Job Description

We're really pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a qualified Solicitor to join us on a part time basis working approximately 30 hours a week. You'll join our dedicated in-house legal team as Legal Counsel - Litigation reporting to our Senior Legal Counsel. In this role you will be based at our Head Office in Watford (with a requirement to work in the office at least twice a week). You'll be responsible for managing all legal disputes and claims, from pre-action through to resolution, and for managing third parties who have conduct of claims, and for providing commercial and pragmatic legal advice to support and mitigate the risks to our business.

You will have one paralegal who you will be responsible for line managing and who will support you in this role. You will be responsible for developing them to improve their knowledge and drafting skills.

Utilising your excellent communication skills, you will be liaising with and advising all levels of the business on legal disputes and claims. You will work proactively, with the necessary stakeholders, to resolve and deal with legal disputes and claims and put in place strategies to reduce the number of claims occurring.

The focus of your role will be managing legal disputes and claims; ranging from customer installation disputes, product disputes and supplier disputes (amongst others). You will also be required to assist with general commercial matters including contract reviews.

The successful candidate is likely to have at least two years dispute resolution experience as well as some general commercial law experience. You will ideally have some in-house retail experience, and you'll need to have a demonstrable desire to work in-house and a genuine commitment to be the very best you can. You will have good experience of dealing with disputes and claims independently, including drafting documents and adhering to court deadlines. You will be calm under pressure and remain professional in the face of challenge and conflict. In addition you will be a 'hands on' self-starter and be able to operate at all levels within a fast paced but rewarding environment.

What We Offer:

This is a part time role, and we are open to a conversation as to how these hours might be worked across the week A competitive salary and benefits package including a company bonus scheme and healthcare The opportunity to work in a dynamic and supportive team environment. A collaborative and inclusive company culture.

Legal & Sustainability team

We work with people across the business and external stakeholders to ensure that the business stays legal and operates responsibly every single day. We do this by being supportive and approachable, and providing pragmatic and commercially minded advice to all other teams across the business. In our department, we have the legal, insurance and sustainability teams led by Helen O'Keefe, the General Counsel and Company Secretary for Wickes. It is important to us that we have fun as a team, and we have a strong supportive culture, and catch-up regularly by having lunch together when we are in the Watford support centre, and also connect together on regular social events.

About Wickes:

Wickes is more than just the nation's favourite DIY store. It's a place where we'll ask for your ideas, listen to your opinions and value the contributions you make. Chances are you've never experienced anything quite like our culture. All our colleagues come from different backgrounds, but what we all have in common is a determination to succeed and a passion for being the best we can be. If that sounds like you, we'll make you feel right at home.

Wickes is a multi-channel retailer operating in the UK home improvement market. With 50 years in industry, Wickes now generates revenue in excess of 1.5Bn across 230 stores, delivered by around 8000 colleagues.

Wickes listed as a public company in April 2021. In May 2024, Wickes acquired 51% of the issued share capital of Gas Fast Limited (t/a Solar Fast) to expand its presence in the home energy solutions market. The successful applicant will participate in the next stage of Wickes' exciting journey.

Please contact us here if you require any adjustments within the application process. If you require any reasonable adjustments at the interview stage you will have an opportunity to inform us when we invite you to interview. Please note, this link is only for reasonable adjustments required - general enquiries, or direct CV applications cannot be accepted via this form.