Job summary
- Main area
- Corporate
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 18.75 hours per week
- Job ref
- 309-UCLH-6746
- Employer
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- UCLH
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £64,156 - £71,148 per annum inclusive of HCAS, pro-rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 09/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Legal Counsel (part time)
NHS AfC: Band 8a
The use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it, then they are required to declare this in their supporting statement.
Job overview
The Trust has created an exciting new opportunity for an experienced senior legal professional to take responsibility for the development of an expert corporate legal function that can support our corporate departments and clinical boards by providing a wide range of advice and expertise about FOI, research and commercial contracts, regulation and litigation.
Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities and duties will be:
• To play a key role in providing legal advice and leadership to the FOI team, ensuring compliance with FOI legislation and assisting with sensitive or complex requests;
• Support to the broader legal function including employment matters, estates, court of protection work and commercial contracts;
• Support the continued development of the legal services team, including the development of new business practices and drafting templates and SOPs;
• Work with third-party legal suppliers to ensure best value for money advice and managing budgets for external legal counsel where appropriate.
Working for our organisation
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
-
University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
-
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
-
Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
-
University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
-
Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
-
University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
-
The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
-
University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff – To find out more, visit: Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
Person specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Law degree or equivalent
- Qualified Solicitor
- Continuous professional development
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of advising on FOI
- Experience of contractual and commercial agreements
Desirable criteria
- Background in the health, research or pharmaceutical sector
- Experience of working with a range of internal and external stakeholders creating effective relationships
Skills/abilities
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication skills including attention to detail and ability to communicate complex principles to wide-ranging audience within and outside the Trust (including speaking with patients)
- Capability to interact with senior members of the Trust with authority and provide appropriate advice and challenge
- Provide, proactive, pragmatic, legally acceptable practical solutions
- Ability to negotiate, influence and motivate others
- Calm logical approach with an ability to work and deliver under pressure
- Ability to work with a high level of autonomy and make sound, informed judgements
- Good problem solving and analytical skills
- Good report darting skills for senior level internal and external audiences
Communication
Essential criteria
- Clear and concise contract drafting
- Translating complex legal queries so they can be easily understood.
Personal and People Development
Essential criteria
- Always put patients first
- Customer service focus
- Willing and able to take personal responsibility
- Takes pride in individual and team work
- Supports learning and development of self and others
Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria
- Demonstratable understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and/or Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties (line managers to elaborate depending on the level of the post and to assess this essential criteria at interview)
Specific Requirements
Essential criteria
- Solid working knowledge of FOI legislation
- Solid working knowledge of commercial, intellectual property and data protection law
- Solid working knowledge of property law
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jamie Henderson
- Job title
- General Counsel
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Jamie Henderson, general counsel, on [email protected].
List jobs with University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Administrative Services or all sectors