Legal Counsel

Company Description

• In-house Paralegal role within our Group Legal Team
• Competitive base aligned to role
• Up to 20% annual performance bonus
• Country’s largest non-bank lender
• Friendly team, great career opportunities
• 26 days holiday, and a day off for your birthday, plus bank holidays
• Free access to company holiday homes
• Buy & sell holidays
• Discretionary annual bonus plus an additional Shared Reward Bonus
• Matched pension contribution
• Health cash plan plus Private medical insurance
• Life assurance and Critical illness cover
• Travel season ticket loans and Ride to work scheme
• Free local gym access
• Local bar / restaurant discounts
• Role based from great modern offices in Cheadle (South Manchester)

Company Description 

We’re Together. For over 50 years, we’ve helped thousands of people, businesses and professionals unlock their property ambitions with our common-sense approach to mortgages and secured loans.

We take the time to understand our customers and our door is always open, so we can often help when other lenders can’t or won’t. Based in Cheadle, Cheshire, our 800 colleagues help our customers throughout the UK, backed by the power of a £7.8 billion loan book. 

In our Group Legal Department, you’ll be part of a supportive and forward-thinking legal team, with opportunities to grow and develop your career in-house. We value collaboration, innovation, and a proactive approach to legal challenges.

Job Description

We are seeking applicants with existing paralegal experience with up to 2 years PQE, with a passion for litigation, real estate finance, commercial contracts and debt enforcement. 

You’ll be working closely with senior members of Group Legal, supporting the management of litigation, debt recovery (secured and unsecured), professional negligence and title insurance claims as well as negotiating and managing third-party contracts. You’ll proactively manage a varied litigation caseload in-house and liaise with external solicitors. You will also provide strategic advice on insolvency and restructuring matters, conduct security reviews, and manage recovery actions both in-house or with the support of our external panel. Over time, there is also an opportunity to expand into additional areas of law affecting the Group.

Proactively manage all stages of litigation from pre-action through to trial, including drafting witness statements, defences and other Court documents

• Conduct case analysis and prepare succinct summaries of key information and legal risks
• Provide strategic support on recovery of commercial loans, including insolvency and restructuring advice
• Issue statutory demands, insolvency petitions, and claims for monetary judgments
• Investigate and manage professional negligence and title insurance claims
• Conduct security reviews and advise on recovery strategies across portfolio accounts
• Manage recovery actions including possession claims, receivership and administration appointments, injunction applications, and shortfall recovery
• Review and negotiate third-party commercial contracts and non-disclosure agreements
• Instruct and oversee external legal suppliers and insolvency practitioners
• Maintain regular MI and databases, and present trend analysis on claims impacting the Group
• Work closely with internal stakeholders and contribute to strategic legal discussions

Qualifications

• LLB graduate or suitable paralegal qualification up to a solicitor 2 years PQE
• Highly organised, pragmatic, and commercially minded
• Strong communicators with excellent drafting and case management skills
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
• Keen to expand their legal skill set across different areas of law

Additional Information

If you feel you have some of the skills mentioned above, but not all, please do still apply and we would be happy to have a further discussion with you in regards to your suitability for the role.

Together embraces diversity and inclusion, and are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Not only do we welcome difference – we celebrate it, support it and really value our colleagues for who they are. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills.

If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.

Click here for more information on our Recruitment Process

Please note that all successful applicants will undergo relevant employment reference, financial and criminal record checks.