Junior Legal Counsel

Business Area: Group General Counsel

Place of Work: London

Contract Type: Contractor

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you’ll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.

About the role

In your role as Junior Legal Counsel you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset.

This role will provide a great opportunity to manage legal risk within USSL and USSIM through the provision of legal advice (including obtaining external legal advice where appropriate) in relation to the advisory and transactional work undertaken within each of the three legal teams in Group Legal, namely: Investments Legal, Commercial Legal and Pensions Legal

What you will be doing

As a trusted part of the Group General Counsel you will:

• Provide advice, guidance, and support to USS Group companies as directed by Group Legal.
• Assist in various legal matters across multiple teams within Group Legal, with a significant focus on investment transactions and large pension-related legal matters.
• Assist senior members of the Commercial Legal team with legal advice on organizational operations
• Contractual issues, IT purchasing, and licensing.
• Confidentiality agreements, intellectual property licenses, HR matters (e.g., employment contracts, policies, and guidance).
• Provide legal support for “business-as-usual” matters
• Confidentiality agreements, IP licenses, and HR-related documents.
• Offer legal advice for contract lifecycle issues (e.g., remediation, termination, renewal).
• Review and manage the upkeep of Commercial Legal precedents, processes, and policies.
• Assist senior Pensions Legal team members in advising USSL on technical legal matters related to pension schemes
• Rule changes, policy development, and legal requirements.
• Member communications, product development, stakeholder engagement.
• Engagement with employers, restructuring, insolvency, and benefit delivery solutions.
• Legal aspects of the member journey (joiners, transfers, leavers, retirements).
• Provide legal advice on pension-related complaints and the IDR case management process.

About you

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don’t tick every box, if you’re excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we’re looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

• Solicitor/Barrister qualified to practise in England & Wales or appropriate foreign equivalent.
• Experience of working in a law firm/in house.
• Experience of drafting and reviewing documentation relating to corporate and commercial law.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to prioritise and work under tight timescales and manage multiple deadlines and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of key pensions legislation, trust law, regulation and guidance, data protection legislation and financial services legislation.

Why join us?

At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families.

We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We’re also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development.

We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual’s unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team.

Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!

How we will reward you

• Great starting salary
• Generous annual leave package
• Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
• Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
• Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
• Employee Volunteer Day 's to support the communities where you work and live
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our culture and values

Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values:

• Integrity
• Collaboration
• Excellence

About us

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and higher education institutions in the UK.

We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for more than 528,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £75.5bn (at 31 March 2023). To find out more, please visit https://www.uss.co.uk