Legal Counsel - 12 month FTC

Our vision is to give everyone the belief they can make their move. We aim to make moving simpler, by giving everyone the best place to turn to and return to for access to the tools, expertise, trust, and belief to make it happen.

We’re home to the UK’s largest choice of properties and are the go-to destination for millions of people planning their next move, reading the latest industry news, or just browsing what’s on the market. 

As the UK’s favourite property platform, Rightmove aims to give everyone the belief that they can make their move. To help us achieve this, we’re looking for a Legal Counsel  to join our team for a 12 month maternity leave cover contract.

"Join a highly valued legal team at a fast-paced technology business, partnering across the organisation and playing a key role in bringing innovative products to market" - Isaac, Hiring Manager

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious qualified lawyer who’s eager to learn and make a real impact. The successful candidate will be enthusiastic, proactive, and willing to get stuck into a broad scope of work. In return, you’ll gain hands-on experience, high levels of responsibility, and the opportunity to work closely with colleagues across the business. 

You’ll report to the Senior Legal Counsel and work alongside an experienced legal team that values collaboration, commerciality, and clear communication 

What you’ll be doing 

• Commercial Contracts:  Responsibilities include reviewing, drafting, and negotiating a variety of commercial agreements in a fast-paced tech environment. 

• Intellectual Property & Brand Protection:  Support will be provided for intellectual property enforcement and brand protection efforts, helping to safeguard the company’s assets and reputation. 

• Corporate Project Work:  Support on a broad range of strategic corporate projects, working closely with stakeholders across the business to deliver practical legal advice and manage legal risk. 

• Dispute Resolution:  Assistance will be given in handling low-level disputes and pre-litigation matters. The ideal candidate will be comfortable resolving issues directly and identifying practical, business-friendly solutions. 

• Legal Operations & Process Improvement:  Duties include maintaining and improving legal tools and workflows, including contract management systems. A proactive approach and a strong embrace of AI and technology to enhance efficiency are essential. 

• Inbox & Business Support:  Legal queries will be triaged and addressed efficiently. Complex issues will be simplified, swift action will be taken, and clear expectations will be established. 

• Cross-Functional Collaboration:  Close collaboration with teams across the business is expected to provide timely and effective legal advice, including partnering with product teams to review products, features, and new initiatives. Strong communication and the ability to thrive in cross-functional environments are key. 

• Compliance & Risk Management:  Staying current with relevant laws is necessary, along with maintaining legal templates, playbooks, and training materials. 

Who you are 

• Qualified solicitor in England & Wales (or equivalent jurisdiction). 

• 2 - 4 years’ PQE, ideally with some in-house experience, or from a leading law firm with exposure to commercial legal work. 

• Experience working in-house at a fast-paced, technology-led company is essential. 

• Good understanding/ working knowledge of basic data protection principles   

• Someone who is enthusiastic, hungry to learn, and not afraid to get stuck in. 

• Strong drafting and negotiation skills. 

• Experience working on corporate/internal strategic projects or matters. 

• Clear communicator with the ability to explain legal concepts simply and effectively. 

• Organised, adaptable, and comfortable juggling multiple matters at once. 

• A team player who is proactive and solution-focused. 

• Interest in legal tech and willingness to use tools to drive efficiencies is a plus. 

About Rightmove

Our vision is to give everyone the belief that they can make their move. We aim to make moving simpler by giving everyone the best place to turn to and return to for access to the tools, expertise, trust and belief to make it happen.

We're home to the UK's largest choice of properties, and are the go-to destination for millions of people planning their next move, reading the latest industry news, or just browsing what's on the market.

Despite this growth, we’ve remained a friendly, supportive place to work, with employee #1 still working here!  We’ve done this by placing the Rightmove Hows at the heart of everything we do. These are the essential values that reflect our culture, and include:

• We create value… by delivering results and building trust with partners and consumers.
• We think bigger… by acting with curiosity and setting bold aspirations.
• We care deeply… by being real, having fun, and valuing diversity.
• We move together… by being one team - internally collaborative, externally competitive.
• We make a difference… by focusing on delivering measurable impact.

We believe in careers that open doors and help our team develop by providing an open and inclusive work environment, offering ongoing training opportunities, and supporting charity fundraising events. And with 88% of Rightmovers saying we’re a great place to work, we’re clearly doing something right! 

What we offer

• Cash plan for dental, optical and physio treatments.
• Private Medical Insurance, Pension and Life Insurance, Employee Assistance Plan.
• 27 days holiday plus two (paid) volunteering days a year to give back, and holiday buy schemes.
• Contributory stakeholder pension.
• Life assurance at 4x your basic salary to a spouse, family member or other nominated person in your life.
• Competitive compensation package.
• Paid leave for maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility.
• Travel Loans, Bike to Work scheme, Rental Deposit Loan.
• Charitable contributions through Payroll Giving and donation matching.
• Access deals and discounts on things like travel, electronics, fashion, gym memberships, cinema discounts and more.
• We offer hybrid working with a minimum of 2 days in the office. For our roles, such as Field or Home-based positions, different working arrangements apply - full details will be shared during the recruitment process.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Rightmove will never discriminate based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage / civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity or sexual orientation.  At Rightmove, we believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce leads to better innovation, productivity, and overall success., We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees, regardless of their background or identity, to develop and promote a diverse culture that reflects the communities we serve.

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