Job Description

Salary

Circa 70,000 per annum

Contract type

Permanent

Location

Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6AD (Agile; approximately 2 days a week from our office)

This is a permanent

,

, full time vacancy.

The VacancyWe are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Legal Counsel to join our dynamic team. The Legal Counsel is responsible for advising and challenging senior colleagues, ensuring the provision of sound legal advice and guidance. They will oversee legal compliance, manage legal risk mitigation efforts and take ownership of legal processes to enable the smooth operation of our organisation.


This position will take accountability for developing and implementing the charity's legal strategies, ensuring that legal risks are proactively identified, managed, and mitigated effectively.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Compliance and Regulations

Take ownership of monitoring and advising on changes in laws and regulations relevant to the charity, including but not limited to charity law, data protection, health and safety. Oversee the development and execution of strategies to address legal risks, obligations, and opportunities. Ensure compliance with applicable legal frameworks, to include the creation and maintenance of a legal register. Proactively identify, monitor, address, and report on legal (and where appropriate other business) issues of significance.

Contracts

Take responsibility for drafting, reviewing and negotiating a variety of contracts including, but not limited to commercial, research, collaboration contracts and service agreements, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and mitigating potential risks. Oversee the provision of timely and pragmatic legal advice on matters of contract law, intellectual property rights, employment law, governance, and other relevant areas, ensuring alignment with our organisational goals.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Take ownership of managing legal disputes, litigation, and other legal matters, ensuring effective collaboration with external counsel to safeguard the charity's interests. Identify and address legal risks proactively and escalate more complex legal matters when appropriate. Provide specialist advice to ensure foreseeable legal risks are effectively identified.

Stakeholder Engagement & Training

Be accountable for establishing and maintaining effective business relationships with internal and external stakeholders, overseeing the integration of legal input into decision-making processes. Take responsibility for developing and delivering training sessions and workshops to ensure employees and stakeholders are well informed on legal matters, contracts, policies, and procedures. Establish and maintain effective business relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Qualified solicitor or barrister in the UK, with a current practicing certificate, sound legal training in a well-regarded legal practice, and relevant post-qualification experience in-house and / or in private practice. Strong knowledge of contract law, and the drafting of agreements, negotiating contracts and developing compliance. Strong knowledge and understanding of UK legal frameworks, regulations, and compliance requirements applicable to charitable organisations. Ability to translate complex technical information into clear and accessible advice to non-legal stakeholders. Extensive demonstrable post-qualification experience. Solution focused, pragmatic, and able to apply legal knowledge and good practice in day-to-day work. Able and prepared to quickly develop a good understanding of new legal areas and issues which affect the organisation. Able to recognise when more complex and serious issues arise and escalate appropriately. Proven ability to independently lead initiatives, oversee multiple priorities and ensure deadlines are met in a fast-paced environment. Proficiency in MS Office 365 and other relevant software applications Proven drafting, negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Strong ethical standards and a high level of personal integrity. Effective problem-solving skills with the ability to assess risks, develop effective solutions, and to exercise good judgement / initiative in a variety of situations. Confidence in presenting / communicating to groups of people and / or senior leadership. Detail-oriented with strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.


The closing date for applications is

19th October 2025

with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

The Charity

Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.


There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer's Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

The Benefits

It is important to offer a range of benefits which are designed to meet both the organisational and individual needs, are market competitive and designed to attract and retain employees.

Holiday entitlement

Healthcare

Sick pay

Pension

Cycle to work scheme

Family friendly policies

Learning & development