University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Legal Counsel (part time)

The closing date is 09 September 2025

Job summary

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:o 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;o Support to the broader legal function including employment matters, estates, court of protection work and commercial contracts;o Support the continued development of the legal services team, including the development of new business practices and drafting templates and SOPs;o Work with third-party legal suppliers to ensure best value for money advice and managing budgets for external legal counsel where appropriate.

About us

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.

Details

Date posted

28 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£64,156 to £71,148 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS, pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

309-UCLH-6746

Job locations

UCLH

250 Euston Road

London

NW1 2PG


Job description

Job 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?

Job description

Job 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

  • Law degree or equivalent
  • Qualified Solicitor
  • Continuous professional development

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of advising on FOI
  • Experience of contractual and commercial agreements

Desirable

  • 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

  • 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

  • Clear and concise contract drafting
  • Translating complex legal queries so they can be easily understood.

Personal and People Development

Essential

  • 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

  • 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

  • Solid working knowledge of FOI legislation
  • Solid working knowledge of commercial, intellectual property and data protection law
  • Solid working knowledge of property law
Person Specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential

  • Law degree or equivalent
  • Qualified Solicitor
  • Continuous professional development

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of advising on FOI
  • Experience of contractual and commercial agreements

Desirable

  • 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

  • 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

  • Clear and concise contract drafting
  • Translating complex legal queries so they can be easily understood.

Personal and People Development

Essential

  • 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

  • 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

  • Solid working knowledge of FOI legislation
  • Solid working knowledge of commercial, intellectual property and data protection law
  • Solid working knowledge of property law

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

UCLH

250 Euston Road

London

NW1 2PG


Employer's website

https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

UCLH

250 Euston Road

London

NW1 2PG


Employer's website

https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

General Counsel

Jamie Henderson

Jamie.henderson8@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

28 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£64,156 to £71,148 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS, pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

309-UCLH-6746

Job locations

UCLH

250 Euston Road

London

NW1 2PG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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