Job summary
UCLH is a leading acute trust. The Trust provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.
The Legal Services team falls within the Corporate Governance Team and works closely with colleagues across the trust to resolve legal issues and contribute to the governance structure. The corporate legal team advises the Trust on a wide range of issues, including but not limited to, employment, commercial contracts, data protection and safeguarding.
UCLH graduate solicitor apprenticeship will support you to qualify as a solicitor through the new Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE1 and SQE2) pathway. UCLH will fully fund your training during the SQE training programme. The new Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship and SQE route to qualification is a welcome opportunity to widen access to the profession and enables us to support you to qualification without any student debt.
Main duties of the job
The Post holder will support the legal team in providing legal advice to the Trust on a range of legal disciplines. As part of your apprenticeship, you will assist with a wide range of matters, but will specifically be involved in litigation and other areas as set out below:
Litigation Support:Assist with a range of litigation matters including court of protection cases, employment tribunal hearings, and judicial reviews. Duties include drafting pleadings, preparing case bundles, liaising with clients and stakeholders, and supporting court hearings.
Commercial Contracts:Assist with the drafting, review, and negotiation of commercial contracts and agreements, ensuring compliance with NHS policies and relevant legislation.
Legal Research and General Assistance:Conduct thorough legal research on a variety of issues relevant to NHS operations, policies, and legislation. Provide general assistance to the legal team as required, including administration, raising requisitions, file management, monitoring and tracking of legal spend and attendance at meetings.
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.
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.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Maths, English and degree certificates will be requested before you are invited to the group assessment results slips cannot be accepted.
Applicants must not be enrolled in any other form of educationat the start of the apprenticeship programme.
ASSESSMENT and INTERVIEW:
This will be a two-stage in-person process for shortlisted candidates: 1st stage Group assessments 27/10/2025 morning 2nd stage Individual interviews on successful completion of the assessment 27/10/2025- afternoon Candidates must ensure that they can attend before applying
SALARY: Band 5 Annex 21 (salary displayed is inclusive of HCAS)
First 6 months 65% of top of the band + HCAS
Then final two years at 70% and 75% of top of the band + HCAS respectively.
If you are an existing NHS employee, you may be entitled to pay protection if you are appointed to this apprentice role and your current basic pay is higher than the advertised rate. Should you require further information, please email uclh.apprenticeshipsprogramme@nhs.net.
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.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Maths, English and degree certificates will be requested before you are invited to the group assessment results slips cannot be accepted.
Applicants must not be enrolled in any other form of educationat the start of the apprenticeship programme.
ASSESSMENT and INTERVIEW:
This will be a two-stage in-person process for shortlisted candidates: 1st stage Group assessments 27/10/2025 morning 2nd stage Individual interviews on successful completion of the assessment 27/10/2025- afternoon Candidates must ensure that they can attend before applying
SALARY: Band 5 Annex 21 (salary displayed is inclusive of HCAS)
First 6 months 65% of top of the band + HCAS
Then final two years at 70% and 75% of top of the band + HCAS respectively.
If you are an existing NHS employee, you may be entitled to pay protection if you are appointed to this apprentice role and your current basic pay is higher than the advertised rate. Should you require further information, please email uclh.apprenticeshipsprogramme@nhs.net.
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
- Educated to degree level (law degree and if hold non-law degree, must have completed the GDL)-
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Willing to undertake the Level 7 Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship
- Ability to manage competing demands
Values
Essential
- Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving
Personal and People Development
Essential
- Customer service focus
- Supports learning and development of self and others
Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level (law degree and if hold non-law degree, must have completed the GDL)-
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Willing to undertake the Level 7 Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship
- Ability to manage competing demands
Values
Essential
- Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving
Personal and People Development
Essential
- Customer service focus
- Supports learning and development of self and others
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.
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).
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.
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).
