General Counsel

THIS JOB HAS NOW CLOSED

The opportunity

University of the Arts London (UAL) is a world-leading creative university for teaching and research in art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts. UAL is made up of six renowned colleges: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts.

We thrive because the world needs creativity. In a volatile era, we aim to find new ways to demonstrate the value of creative disciplines in our response to major forces such as the climate emergency, decolonisation and social equality. We are a top 30 UK university for research and performance-related knowledge exchange, top three for student and graduate start-ups, leading on public engagement and CPD. We use our knowledge, creativity and skills to work with partners, clients and communities to create a positive impact.

We are now seeking a General Counsel who will report directly to the University Secretary and be responsible for primary legal support across all of the University and its subsidiaries’ activities and be the single and main point of contact for all senior management in the provision of legal advice on any matter impacting UAL.

About you

The successful candidate will be a qualified and practising solicitor who holds a current Practicing Certificate from the Regulation Authority with significant post-qualification experience, coupled with affinity and empathy for the Higher Education sector and interest in its current and future developments. Such experience may have been gained beyond the Higher Education sector, in complex and highly regulated environments and you will have experience of team leadership.

You will possess a demonstrable track record as an authority within your field or specialism, and be able to shape and influence developments across the University and apply your skills more generally through a varied workload. You will share our values and will possess exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, representing UAL with a wide range of stakeholders. Like us, you believe that equality, diversity and inclusion are integral to thriving organisations and you will share our commitment to creating a university where we can all be ourselves and reach our full potential.

Perrett Laver is acting as an employment agency advisor to UAL on this appointment process.

Closing date – Monday 15 January 2024 at 9am.

Application is by submission of a full curriculum vitae and a covering letter of application, addressing the job description and person specification and including suitable daytime and evening telephone contact details.

For further details, including a candidate pack, job description, person specification and information on how to apply, please visit Perrett Laver’s jobs page.

We are UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) offers an extensive range of courses in art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts. We are a collegiate University spread across London with six Colleges, four Institutes and five Research Centres. UAL also has two subsidiary companies, delivering specialist activities – UAL Short Courses Ltd, and UAL Arts Temps Ltd.

We’re made up of all types of people, coming together in London, the world’s creative capital. We are designers, artists, performers, thinkers, researchers and makers. Our students, staff and graduates form a global network of creatives, entrepreneurs and leaders. Together, our ideas change the world. Because the world needs creativity.

We are ranked highly across the board. We are ranked first for specialist art and design, second in the world for Art and Design in the 2023 QS World University Rankings (for the fifth year in a row), ranked fifth in sustainability and two of our colleges were rated in the top three fashion schools in the world.

Our culture

We have become one of the world’s most international Universities, welcoming over 22,000 students and 6,000 staff from 130 countries. And, as a global university, staff and students learn from different cultures and perspectives, which leads to new conversations and innovative work. At our very core, everything we do seeks to challenge the status quo by driving social purpose and standing up for what matters.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds including those who may feel underrepresented in the workforce due to their socioeconomic circumstances such as those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E.) backgrounds. We aim to be a university where everyone can be themselves and are supported to reach their full potential.

With our commitment to inclusion and diversity, we are proud to be a Race Equality Charter (REC) member to help us reduce barriers that negatively impacts B.A.M.E. staff, a Stonewall Diversity Champion to ensure all LGBTQ+ people are valued at work, a Disability Confident Scheme Committed employer and member of the Business Disability Forum which help us to improve the lives of disabled people in the workplace.

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