At a Glance
- Tasks: Review and negotiate commercial contracts while supporting governance initiatives.
- Company: Join a well-established UK group with diverse businesses in performance and technical services.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, a comprehensive benefits package, and clear career progression.
- Why this job: Shape a new in-house legal role and work closely with senior leadership.
- Qualifications: Experience in commercial legal work and strong understanding of UK contract law.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities to influence strategic decisions.
The Business
TSR Legal is working with a well-established UK group comprising several specialist businesses operating across performance, entertainment, education, and commercial environments. The group delivers a broad range of projects, products, and services, including engineering, systems integration, facilities management, and technical project delivery. While each subsidiary brings its own specialist expertise, the group operates under a shared commitment to quality, safety, and integrity. Following continued growth including a recent acquisition, the group is strengthening its commercial and governance capability to support consistent standards, robust risk management, and long-term sustainability across the business.
The Opportunity
We are recruiting an In-House Paralegal or Legal Executive to provide legal and commercial support across all group companies. This is a newly created role, reporting directly to the Group Commercial Director, offering exposure to a diverse portfolio of commercial contracts, public procurement matters, construction-related documentation, and framework agreements. The position may be appointed at Paralegal / Senior Paralegal or Legal Executive level, depending on experience. The role has been designed with clear progression in mind, with increasing responsibility, autonomy, and remuneration as capability develops.
The successful candidate will play a key role in reviewing, negotiating, and managing contractual documentation, while helping to embed group-wide commercial standards and reduce reliance on external legal advisers.
Key Responsibilities
- Review, negotiate, and advise on client, subcontractor, and supplier contracts (including NEC, JCT, and bespoke agreements), with some drafting as required
- Develop and maintain standard terms and conditions appropriate to different subsidiaries and revenue lines
- Support bids and tenders, ensuring compliance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and relevant procurement frameworks
- Coordinate contract management activities, including templates, registers, and document repositories
- Track and report on contractual obligations, variations, and risk exposure across the group
- Work closely with the Group Commercial Director to resolve legal and commercial queries, escalating externally only where necessary
- Support facilities management and framework agreements, including service level and performance documentation
- Contribute to governance and compliance initiatives
- Assist with the development of internal training materials, checklists, and commercial guidance for project and sales teams
Progression Focus
As the role develops, you will have increasing opportunity to:
- Act as a first-line legal adviser to project, sales, and commercial teams
- Take ownership of contract negotiations within agreed parameters
- Lead best practice and standardisation initiatives across the group
- Manage external legal advisers when specialist advice is required
About You
You will enjoy working across multiple businesses and contract types, balancing technical accuracy with commercial pragmatism. You will be comfortable dealing with senior stakeholders as well as operational teams, providing clear, practical advice.
Essential Experience
- 3-5 years experience in commercial legal work (in-house or private practice)
- Strong understanding of UK contract law and public procurement
- Demonstrable experience reviewing and negotiating complex commercial contracts
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Candidates with slightly less formal experience but strong commercial capability will be considered.
Desirable
- Experience within construction, engineering, or technical services environments
- Familiarity with NEC and JCT contracts
- CILEX qualification, LPC/SQE preparation, or equivalent paralegal certification
- Experience supporting governance or compliance functions
Core Competencies
- Analytical, detail-focused, and commercially aware
- Strong communication and influencing skills
- Organised, proactive, and able to manage competing priorities
- Collaborative, with the ability to work across multiple business units
Why Apply
- Opportunity to shape a newly created in-house legal role
- Exposure to a broad range of commercial and contractual work
- Hybrid and flexible working environment
- Clear development and progression pathway
- Direct interaction with senior leadership and strategic decision-making
- Access to a comprehensive benefits package and additional work perks
How to Apply
For a confidential discussion or to apply, please contact Rachel Phillips, Associate Director at TSR Legal with your CV, quoting In-House Paralegal / Legal Executive - Commercial Contracts.
In-House Paralegal / Legal Executive (Commercial Contracts) in Bristol employer: TSR Legal - South West
Contact Detail:
TSR Legal - South West Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land In-House Paralegal / Legal Executive (Commercial Contracts) in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the legal field, especially those who work in commercial contracts. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its recent projects. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in their work and how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! Since the role involves reviewing and negotiating contracts, being able to demonstrate your approach to negotiations during interviews can really set you apart.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace In-House Paralegal / Legal Executive (Commercial Contracts) in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your commercial legal work and any relevant contract law knowledge to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role, focusing on your experience with commercial contracts and your ability to work across multiple businesses.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since strong communication is key for this role, ensure your application is clear and concise. We want to see how you can convey complex legal concepts in an understandable way.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at TSR Legal - South West
✨Know Your Contracts
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of commercial contracts, especially NEC and JCT agreements. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of contracts you've reviewed or negotiated in the past, as this will show your practical experience and understanding of the role.
✨Understand the Business
Research TSR Legal and its subsidiaries thoroughly. Understand their operations in performance, entertainment, education, and commercial environments. This will help you tailor your answers to demonstrate how your skills can directly benefit their diverse portfolio.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a paralegal or legal executive, strong communication is key. Prepare to give examples of how you've effectively communicated complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders. This will highlight your ability to work collaboratively across multiple business units.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to manage competing priorities. Think of situations where you've had to balance technical accuracy with commercial pragmatism, and be ready to discuss how you navigated those challenges.