At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape your in-house legal career with flexible roles and impactful work.
- Company: Join Womble Bond Dickinson, a leading international law firm with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, remote work options, and continuous professional development.
- Other info: Embrace a culture that values well-being, diversity, and flexible working.
- Why this job: Experience diverse sectors while receiving support from a top-tier law firm.
- Qualifications: 3-8 years of post-qualification experience as a solicitor, ideally in-house.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Shape Your In-House Career. Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) is a leading international law firm known for combining legal excellence with a genuinely collaborative, client-focused approach. Through WBD Advance InHouse, we provide high‑calibre in‑house lawyers to work directly within our clients' legal teams, offering flexibility, variety and genuine in‑house experience backed by the strength of a top‑tier law firm.
At Womble Bond Dickinson, we've always believed great legal careers don't follow a single path. That belief sits at the heart of WBD Advance InHouse, our flexible legal resourcing solution designed for lawyers who want high‑quality work, real variety, and genuine balance. There is no "one size fits all" approach at WBD Advance InHouse; we give you the choice of how you would like to be engaged – either as a permanent employee, on a fixed‑term contract, or on a consultancy basis.
Who We're Looking For
We are currently growing our core permanent team of WBD Advance InHouse Lawyers and are also open to those who would prefer the flexibility of a fixed‑term contract. We are looking to speak with commercial lawyers with between 3‑8 years of post‑qualification experience, ideally gained from working as in‑house Legal Counsel but we are happy to consider candidates currently working in private practice and keen to make the move in‑house.
- As well as a strong technical skillset, you will have a commercial and pragmatic approach with the ability to quickly integrate into new environments and must be able to build good relationships with stakeholders across our client's businesses, in addition to providing high‑quality work.
- You will be curious and collaborative in your approach; part of the role of a WBD Advance InHouse Lawyer is to strengthen client relationships and work with relevant WBD Partners to identify potential opportunities for growth with the client you are seconded to.
To be successful in this role, you'll need as a minimum:
- At least 3 years post‑qualified experience (PQE) as a Solicitor in England & Wales, Scotland or another Common law jurisdiction.
- Experience either working within or advising clients within the following sectors: Energy & Natural Resources, Technology, Financial Services, Insurance, Public, Government and Third Sector, Manufacturing, Transport, or Retail and Hospitality.
- Proven experience in delivering high‑quality commercial work including drafting, reviewing and negotiating a variety of commercial contracts along with experience in at least one of the following: procurement, IP, data protection, company secretarial, or technology contract / agreements.
- At least 6 months of in‑house legal experience gained either as a qualified lawyer in an in‑house legal team, on secondment to a client from a private practice law firm or from having trained in‑house.
Why WBD Advance InHouse?
WBD Advance InHouse offers something different. You'll be embedded within our clients' businesses, delivering practical, commercial advice while enjoying the support, resources and backing of a leading international law firm without the fee‑earning targets. As a permanent WBD Advance InHouse employee, you will be consistently seconded to our clients' legal teams, performing the role of an in‑house lawyer but fully integrated into Womble Bond Dickinson with access to the same resources, know‑how and training opportunities as our fee earners.
Being employed on a permanent basis offers both stability and variety by completing secondments with clients across a wide variety of sectors. Alternatively, working with WBD Advance InHouse on a fixed‑term contract for the duration of a secondment allows flexibility between secondments while also benefiting from the same resources, know‑how and training as permanent team members.
What You'll Get
- High‑quality, meaningful in‑house work with leading organisations.
- Exposure to different sectors, teams and challenges.
- Continued development of your technical and soft skills to allow you to perform at your best.
- The backing, resource and support of Womble Bond Dickinson and the additional collaboration and community of the WBD Advance InHouse team.
- A culture that values collaboration, innovation and doing things the right way.
- An employer that values your life outside work and helps you achieve the right balance; we can accommodate full and part‑time working patterns and most secondments are either fully remote or hybrid.
WBD employee benefits
If you're an in‑house lawyer ready for your next chapter, or a private practice lawyer looking to transition into in‑house work, we'd love to talk. Discover how flexible in‑house law can really be – with WBD Advance InHouse.
What makes it great to work here? We continually work hard to create an open culture that sets us apart from other firms. Our culture gives us much more of a human feel, emphasising that we're more than just suits! As signatories to the Mindful Business Charter, it's important to us that our people are able to maintain healthy and happy lives, both in and out of work. We have a number of resources and initiatives designed to support health and wellbeing and we're very happy to talk flexible working.
Through our DEI initiatives we create an environment in which difference is valued. We have a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group, led by our Board Sponsor, which works with our colleague networks (we currently have firm supported networks for race, ethnicity, and cultural heritage, LGBTQ+, disabilities, neurodiversity, families, and women's career development and we're in constant dialogue with our people about how we expand our networks to better support everybody).
We encourage applicants from all social backgrounds, ethnicities, disabilities, gender identities and sexual orientations. We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long term condition and need us to make any adjustments to give you the best possible recruitment process, please let us know by contacting the recruiter on the right hand side of this page. Please also let us know if you need this job advert or the application form in a different format. We will offer an interview to candidates with a disability or long‑term condition who meet the minimum criteria for this role. You can opt into this scheme within the application form. Your response to this question is only used for this purpose, is only visible to the recruitment team and is not used for data monitoring.
We are an in‑house recruitment team and will always aim to fill our roles directly in the first instance.
InHouse Lawyer employer: Womble Bond Dickinson
Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and professional growth of its employees, offering a unique blend of flexibility and stability in the role of In-House Lawyer. With a collaborative culture that values diversity and innovation, WBD provides high-quality, meaningful work across various sectors while ensuring a healthy work-life balance through flexible working arrangements. Employees benefit from continuous development opportunities and the support of a leading international law firm, making it an ideal place for lawyers seeking to advance their careers in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land InHouse Lawyer
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the legal field! Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to former colleagues or classmates. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Show Off Your Skills
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your unique skills and experiences. Tailor your pitch to show how your background aligns with their needs, especially if you have experience in sectors like Energy, Technology, or Financial Services.
✨Be Ready for the Interview
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and understanding their culture. Think about how you can contribute to their team and be ready to discuss specific examples of your work. Practice common interview questions and be ready to showcase your commercial and pragmatic approach.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining WBD Advance InHouse and being part of our collaborative culture.
We think you need these skills to ace InHouse Lawyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the InHouse Lawyer role. Highlight your commercial law experience and any in-house work you've done, as this will show us you're a great fit for the position.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re interested in the role and how your background aligns with our values at WBD. Be genuine and let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Soft Skills:We value collaboration and relationship-building, so don’t forget to mention your soft skills. Talk about how you’ve worked with stakeholders or contributed to team success in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Womble Bond Dickinson
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your legal knowledge, especially in areas relevant to the sectors Womble Bond Dickinson operates in. Be prepared to discuss your experience with commercial contracts, procurement, and data protection, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Show Your Collaborative Spirit
WBD values a collaborative approach, so be ready to share examples of how you've built relationships with stakeholders in previous roles. Highlight any experiences where you’ve worked closely with clients or teams to achieve common goals.
✨Demonstrate Flexibility
Since WBD offers various engagement options, express your openness to different working arrangements. Whether you're interested in a permanent position or a fixed-term contract, show that you’re adaptable and keen to embrace the flexibility they provide.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the firm's culture, the specific teams you'll be working with, and how they support professional development. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if WBD is the right fit for you.
