Senior Solicitor (12 months FTC)

The University of London

Employment type: Fixed Term - 12 Months

The University of London is one of the oldest universities in the UK, established by Royal Charter in 1836.   The central University includes our acclaimed School of Advanced Study and the University of London Institute in Paris. The University is a leading UK provider of distance and digital education internationally, offering programmes to approximately 40,000 students in 190 countries around the world. Although proudly rooted in London, our community and impact are global.

We are a national leader in the humanities, and we promote their value to society and the economy through knowledge creation and exchange.

We are also a federation of 17 world class higher education institutions, with collaboration at the heart of our ethos.  

Our passion for increasing access to education and mobilising the collective power and expertise of the federation is central to our ability to transform lives around the world and address the global challenges of the future.

The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Solicitor to join our Legal department for a fixed period of one year of parental leave cover. Legal provides legal advice and representation to the University, its Board of Trustees and committees, and the senior management and staff of the University, on a wide range of matters. We are a small, busy and supportive team.

The successful candidate will be a practising lawyer from either a private practice or in-house background, who values working within a dynamic in-house environment. 

You will need the ability to work well independently, together with the Head of Legal, and as part of the wider team, including our Data Protection  team. We are seeking a candidate who is motivated to deliver services in a time-responsive, pragmatic, approachable and professional manner. You will need to have strong drafting skills, demonstrable knowledge of contract law and the desire and ability to quickly grasp issues within the higher education field.

How to Apply  

Please apply with your CV and cover letter as indicated on the application page.

Please address how you would expect to respond to the challenges of working in an academic environment with stakeholders with a range of commercial experience so as to ensure adequate protections for the University.

Applications will close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 5 November 2025.

The first round interviews are anticipated to take place in the weeks of 24 November and 1 December 2025.

Further Information

Please address informal enquiries to Charlotte Gibb at Charlotte.Gibb@london.ac.uk.

Please note that applications sent directly to this email address will not be accepted.

The University currently operates a Hybrid Working framework involving a mix of working remotely and in the office. Typically, the majority of employees will be able to agree to work remotely for up to 60% of their working week, role dependent, however will be required to attend on specific days for training or team meetings.

The University of London is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive working environment where we can all be ourselves and succeed. We particularly encourage applications from members of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities as this group is currently under-represented at all levels within the University. All appointments will be made on merit, based on the criteria identified in the job description.

Pursuing excellence in education and equal opportunities

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