About ARU:
ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
ARU’s research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.
About the Role:
We’ve an exciting, in-house opportunity at our leading business facing University. Our legal requirements reflect our mixture of academic excellence and engagement with the commercial world. ARU has been recently named University of the year, making us a lively forward-thinking place to work.
As a solicitor within the University, you’ll provide legal advice independently as part of a small legal team to internal clients on a wide range of commercial, IP and property law matters. Key responsibilities will include drafting and negotiating a wide variety of commercial agreements, so you’ll need to have excellent drafting and other technical legal skills. You’ll also be responsible for the day to day management of your own legal files. With a working knowledge of procurement law, you’ll help to ensure that we’re compliant with our legal and regulatory obligations so we can withstand scrutiny by relevant external bodies as well as legal challenges.
With a degree plus demonstrable professional experience for the role or relevant professional/degree level qualification (chartered where appropriate), you’ll be a current UK qualified solicitor. Ideally, you’ll have strong training and post qualification experience from a recognised private practice law firm or local authority, although all background experience will be considered. You’ll also have significant and substantial experience working in a legal role. Proven ability to be sensitive to client needs as well as the ability to work in a higher education environment is essential for this role.
This is a full time position, flexibility will be considered; remote working included.
Informal enquiries can be made to Michelle Lawlor-Perkins, University Solicitor (Head of Legal) at michelle.lawlor-perkins@aru.ac.uk.
Find out more about working with us.
We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including a generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit our benefits page for full details.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on short listed candidates.
We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We have a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working.
Guidance Notes:
For a list of key requirements, please download the Job Description and Person Specification above. To apply for this role please demonstrate how your skills and experience match the criteria in the person specification.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.