Date: 19 Oct 2023
Location: London, UKM, GB
Company: British Council
We support peace and prosperity by building
connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries
worldwide.
We work directly with individuals to help them gain
the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a
better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and
explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and
to gain internationally recognised qualifications.
Working with people in over 200 countries and
territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we
reached 650 million people.
Legal Advisor
Pay Band: 9 SMPS
Salary: £55,699 (+£3,300 market allowance if based
in the London area)
Contract Type: Indefinite
Location: UK only; London, Manchester, Cardiff,
Edinburgh, Belfast.
Requirements: Candidates must have the pre-existing
(permanent) right to work in location.
Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will
not be provided.
Benefits include, but are not limited to:
32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
3 days volunteering leave
Career average defined benefit pension scheme
An unrivalled opportunity for you to get to use all
the experience you've built up working in and / or leading global organisations
to support us in building trust across the world!
Closing date: Monday 13th November 2023, 11:59pm UK
time.
Role Purpose
To provide legal advice and guidance to colleagues
within the British Council on a diverse range of legal matters, working in
partnership with teams across the global network of British Council operations.
Context
Legal services are provided within the British
Council through a small team with a broad remit, which touches many parts of
the organisation. The Legal team are supported as required by advice from
external lawyers.
Direct support from the Legal team is focused on
business-critical core legal issues, including client/supplier/partner/funder
arrangements, intellectual property, privacy, conflict of laws / cross-border
issues, legal status, complex contracts and strategy for resolution of major
disputes.
This role provides support to Cultural Engagement
(largely grant funded or partnership driven) and English & Exams
(commercial, surplus generating business), corporate functions and the overseas
network as required.
The role reports to a Senior Legal Advisor/Legal
Counsel, who in turn reports to the Head of Legal. Due to the nature of the functions in
Corporate Affairs, there is significant daily interaction with a range of
colleagues around the British Council’s global network, plus the Senior Leadership
Team and the Board.
Relationship and Stakeholder Management
Key relationships include:
Client functions (Cultural Engagement, English &
Exams, regions/countries, and corporate functions).
Senior colleagues in finance, human resources,
contract management, procurement, and other support/corporate functions.
External legal advisers
Supporting a complex operating environment in an
organisation that is both a non-governmental public body and a charity as well
as encompassing a large international commercial operation in the education
sector.
Working across more than 100 countries with
significant regional differences and priorities.
Supporting an international organisation undergoing
significant digital transformation and investing in technology innovation.
Role specific requirements
Provide legal advice to colleagues across the
British Council including on new programmes and projects across the
organisation.
Handle legal enquiries, provide advice, and involve
other support functions as required.
Work with the Senior Legal Advisors, Legal Counsel,
and other colleagues to prepare, draft and negotiate a wide range of commercial
contracts and work on international digital innovation initiatives as well as
data, IP, procurement, and e-commerce matters; treaties/arrangements with host
country governments; ancillary legal documentation such as loans, bonds and
guarantees, powers of attorney and memoranda of understanding.
Work with the Senior Legal Advisors, Legal Counsel,
and other colleagues to manage a variety of complaints and disputes.
Work with the Senior Legal Advisers, Legal Counsel
and other colleagues in handling pre and post-business case issues in Status
and Tax negotiations.
Proactively identify legal issues and risks, develop
guidance, and learning materials, and provide training and coaching to
colleagues.
Collate data and information and provide reports to
the Head of Legal when required.
Work with policy owners to identify improvements,
update policies and procedures, develop guidance and training materials and
ensure alignment with wider business and functional strategies.
Good drafting and negotiating skills.
Person Specification
Barrister or Solicitor qualified in England and
Wales (Desirable) / Lawyer qualified in a common law jurisdiction (at least 2
years PQE).
Role specific knowledge and experience
Minimum / essential
Sufficient knowledge / experience of:
Commercial transactions / contract law
Partnerships and joint ventures
Corporate governance
Legal status (UK and overseas)
Conflict of laws / cross border issues
Intellectual property / digital / privacy as well as
B2C operations
International legal issues
Public procurement law and competitive tender
processes
Sufficient post-qualification experience
Desirable
Public sector / NDPB legal experience
Charity legal experience
In-house experience
Exposure to or interest in digital tech/artificial
intelligence
Dispute Resolution
Employment law
Closing date: Monday 13th November 2023, 11:59pm UK
time.
Interviews will be held around the 27th November
2023.
A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and
trusted world.
Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement
The British Council is committed to policies and
practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We
support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this
commitment. We want to address under
representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in
particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the
essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident
Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or
adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.
The British Council is committed to safeguarding
children, young people and adults who we work with.
We believe that all children and adults everywhere
in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be
protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in
article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.
Appointment to positions where there is direct
involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being
completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity
& criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the
British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.
If you have any problems with your application
please email askhr@britishcouncil.org
Please note: Applications to this role can only be
considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK
HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when
applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and
CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.
