At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide legal support for commercial partnerships, media, and governance in women's football.
- Company: Join the pioneering team transforming women's professional football in England.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for travel across the UK.
- Other info: Work in a collaborative office in London with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Be part of a groundbreaking movement in women's sports and shape its future.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor with experience in commercial agreements and strong relationship-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Welcome to a new era of women’s professional football in England. WSL Football was created to transform the women’s game and, by transforming football, transform society. As the independent organisation responsible for the Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Super League 2, we are building the most distinctive, competitive and entertaining women’s football ecosystem in the world. This is a pivotal moment in our journey. From record attendances and global audiences to world-class talent and cultural influence, women’s football is entering a new phase of growth. Driven by our positioning statement, New Wave Football, we are bringing new energy, new ideas and new ways of engaging fans, partners, clubs and communities.
As part of this next chapter, we are now looking to appoint our first dedicated Legal Counsel. This is a rare opportunity for a commercially minded and hands‑on lawyer to help shape the legal foundations of one of the most exciting and fast‑evolving organisations in global sport. You will work closely with senior leaders across the business, building trusted relationships, supporting strategic growth and helping establish scalable legal frameworks during a transformational stage of the organisation’s evolution.
We are looking for someone who thrives in agile environments, enjoys building from the ground up and wants to play an active role in shaping the future of women’s football.
The Opportunity
As Legal Counsel, you will provide commercially focused legal support across a broad range of business areas including commercial partnerships, media, governance, operations, innovation and club engagement. This is a highly visible role that requires someone comfortable balancing day‑to‑day legal execution with longer‑term thinking as the organisation continues to grow. Alongside supporting internal stakeholders, you will also spend time building relationships across the game, including regular engagement with clubs and external partners across the country.
Key Responsibilities
- Draft, review, negotiate and advise on a wide range of commercial agreements including sponsorship, partnership, media, licensing, supplier and technology agreements.
- Provide commercially pragmatic and solutions‑focused legal advice to stakeholders across the organisation.
- Support digital transformation initiatives including software, SaaS, data processing and data licensing arrangements.
- Take ownership of day‑to‑day legal matters, ensuring an efficient and responsive legal service across the business.
- Manage NDAs, template development, competition terms and conditions, and bespoke talent and player‑related agreements.
- Help establish scalable legal processes, improve workflows and contribute to the development of legal operations as the organisation grows.
- Support the implementation of legal technology and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Provide support and guidance on relevant football regulatory frameworks including FA, UEFA, FIFA and league regulations.
- Assist with governance matters, board documentation and regulatory communications.
- Support the interpretation and practical application of rules and compliance frameworks.
- Build trusted relationships with stakeholders across commercial, football, operations and medical teams.
- Work collaboratively with clubs and external partners across the women’s game.
- Travel nationally as required to support relationship building and ongoing engagement across the league ecosystem.
- Support the management of external legal advisers on specialist or high‑risk matters.
- Ensure external advice is delivered efficiently and integrated effectively into business decision‑making.
About You
You will combine strong legal and commercial judgement with a collaborative, adaptable and relationship‑led approach. This role will suit someone who enjoys being close to the business, operating with autonomy and helping organisations scale. You will be comfortable navigating ambiguity, balancing multiple priorities and building strong relationships across a broad stakeholder landscape. Character and mindset will be just as important as technical capability. We are looking for someone who is proactive, pragmatic, emotionally intelligent and energised by the opportunity to build something meaningful within an ambitious and purpose‑driven organisation.
You will likely bring:
- Qualification as a solicitor/lawyer with experience gained in private practice and/or in‑house environments.
- Strong experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements.
- The ability to manage a varied workload independently and prioritise effectively.
- Excellent stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills.
- A pragmatic, commercially aware and solutions‑focused mindset.
- Confidence operating in environments where priorities evolve quickly and no two days are the same.
- Experience within sport, media or entertainment would be advantageous, but is not essential.
Working at WSL Football
This role is based at WSL Football’s offices in Farringdon, London. Given the collaborative and evolving nature of the organisation, a strong in‑person office presence will be important, particularly in the early stages as relationships, processes and ways of working continue to develop. The role will also involve travel across the UK to build relationships with clubs and stakeholders throughout the women’s game.
Legal Counsel employer: WSL Football
At WSL Football, we are not just transforming women's football; we are redefining the landscape of sport and society. As an employer, we offer a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation, providing our Legal Counsel with the unique opportunity to shape the legal foundations of a rapidly evolving organisation. With a focus on employee growth and meaningful engagement, our London-based team thrives in an agile environment, making this a truly rewarding place to build a career in sports law.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Legal Counsel
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the women’s football scene. Attend events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that you didn’t even know existed.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for women’s football! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, let your enthusiasm shine through. Share your ideas on how you can contribute to the growth of the game and how your legal expertise can support their vision.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation inside out. Understand their values, recent developments, and challenges they face. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate that you’re not just another candidate, but someone who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply 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 being part of this exciting journey in women’s football.
We think you need these skills to ace Legal Counsel
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Women's Football:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for women's football shine through! We want to see how you connect with our mission and how you can contribute to this exciting journey.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant legal experience in your application. We’re looking for someone who can navigate the complexities of commercial agreements, so be specific about your past roles and achievements that align with this.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and focus on what makes you a great fit for the role. Remember, less is often more!
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 this fantastic opportunity to shape the future of women’s football.
How to prepare for a job interview at WSL Football
✨Know Your Legal Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of commercial agreements, especially in the context of sports and media. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experience where you've successfully negotiated or drafted contracts.
✨Understand the Organisation
Familiarise yourself with WSL Football's mission and recent developments in women's football. Show that you’re not just interested in the role but also passionate about contributing to the growth of women’s sport.
✨Build Relationships
Since this role involves a lot of stakeholder engagement, think about how you can demonstrate your relationship-building skills. Prepare examples of how you've effectively collaborated with different teams or external partners in previous roles.
✨Be Ready for Agility
This position requires someone who thrives in fast-paced environments. Prepare to discuss how you've managed multiple priorities and adapted to changing circumstances in your previous jobs. Highlight your proactive approach to problem-solving.
