Legal Counsel (Commercial Contracts, Privacy)

Junior Commercial Lawyer (NQ) – Contract to Perm | Life Sciences

We are working with a global organisation within the life sciences sector, supporting leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies, who are seeking a Junior Commercial Lawyer (NQ) to join their in-house legal team.

This role is offered on an initial 6-month contract with a strong view to permanent , providing an excellent opportunity to build hands-on experience in a broad commercial environment.

The Role

You will join a small, high-performing legal team and play a key role in supporting the business on a wide range of commercial contracts and legal matters .

This is a hands-on role suited to someone confident working with a degree of autonomy, while also being proactive in seeking guidance where needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate a range of commercial agreements , including:

  • Master Services Agreements (MSAs)

  • Supplier and client contracts

  • Consultancy and services agreements

• Provide initial contract mark-ups and support negotiations

• Advise internal stakeholders on contractual terms and risk

• Support on data protection and GDPR-related matters

• Work closely with the business to support commercial operations

Required Experience

• Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) – Newly Qualified (NQ)

• Training contract or prior experience including commercial contracts work

• Exposure to drafting and negotiating agreements (ideally MSAs)

• Working knowledge of data protection / GDPR

• Experience in a commercial or professional services environment is beneficial

Key Attributes

• Proactive and self-motivated , with a willingness to take ownership

• Strong drafting skills and attention to detail

• Commercially minded with a pragmatic approach

• Comfortable working in a lean team environment

• Able to balance independence with good judgement on escalation

Contract Details

• Initial 6-month contract → strong potential to convert to permanent

• Start: ASAP

• Hybrid working – 1 day per week in the office (South West London)

• Competitive day rate

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for a junior lawyer to transition into an in-house role, gaining exposure to a wide range of commercial legal work within a collaborative and fast-paced environment .

You will be given real responsibility from day one, with the opportunity to grow into a longer-term position within the business.