Solicitor (12 month parental leave cover)

This role of 12 month fixed term maternity cover solicitor offers an exciting opportunity within a stimulating arts environment involving drafting, reviewing, negotiating and advising on contracts and regulatory matters for a wide range of University projects.

Working alongside solicitors and contracts managers within the Legal Services team, you will advise and interact with motivated colleagues across the University at all levels.

The successful candidate will be a qualified solicitor with a background or training in contract, intellectual property and commercial law and the ability to draft to a high standard, work independently and engage with internal stakeholders with support and supervision from senior solicitors.

UAL's Legal Services team provides advice, support and representation on a broad range of issues across the University and deals with a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters and the right candidate will be willing to expand their knowledge and assist with a wide variety of different matters.

The key duties of this role are:

• Reviewing, drafting and advising on a variety of agreements including consultancy, agency, grants, research and development, confidentiality, data sharing/processing, supply and purchase, scholarship, sponsorship and development, collaboration, academic, student agreements - plus other diverse student, commercial and publicly funded project agreements;
• Advising generally on intellectual property law, charity law and regulatory matters.

About you

You are a qualified solicitor who has gained contracts experience in private practice or an in-house legal team. You are looking to take the next step in your career to grow your skills.

You need to be able to write fluently and have the ability to convey highly technical information in a clear way.

Importantly, you have a strong commercial focus and an excellent grasp of legal and commercial work across a broad range of projects. You will also have a good working knowledge or some experience of intellectual property law issues.

Detail conscious, you approach work with a practical and proactive mind-set - quickly identifying problems, understanding the context and proposing constructive commercial solutions.

Knowledge of or an interest in higher education law would be an advantage. Individuals with a range of experience in private or in-house environments are welcomed.

The essential criteria for this post are:

• Qualified to practise as a solicitor in England and Wales with post-qualification experience in respect of contract and commercial law gained within private practice or an in-house legal team;
• Excellent drafting skills and the ability to provide clear and practical advice;
• Experience of working under pressure and to strict deadlines;
• Good research skills and a willingness to maintain and expand your legal knowledge.

If you have any general questions or have accessibility needs, please contact

To apply please click the apply button.

Closing date: 20th May 2026, 23:55.

UAL is committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments for all staff and students to work and learn - a university where we can be ourselves and reach our full potential. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and Staff Support Networks. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including race, disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, and caring responsibility.