Solicitor

Are you looking for your next opportunity in your legal career in a role that offers variety but with a strong focus on a positive work-life balance?

The University of Plymouth is seeking a qualified solicitor, ideally with recent in-house experience and/or with an understanding of the Higher Education sector, to join the University’s in-house Legal and Compliance Department, which provides legal advice to the University group in relation to academic, commercial and compliance activities.

As the recent winners of the 2024 AULP Collaboration and Innovation Award, you will be joining the team at an exciting time where you can really make a difference both within the team and the wider University. You will report to the Head of Legal & Compliance and will work in a friendly team comprising the Head of Legal & Compliance, 2 solicitors, the Information Governance Officer and an Administrator.

In addition to the provision of legal advice, the role will involve:

• supporting strategic discussions on risk, project development and compliance;
• building positive internal and external relationships;
• maintaining effective relationships with external panel solicitors and working with the other members of the team to secure cost-effective external advice; and
• working independently and under time pressure, to deliver practical risk-based advice to a range of colleagues, whilst maintaining excellent working relationships and engendering trust.

As a small and busy team with a varied and engaging workload, we’re looking for an individual, who is qualified to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales, who has experience of dealing with a variety of legal issues and who is comfortable exploring and advising on different areas of law.

For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description below.

Details of preferred hours should be stated in the personal statement and will be discussed further at interview.

Application Process:

Please apply online, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training, and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.

For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Melissa Rose, Head of Legal and Compliance by email on melissa.rose@plymouth.ac.uk.

Following the closing date of the vacancy, you will be notified on the outcome of your application in due course.

Anticipated Interview Date(s): 17 December 2024

Our Offer

We offer a competitive salary package and a generous pension and holiday scheme. We also offer a range of other benefits/support mechanisms, including ongoing development opportunities, flexible working, staff networks and enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.

A summary of our comprehensive benefits can be viewed here.

Additional Information

A successful external candidate for this position would be employed by the University of Plymouth Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Plymouth. Employees of the University of Plymouth Services Limited work alongside the University of Plymouth colleagues in delivery of Plymouth’s strategic vision, and will adopt the University of Plymouth’s HR policies and procedures in full unless otherwise stated.

The University of Plymouth is an inclusive community where everyone is welcomed regardless of their background. To find out more about our inclusive community initiatives, such as Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter, please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages.

We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented communities at the University of Plymouth, such as carers/parents, people with disabilities, ethnically diverse, LGBT+, and people from all socio-economic backgrounds.