The Open University
Legal Counsel
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Are you passionate about delivering high-quality legal advice in a dynamic and mission-driven environment?
Join The Open University as a Legal Counsel and play a key role in supporting one of the UK's most respected and innovative institutions. This is an exciting opportunity to work on a diverse range of legal matters, providing practical, high-quality advice that enables teaching, research, commercial partnerships, and strategic initiatives across the University.
About the Role
This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified legal professional (2 years’ PQE upwards) to join The Open University’s in-house legal team as a Legal Counsel. The successful candidate will be responsible to the Director of Legal Services and will report to and be line managed by the Senior Legal Counsel. You will work with a team of lawyers to provide high-quality legal advice to the University and its subsidiaries. The successful candidate will be required to support research, curricular and commercial activities by drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of agreements and also to advise on legal and regulatory compliance issues and contentious matters involving the University.
What You’ll Do
- Drafting, reviewing and negotiating legal agreements (standard form and bespoke) and other documentation relating to the supply of goods and services, consultancy, research funding, academic collaborations nationally and internationally (including validations and distance delivery) and data sharing agreements.
- Undertaking research into a variety of legal, compliance and governance issues, reporting on and facilitating the implementation of related outcomes.
- Providing advice on legally contentious matters and disputes, drafting related documents and managing outsourced litigation.
- Providing advice in relation to compliance with the requirements of the Office for Students, including conditions of registration, quality standards and student protection measures.
- Providing advice in relation to compliance with Competition and Markets Authority requirements and the University’s consumer protection duties.
- Providing advice relating to intellectual property issues (in particular copyright, trademarks and internet domain rights) arising from the activities of the University.
- Advising the University’s procurement team on legal issues relating to tenders, drafting documents relating to procurements made by the University, advising on compliance with procurement law and the University’s internal procurement regulations.
- Providing advice in relation to legal aspects of the University's student appeals and complaints procedures.
- Other duties and responsibilities consistent with the grade and scope of the role.
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Who We’re Looking For
Essential:
- Qualified Solicitor or equivalent with a minimum of 2 years’ post qualification experience in a legal role, preferably in the higher education and/or charity sectors.
- Excellent written and oral skills for contract, report and letter writing and communicating with University staff, students, external legal advisers and other professionals.
- Proven ability to maintain a high-quality work output under time pressure, the ability to prioritise workload and be flexible in response to the demands of the role.
- Proven ability to be sensitive to internal client needs and to adapt the provision of legal advice and services accordingly.
- Ability to work in a higher education environment and a commitment to the values of a modern university.
- Proactive, positive and energetic commitment to the work of the legal team and the University.
- Competence in core IT applications, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and a commitment to the use of evolving IT in a working environment.
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Desirable:
- Experience relating to governance, compliance, policies and regulations in a university or equivalent complex regulated organisation.
- Knowledge and understanding of legislation relating to public procurement, in particular the Procurement Act 2023.
Support with your application
If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.
Why Join The Open University?
At The Open University, we're proud to be pioneers in accessible education and innovation. As Legal Counsel, you'll have the opportunity to work on varied and intellectually stimulating matters that directly support the University's students, staff, researchers, and partners.
At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Some of our benefits can be found below but you can find out more by visiting our Staff Benefits page:
- 33 days annual leave, on top of bank holidays and a three-day Christmas closure period
- Access to a leading pension scheme for UK higher education with generous employer contributions
- Staff Fee Waivers for OU study, meaning you could earn a degree for free
- Flexible working and family friendly policies
- Discounts, wellbeing support, and development opportunities
Ready to make an impact?
Apply now and join a collaborative in-house legal team where your expertise will help shape the future of teaching, research, and innovation at one of the UK's leading universities.
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