Legal Counsel

DLA Piper are hiring a Legal Counsel on a 12 month FTC to join our team in the Office of General Counsel based in our London office.

As a Legal Counsel you will support and advise on contentious issues (including professional indemnity claims) affecting the firm, both in the UK and Internationally (excluding the US). You will have the chance to work with some of the brightest minds in the industry and make a real impact on a global business.

You will report to Senior Legal Counsel, and work as part of the team who work closely with the firm's Executive Board, the Managing Partner, the Senior Partner and the broader executive management of the firm.

We offer first rate support in the form of training, manager time, excellent career prospects and an opportunity to play a role in the development of a key team in one of the world's most exciting and dynamic law firms.

Main duties and responsibilities

Our dedication to delivering an exceptional service to our clients ensures that you will experience a dynamic, engaging, and diverse range of responsibilities. These will include, but are not limited to:

• Advising on contentious matters including disputes involving professional negligence, client and third party complaints regulatory investigations, and other matters
• Assist and support the team in the management and resolution of notified claims, working with insurers and developing relationships with external lawyers and fee earners so that claims can be managed effectively to reduce the exposure of the firm, protect the firm's reputation and preserve on-going client relationships
• Ensuring claims trends/and lessons learned are shared with the Practice, assisting with communication, training and development of solutions to identified areas of exposure
• Manage the firm's relationships with external counsel, insurers, brokers, and regulators in relation to claims and disputes
• Develop and implement strategies and policies to mitigate the firm's exposure to claims and disputes
• Support the Head of Claims and Senior Legal Counsels in other projects and initiatives as required

About you

Whilst we do not typically set upper or lower limits of PQE for any of our vacancies, we anticipate that candidates who have between 0-3 years' PQE are likely to have the right level of knowledge and have gained the right type of experience needed to be able to undertake this role successfully. More specifically we are looking for:

• Qualified solicitor or barrister in England & Wales
• Experience in litigation, preferably in a large law firm or inhouse legal department
• Insurance and regulatory experience is preferred
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• A sound understanding of risk and compliance practice; and ability to think strategically and creatively
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships both within and outside the firm, acting as an effective brand ambassador for DLA Piper, and an internal change agent
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritise effectively
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

About us

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

Our values

In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative - we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
• Be Bold - we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional - we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

Diversity and inclusion

At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

Hybrid working

We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That's why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

Pre-engagement screening

In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits and where relevant, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and work-related references.

Apply now