Legal Counsel - Contracts and Commercial

The Legal Office is the in‑house provider of legal services to the national policy‑making and governance institutions of the Church of England, which are some of the largest charities in the UK (including statutory corporations and a Royal Charter corporation), the largest of which are the Archbishops' Council, a national policy and strategic decision‑making body, the Church Commissioners, a substantial endowment fund with assets valued at £11.1bn (2024) which has positioned itself at the forefront of Responsible Investment and which supports the mission of the Church, and the Church of England Pensions Board which stewards a £3.4bn fund.

The Legal Office also advises the General Synod, which is a legislative assembly which makes primary and secondary legislation subject to the approval of Parliament. We are a small, inclusive team which will comprise 17 legally qualified staff, with three paralegals and two support staff. Our professional backgrounds are diverse, with members coming to us from private practice in law firms, the Bar, from government, and from regulators.

Our work is firmly values led and requires the provision of advice on diverse and intellectually stimulating points of law at the intersection of public and private law. The work is high quality, groundbreaking, engaging, and rewarding. We are a collegiate and supportive team, and we are proud of the work we do.

As a member of the Legal Office Advisory Team, you will be providing legal services to the National Institutions of the Church of England, focused on giving legal advice across a diverse and interesting range of subjects which bear on the operations of the Church Commissioners and other parts of the national Church of England. You will be joining us at an exciting time for the organisation and the role will offer you the opportunity for genuine career growth and development in a supportive environment, including interaction with some of the most senior stakeholders in the organisation.

You will be able to take a leading and meaningful role in existing and new projects. You will also be a member of the Legal Office's advisory team, undertaking as appropriate a wider range of duties as a legal adviser within the National Church Institutions. This role will include:

• Working with senior counsel and other stakeholders in relation to drafting and reviewing contracts, and supporting effective legal compliance and due diligence.
• Providing timely, legally sound and pragmatic subject matter expertise into national projects including contractual risk reviews, and drafting and amending terms, and negotiating terms with counter parties (both standard and bespoke).
• Supporting the development and roll out of training and knowledge management in connection with contracts and other areas of professional practice.
• Provision of advice to the Church Commissioners, the Archbishops' Council, the Church of England Pensions Board, their boards, committees and staff on legal and procedural issues arising out of their work. Some of these activities are legislative or regulatory in nature.

This role requires hybrid working with some regular weekly travel to London.

The Church of England is for everyone and we want to reflect the diversity of the community the Church serves across the whole country. Therefore, while of course we welcome all applications from interested and suitably experienced people, we would particularly welcome applicants from UK Minoritised Ethnicities (UKME)/Global Majority Heritage (GMH) and other under‑represented groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to recruiting disabled people.

We offer interviews to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

• Qualified barrister or solicitor (England & Wales)
• Strong experience in your chosen area (contracts, commercial, or advisory)
• Excellent communication and drafting skills
• Ability to provide clear, pragmatic advice on complex issues

We believe our commitment to belonging and inclusion fuels our progress and drives us forward. The NCIs are a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We…