We are looking for a Legal Counsel to provide practical legal support across the group and help our teams make informed decisions.

Working closely with the Legal Director and alongside other lawyers, you will manage a varied portfolio of commercial and operational matters, build relationships with colleagues across the businesses and see your advice through to implementation.

This role would suit a lawyer with a strong grounding in commercial work who is ready to take ownership of day-to-day matters while developing broader in-house experience.

• Draft and negotiate contracts. Review, prepare and negotiate commercial agreements, including supplier, service and lease agreements, and help colleagues understand key obligations and risks.

• Advise the business. Give clear, practical advice to operational teams and functions such as HR, Finance and Procurement, setting out workable options and a recommended course of action.

• Support employment matters. Work with HR on employment documentation, policies and day-to-day queries, involving the Legal Director in sensitive or complex cases.

• Support corporate and regulatory work. Prepare corporate documents and assist with registrations, authorisations and regulatory enquiries, coordinating with the relevant business teams and external advisers.

• Contribute to privacy and compliance work. Support the DPO and other responsible colleagues with contractual provisions, policies and legal questions relevant to the group’s activities.

• Assist with disputes and projects. Assess documents and facts, prepare correspondence and support external counsel on disputes, transactions and other significant matters.

• Manage your matters effectively. Agree priorities, monitor deadlines, keep stakeholders informed and escalate material risks with a clear explanation and proposed next steps.

• Improve everyday legal support. Develop useful templates and guidance, and explain relevant legal developments in terms of what the businesses need to do.

You will be expected to handle routine matters independently within agreed responsibilities. Complex, sensitive or specialist matters will be addressed with the Legal Director and, where appropriate, external advisers.

• A law degree and relevant experience in a law firm, an in-house legal team or a combination of both.

• Around three to five years would be a useful guide; the substance of your experience and readiness for the role matter most.

• A sound working knowledge of Romanian civil and commercial law, together with practical experience of employment and corporate matters.

• Experience in litigation would be an excellent addition.

• Experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts and explaining their implications to non-lawyers.

• Strong written and spoken Romanian and English, including the ability to draft legal documents and communicate advice clearly in both languages.

• The ability to assess risk in context, distinguish significant issues from minor points and recommend proportionate solutions.

• Reliable organisation and attention to detail, including the ability to manage competing deadlines and follow matters through.

• Professional discretion, sound judgement and a collaborative approach, including confidence in raising concerns and seeking specialist input when needed.

• Experience in education, healthcare, real estate or another regulated sector would be welcome. Prior experience across all of the group’s sectors is not expected.

• Varied legal work across several businesses and sectors.

• Close collaboration with the Legal Director and colleagues responsible for commercial and operational decisions.

• Ownership of matters from initial advice through to implementation.

• The opportunity to broaden your in-house experience and contribute to how the legal function supports the group.

Our selection process will focus on relevant experience, practical legal judgement and communication. Shortlisted candidates will meet the Legal Director and may be invited to complete a short exercise based on a fictional business scenario.

We are committed to safeguarding children and young people in our education businesses. The successful candidate will be expected to uphold this commitment and complete the pre-employment checks applicable to the role.