Junior Legal Counsel

Junior Legal Counsel

Business Area: Group General Counsel

Place of Work: London

Contract Type: Permanent

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 tomanage legal risk within USSIM and USS through the provision of legal advice (including obtaining external legal advice where appropriate).

What you will be doing

As a trusted part of the Group General Counsel, you will be responsible for:

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating investment and trading agreements (e.g. IMAs, ISDAs, JVs, custody)
• Advising on financial services regulations including FSMA, MiFID II, AIFMD, GDPR and EMIR
• Providing legal support on collateral management and counterparty risk
• Supporting internal committees with legal advice and documentation review
• Managing external counsel and translating advice into business-focused guidance
• Delivering legal training and knowledge sharing across the business
• Representing the firm in industry forums and external regulatory discussions

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 be:

• Qualified solicitor (England & Wales or equivalent) with in-house or law firm experience
• Skilled in reviewing and negotiating investment and trading documentation
• Knowledgeable on FSMA, MiFID II, EMIR and related regulations
• Able to manage a varied workload and lead legal projects independently
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Able to prioritise and meet multiple tight deadlines
• Experienced in managing external legal counsel preferred

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 well-being
• Access to a range of health and well-being services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
• Employee Volunteer Days to support the communities where you work and live
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our culture and values

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves.

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

USSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent.

We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting .