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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide legal advice and support across various university matters.
- Company: Join a renowned, research-led international university with a vibrant community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a beautiful campus environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in higher education while developing your legal expertise.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor or barrister with strong legal knowledge relevant to higher education.
- Other info: Dynamic workplace with excellent career growth and commitment to diversity.
The predicted salary is between 38784 - 60000 £ per year.
About The Role
The role is to provide timely, solution-focused legal advice across a broad range of legal matters affecting the University. The postholder will work collaboratively with academic and professional services colleagues, contributing to the delivery of robust legal support and helping to embed compliance and risk awareness across the institution.
About You
You should be a qualified solicitor or barrister in England and Wales with a current practising certificate and have strong legal knowledge in areas relevant to higher education (e.g., public law, contract law, employment law, IP, regulatory law).
You will be a strategic thinker with strong risk awareness and excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong planning and organisational abilities will be essential. You should have a commitment to CPD and supporting legal awareness in others and be proficient in Microsoft Office.
About Our Division
We drive good governance and high-quality decision making to support the delivery of the University’s strategic and operational objectives by providing professional legal, governance, information management and risk management expertise and advice to help the University realize opportunity and manage risk.
We support governance across the University to ensure high quality decision making which keeps pace with our changing needs. Also, we oversee and drive compliance with key legislative and regulatory requirements.
Why Work Here
Our university is situated off the A27, next to the beautiful South Downs where you will enjoy everything that our 150-acre campus has to offer. We are accessible by public transport; Falmer train station is a five-minute walk to campus and several bus stops are located within campus. We also have dedicated cycling paths and encourage our staff to use these with our offering of a cycle to work scheme.
Sussex is a renowned, multi-accredited, research-led International University and this is only possible because of the people that work here. Whether you are a member of Faculty, part of a Professional Services team or a Student, it’s our people that make us great and we want you to be part of that.
Find Out More About Our Reward And Benefits Package
Further Key Information
Please contact Caroline Roberts (caroline.roberts@sussex.ac.uk) for informal enquiries.
The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK.
Role
This role has been assigned a SOC code (2419 Legal professionals not elsewhere classified) and is eligible for sponsorship in the following circumstance:
- If the successful candidate’s first CoS was issued on or before 3 April 2024 then the salary of the post at Grade 7.1 (£38,784) meets the requirement of the SOC code (£33,400).
- However if the first CoS was issued after the aforementioned date, or if you are a new applicant looking to relocate to the UK, then it will depend on your individual circumstances. You would either need to be appointed at Grade 7.4 to meet the salary threshold of £41,700 or use tradeable points to lower the salary requirement. Appointment above the starting point of the grade must be based on experience.
Seniority level
- Entry level
Employment type
- Full-time
Job function
- Legal
Industries
- Higher Education
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Legal Counsel Ref: 41577 employer: University of Sussex
Contact Detail:
University of Sussex Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Legal Counsel Ref: 41577
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the legal field, especially those who work in higher education. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the university's recent legal challenges or initiatives. This shows you're genuinely interested and ready to contribute to their mission. Plus, it gives you great talking points!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! As a legal counsel, you'll need to explain complex legal concepts clearly. Try explaining a tricky legal issue to a friend or family member to sharpen your skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Legal Counsel Ref: 41577
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your legal expertise in areas like public law and contract law. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant experience!
Show Off Your Communication Skills: Since strong written communication is key for this role, ensure your application is clear and concise. Use professional language but keep it friendly – we’re looking for someone who can communicate effectively with both academic and professional colleagues.
Highlight Your Strategic Thinking: We love a strategic thinker! In your application, give examples of how you’ve approached legal challenges in the past. Show us how you assess risks and come up with solutions that benefit everyone involved.
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 the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at University of Sussex
✨Know Your Legal Stuff
Make sure you brush up on key areas of law relevant to higher education, like public law and contract law. Be ready to discuss how your legal knowledge can help the university navigate its challenges.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since excellent written and verbal communication is crucial for this role, prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated complex legal concepts in the past. This will demonstrate your ability to collaborate with both academic and professional services colleagues.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Think about scenarios where you've had to assess risks and make strategic decisions. Be prepared to share these experiences during the interview to show that you can contribute to robust legal support and compliance.
✨Be Organised and Plan Ahead
Strong planning and organisational skills are essential for this role. Before the interview, organise your thoughts and prepare a list of questions to ask about the university's legal challenges and how you can help address them.
