W&P Partners are working exclusively on behalf of a leading higher education institution seeking to appoint a newly qualified Commercial Legal Counsel. This is an excellent opportunity for a junior lawyer to gain high-quality in-house experience in a supportive and collaborative legal team environment.

Reporting to the General Counsel the successful candidate will support on a wide range of commercial contracts and legal matters across the University’s operations. This role will involve direct engagement with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring contracts are effectively reviewed, negotiated, and managed, while maintaining compliance with financial and governance frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

• Review, draft, negotiate, and advise on a wide variety of commercial contracts, including academic partnership agreements, research collaborations, IT/software contracts, licensing agreements, consultancy arrangements, and procurement documentation.
• Manage a personal portfolio of contracts from instruction through to execution, under supervision.
• Provide legal support across departments including Research & Enterprise, Apprenticeships, Marketing, International Office, and IT.
• Identify and mitigate contractual and practical risks.
• Liaise with internal clients and external partners to ensure information is accurate and complete.
• Assist with contract administration, including maintaining registers, filing, and ensuring proper authorisation and execution procedures are followed.
• Support the Head of Legal Services and Senior Legal Counsel with wider team initiatives and administrative duties.

About You

We are seeking applications from newly qualified solicitors (NQ–1PQE) or equivalent, who have trained in a law firm or in-house environment and can demonstrate strong skills in commercial contracts.

Essential skills and experience:

• Experience in drafting, reviewing, and advising on contracts during training or post-qualification.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present clear advice and negotiate effectively.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and manage competing deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word.
• A collaborative team player with a proactive, can-do attitude and a willingness to learn.

What’s on Offer

• A unique in-house role offering exposure to a wide variety of commercial legal work.
• Direct supervision and mentoring from senior legal counsel.
• The chance to contribute to high-profile projects across research, partnerships, and international initiatives.
• A collegiate and supportive working environment where professional development is encouraged.

W&P Partners Recruitment is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.