In-House Solicitor

Job Title: In-house solicitor

Salary: c. £55,000 FTE (Negotiable dependant on skills and experience)

Location: Stoneleigh, Warwickshire with agile working. Approximately two days per month in Stoneleigh.

Working Hours: 21 - 35 hours per week (with flexibility on working days and hours).

Contract Type: Permanent

Purpose of the role & how you will contribute:

We have an excellent opportunity for an in-house Solicitor who will provide high quality legal advice to colleagues from across the NFU, on a broad range of legal areas. These include both non-contentious work (such as regulatory, public and environmental law), high-profile litigation work and even legislative drafting.

You will influence, shape and develop the NFU’s policy work and to provide wider support and guidance to the organisation on risk and reputational considerations. Through the team’s legislative drafting work, we also have the opportunity to influence the development of new law.

This role involves unique, complex work, covering all areas of farming, from disease outbreaks and pesticide use through to climate change and environmental principles; no two days in this role will ever be the same!

The role is being advertised as full or part time and therefore has the flexibility to suit your needs in terms of days and hours worked. We also welcome applications from career break returners.

What you’ll bring:

We are seeking an experienced solicitor from either an in-house or private practice background.

You will have a strong academic record (holding a law or non-law degree at 2:1 or above) and be a solicitor or barrister qualified to practice in England and Wales.

You will have a keen eye for detail and the confidence to pick up new areas of law with the support of your legal colleagues.

You will have excellent analytical and interpersonal skills and the ability to convey complex legal matters to a non-legal audience, including the NFU’s most senior officeholders and Boards.

You will enjoy working collaboratively and supportively whilst encouraging knowledge sharing both within a small legal team, as well as across the wider Legal Department and Policy Directorate.

Why choose us?

Join us and you’ll find an organisation that encourages and enables you to achieve your full potential. In return you will be rewarded with a full range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday allowance (starting at 25 days a year (pro rata) + Bank Holidays, rising to 30 days with length of service), plus 1 annual Christmas company day
• Option to buy and sell up to 5 days (pro rata) annual leave
• Company funded health Cashplan
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave
• Performance-related pay
• Competitive Pension and Life assurance
• Access to interest-free loans for cars, bikes, season tickets and driving lessons
• Employee Assistance program to help you deal with life’s challenges
• Discounts on a range of new vehicles, holiday rentals, wellbeing and lifestyle and many more
• Attractive, modern office, with on-site restaurant and free parking

Who we are

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is the biggest farming organisation in the UK. We're proud to make a difference for all our members, by shaping attitudes towards British farming and leading the charge on a range of major issues, from climate change and food standards to rural crime and broadband rollout.

Every day, we're the voice of around 45,000 British farmers and growers who produce food, making sure their concerns are heard at the heart of government both online and locally. This means developing strong relationships with everyone from NFU colleagues to government ministers. So, as well as having a high profile in both the media and Westminster, we work with and support local members through a network of regional and county offices across England and Wales.

Legal

The role sits within the NFU’s Legal Affairs Team, which is made up of five lawyers (including this position) and one member of support staff. The role reports directly to the Chief Legal Adviser, who heads up the Legal Affairs Team.

The team is a busy and high performing in-house legal team with a varied, high quality and interesting workload. We are approachable and friendly and, when we are in the office at HQ in Stoneleigh, we sit alongside our internal clients, with whom we work very closely.

We don’t expect you to know all about farming before you join us, but you will need to be bright, with a passion for making a difference and the confidence to take on new areas of law as required.

Join us

We’re committed to recruiting a diverse and highly-talented workforce. We’ll support you by providing you with extensive learning and development opportunities and building a career that balances your professional ambitions with your personal commitments including discussions around agile and flexible work options.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If we decide we've found the right person for the role, we reserve the right to withdraw this advert and close applications before the closing date.