Legal Counsel & Co Sec

Job Purpose 

The Junior Legal Counsel will support the Legal & Compliance function in delivering high‑quality legal, regulatory, and corporate governance advice across the business.
Working closely with the Head of Legal, General Counsel, and senior stakeholders, the role offers an excellent opportunity for an early‑career legal professional—including law graduates, paralegals, trainees, or newly qualified solicitors—to gain broad in‑house experience within the insurance sector.

The role is part of a small, collaborative team and offers exposure to a diverse range of legal and regulatory matters spanning all aspects of insurance, including policy wordings, product development, distribution agreements, and claims and litigation management. The role also provides experience in commercial contract drafting and negotiation, data protection, regulatory compliance, and company secretarial work.

This is an ideal position for a motivated legal professional looking to develop strong commercial, regulatory, and corporate governance skills within a supportive environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Head of Legal in providing advice on legal and regulatory matters arising from business initiatives, including new products, distribution channels, and cross‑border activities.
• Provide company secretarial support across the HSB entities, including deputising when needed for the General Counsel and/or Head of Legal at board and committee meetings, and preparing minutes and action logs.
• Assist in reviewing, drafting, and negotiating a wide range of insurance and commercial agreements.
• Support the underwriting and claims functions on policy wording and coverage matters.
• Support the monitoring and handling of litigation and threatened claims, including coordinating external counsel and responding to customer complaints, including correspondence with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments, assess their impact on the business, and deliver or facilitate relevant training across teams.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Strong academic background with high‑quality legal training.
• Clear and concise drafting skills with strong attention to detail.
• Proactive, self‑motivated, and able to collaborate effectively within a small team.
• Commercial mindset with a pragmatic, solution‑focused approach.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to explain legal issues clearly to colleagues without legal backgrounds.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Confident working independently and able to engage constructively with stakeholders at all levels.

Desirable

• Prior experience as a trainee, paralegal, legal executive, or newly qualified solicitor.
• Working knowledge of UK insurance contract law and regulations.
• Experience advising on corporate, commercial, or regulatory matters, particularly within the insurance sector.
• Understanding of UK data protection and company law.
• Company secretarial experience.

Qualifications and Educational Requirements

Essential

• Degree in law or legal conversion qualification 

Desirable

• Newly qualified solicitor or experienced paralegal/legal executive

Personal Attributes

• Resilient, reliable, and committed to delivering high‑quality work.
• Strong communicator and confident presenter.
• Collaborative, adaptable, and eager to broaden legal expertise.
• Positive approach to learning and development.
• Proactive, motivated, and comfortable using initiative.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At HSB, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion foster innovation and resilience and enable us to act braver and better. Embracing the power of DEI is at the core of who we are. We recognise diversity can be multi-dimensional, intersectional, and complex, so we want to build a diverse workforce that includes a wide range of racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender identities; economic and geographic backgrounds; physical abilities; ages; life, school, and career experiences; and political, religious, and personal beliefs. Additionally, we are committed to building an equitable and inclusive work environment where this diversity is celebrated, valued, and has equitable opportunities to succeed.

All candidates in consideration for any role can request a reasonable adjustment at any point in our recruitment process. You can request an adjustment by speaking to your Talent Acquisition contact.

Benefits

• 25 days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays + Well-being days
• Up to 13% Pension contribution
• Eligibility for an Annual Bonus
• Private Medical & Dental
• Life Assurance
• Wellbeing and Development Scheme + EAP + Health Assessments (subject to scheme eligibility)
• Study & continuing Professional Development Support
• Hybrid Working