The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation. We improve health for everyone by funding science, leading policy and advocacy campaigns, and building partnerships.
We plan to spend £16bn over the next ten years, funding new discoveries in life, health, and wellbeing, and taking on three global health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health.
These challenges need the bold science we support, but they won’t be solved by science alone.
We are looking for a Paralegal to join our legal team.
Where in Wellcome will I be working?
The Legal team applies our legal, commercial and governance expertise to enable Wellcome to deliver its mission. As a member of the Legal team, you will be a part of a cohort of three paralegals who work alongside lawyers from our Commercial and IP & Translation sub-teams. You will be assigned to one or more teams of lawyers supporting our global health challenge areas, along with other key areas (such as Data for Science and Health, or Innovations & Access) from our Discovery and Solutions departments.
You will report to an Associate General Counsel.
What will I be doing?
As a Paralegal, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of legal processes and supporting our mission-driven initiatives.
As a Paralegal you will
- Serve as the initial point of contact for legal queries within designated business areas, managing these inquiries by either addressing them directly or collaborating with legal colleagues to assign them to appropriate legal counsel.
- Assist business sectors and the Procurement Team in drafting contracts using standard legal templates, such as consultancy agreements, variation agreements, and procurement orders.
- Provide updates on the progress and timelines of legal tasks to project managers and legal teams, raising issues when necessary to ensure project advancement.
- Support lawyers in executing complex legal assignments by gathering supplementary information and drafting legal documents under their guidance.
- Coordinate with paralegal colleagues to standardise procedures and ensure uniformity across Wellcome, while adhering to the organisation's governance, policies, values, and behaviours, and adapting to evolving roles to fulfil Wellcome's mission.
- Contribute to a diverse and inclusive culture across the organisation, collaborating across departments.
Is this job for me?
We are looking for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment. Who is highly organised, capable of managing multiple tasks and adapting to changing priorities. With a legal or paralegal background, and confidence in managing diverse portfolios of work, drafting in a legal context, and explaining legal matters to non-legal colleagues, you will be able to quickly get up to speed and help our mission focussed areas achieve their goals through a mix of grant making and contracts. You will work closely with and learn from Legal Counsel and Senior Legal Counsel assigned to your areas, gain knowledge of charities and research funding, and further develop your drafting and matter management skills.
To apply for this role please submit an update CV and answer 2 application questions to demonstrate that you meet the minimum requirements for the role.
Minimum criteria
- Paralegal certification (e.g., CILEx) or a degree in English law, GDL, or equivalent.
- Strong ability to build relationships with various stakeholders at different levels.
- Experience with legal drafting together with the ability to effectively communicate legal concepts to non-legal audiences.
