Corporate Solicitor (NQ – 5+ PQE) to join our growing team. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your corporate practice within a modern, entrepreneurial firm that values initiative, collaboration and commercial thinking — without unnecessary hierarchy or rigid structures.
We are looking for someone who wants to build their reputation in high-quality transactional work while benefiting from genuine autonomy, strong client exposure and meaningful career progression.
About JLN
JLN is a modern, forward-thinking, full-service law firm based in Mid-Sussex, advising clients across England and Wales and internationally. Since becoming SRA regulated in May 2019, the firm has grown rapidly and continues to expand its retained team and consultant network. We combine strong technical expertise with a pragmatic, commercially focused approach to client service. Our clients include technology start-ups, scale-ups, private equity-backed businesses and established owner-managed companies across a range of sectors.
Our values are central to how we operate:
- Responsive and client-centred
- Expertly insightful
- Personable and collaborative
- Innovative and technology-enabled
We operate a successful consultancy model alongside our employed team, enabling collaboration across specialisms and exposure to complex, multi-disciplinary matters.
The Role
You will manage your own corporate and commercial caseload, acting as a key point of contact for clients and delivering clear, pragmatic and commercially aware advice. Your work is likely to include:
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Shareholder agreements and joint ventures
- Private equity and venture capital transactions
- Corporate restructurings
- Finance transactions
- General company law matters
- Commercial agreements and terms and conditions
- Intellectual property matters (in collaboration with specialists where required)
You will have autonomy from day one, supported by a collaborative team and our wider consultant network where specialist input is required. This role offers exposure to high-quality work often associated with larger City and national firms, within a more agile and entrepreneurial environment.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Managing a varied corporate and commercial caseload
- Advising clients with clarity, precision and commercial awareness
- Drafting and negotiating transactional documentation
- Taking introductory calls and converting new enquiries
- Working collaboratively on multi-disciplinary matters
- Engaging with AI and legal technology embedded in JLN’s working practices
- Contributing to marketing, networking and business development initiatives
The Ideal Candidate
You will be:
- A qualified solicitor with NQ – 5+ PQE in corporate and commercial law (private practice and/or in-house)
- Technically strong with a meticulous eye for detail
- Confident managing files independently
- Commercially aware and business-minded
- An excellent communicator, both written and verbal
- Organised, responsive and solution-focused
- Comfortable working in a collaborative but entrepreneurial environment
- Enthusiastic about marketing, networking and developing your own profile
- A genuine interest in entrepreneurship, high-growth businesses and transactional work is essential.
Why Join JLN?
This role offers high-quality corporate work without the constraints of a traditional firm structure. You will benefit from:
- Hybrid working with genuine flexibility
- A supportive mixed-level team structure
- Direct client contact and early responsibility
- A collaborative, open working environment
- A firm that embraces AI and modern systems
- Exposure to ambitious, high-growth clients
- Regular team events and a friendly, inclusive culture
Benefits
- 22 days’ annual leave (rising to 25 days with service)
- NEST pension scheme
- Salary sacrifice options
- WPA Precision Corporate Healthcare
- Performance bonus: 20% of billings above £180,000 per annum
- Commission: 15% of any work introduced to the firm
Location
This role is best suited to candidates based in Sussex, Surrey, Greater London or Kent who are within an hour’s commute of our Haywards Heath office. However, we are open to considering strong candidates from further afield who wish to work on a fully remote basis.
How to Apply
If you would like to apply, please send your CV and covering letter to:
Corporate Solicitor employer: The Jonathan Lea Network
Jonathan Lea Network (JLN) is an exceptional employer that fosters a modern and entrepreneurial work culture, offering Corporate Solicitors the chance to thrive in a flexible environment with genuine autonomy and direct client exposure. With a commitment to employee growth, JLN provides opportunities for meaningful career progression, collaboration across specialisms, and engagement with high-quality transactional work, all while embracing innovative technology and maintaining a friendly, inclusive atmosphere.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Corporate Solicitor
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the legal field. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to solicitors on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio of your best work or case studies that highlight your expertise in corporate law. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share these examples to demonstrate your value.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Before any interviews, do some mock interviews with friends or mentors. This will help you articulate your thoughts clearly and confidently, especially when discussing your experience and how it aligns with the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who take the initiative to apply directly. It shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at JLN, and we appreciate that kind of enthusiasm!
We think you need these skills to ace Corporate Solicitor
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Corporate Solicitor role. Highlight your relevant PQE and any specific corporate law experience to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to showcase your passion for corporate law and how you can contribute to our team. Be personable and let your enthusiasm for the role come through.
Showcase Your Commercial Awareness:We love candidates who understand the business side of law. In your application, mention any experiences that demonstrate your commercial thinking and how you've applied it in past roles.
Apply Through Our Website:For a smooth application process, make sure to apply directly through our website. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Jonathan Lea Network
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on corporate and commercial law basics, especially areas like mergers and acquisitions, shareholder agreements, and finance transactions. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're technically strong and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Show Your Commercial Mindset
JLN values a commercially aware approach, so think about how you can demonstrate your understanding of business needs during the interview. Prepare examples of how you've provided clear, pragmatic advice in past roles or internships, and be ready to discuss how you can apply this thinking to their clients.
✨Be Personable and Collaborative
Since JLN emphasises a collaborative environment, be prepared to showcase your teamwork skills. Share experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in a legal context or otherwise, and highlight your communication style to show that you can engage well with clients and colleagues alike.
✨Embrace Technology
With JLN's focus on innovative and technology-enabled practices, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with any legal tech tools they might use. Mention any relevant experience you have with AI or legal software during the interview to demonstrate that you're adaptable and forward-thinking.
