Legal Counsel Employment Team

Business Unit: Legal & Secretariat – People Legal Team
Salary Range: Competitive
Location: Hybrid- with travel to a hub when required
Contract Type: Permanent

Our Team

We are embarking on an exciting new chapter as Virgin Money joins forces with Nationwide Building Society to create a new modern mutual driven by our purpose - Banking – but fairer, more rewarding and for the good of society. 

The Legal and Secretariat function is one of the first teams to integrate so it couldn’t be a more exciting time to join the team.  As we create the new People Legal team, our aim will be to continue to provide relationship-driven support to every part of the new combined Group with clear, pragmatic advice every time. We work at the heart of a fast-paced and evolving environment, helping leaders navigate complex employment issues with confidence and care. From shaping policies to supporting the people integration journey, we play a key role in fostering a fair, inclusive, and legally sound workplace.

You’ll be joining a team that values trust, open dialogue, and practical solutions—and where your voice and expertise will truly make an impact.

What you’ll be doing

• Be an engaged and proactive member of the Legal & Secretariat function.
• Support the success of our broader People Function by keeping them safe with timely and commercial legal advice.
• Provide practical support on colleague queries covering the whole employment journey from recruitment to retirement and everything in between, including support on TUPE transfers, redundancy processes, settlement agreements, as well as complex disciplinary and grievance cases.
• Liaise with external panel firms when required and effectively manage associated costs.
• Take responsibility for your own development by seeking out activities to be involved in.
• Role model our purpose and customer-first behaviours in the way that we deliver our advice and how you interact with your colleagues.

We need you to have

• Appropriate credentials showing that you are a solicitor currently admitted in the UK.
• Good knowledge of UK employment law and a current practicing certificate from the Law Society of Scotland or the Law Society of England and Wales.
• The ability to get to the right answer and then communicate it in a way anyone can understand.
• Integrity, dealing with matters sensitively and always confidentially.
• Knowledge of the financial services regulatory environment or a desire to learn about it.
• An appetite to get involved in opportunities outside of the day job, providing support to the broader Legal & Secretariat Function as well as playing a role in building an engaged and inclusive culture driven by our purpose.

Red Hot Rewards

• Generous holidays - 38.5 days annual leave (including bank holidays and prorated if part-time)​ plus the option to buy more.
• Up to five extra paid well-being days per year​. 
• Market-leading pension.
• Free private medical cover, income protection and life assurance.
• Flexible benefits include Cycle to Work, wellness and health assessments, and critical illness. 

And there's no waiting around, you'll enjoy these benefits from day one. 

If we’re lucky to receive a lot of interest, we may close the advert early. Please ensure to submit your applications as soon as possible.  

Say hello to Virgin Money

Virgin Money is so much more than just a bank. As part of the Nationwide group, together we're the UK's first full-service mutual bank serving millions of retail and business customers and all driven by our purpose; Banking but fairer, more rewarding and for the good of society. With us, you’ll be part of an organisation uniquely positioned to make a difference to the lives of customers, communities and broader society and embark on a collaborative, customer obsessed, and fun-filled career journey. Embrace the weekdays, enjoy fantastic perks, and make a meaningful positive difference. Time to discover what it means to be part of the first mutual full-service banking provider.  

Be yourself at Virgin Money

At Virgin Money, we celebrate everyone. We have fun, think big, and relentlessly include each other, all in pursuit of our purpose: Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society.  We’re committed to creating an inclusive culture where colleagues feel safe and inspired to contribute, speak up and be heard.    

As a Disability Confident Leader, we're committed to removing any obstacles to inclusion.  If you need any reasonable adjustments or support making your application, contact our Talent Acquisition team careers@virginmoney.com

Please note: If we receive a high volume of eligible applications, we may need to prioritise candidates whose skills and experience most closely align with the role, while still ensuring fair and equitable consideration for all applicants.

Now the legal bit
Living A Life More Virgin allows our colleagues to be based anywhere in the UK (if the role allows it), but we'll need you to confirm you have the right to work in the UK.

If you're successful in securing a role with us, there are some checks you need to complete before starting. These include credit and criminal record checks and three years' worth of satisfactory references. If the role is part of the Senior Manager Regime and Certification Regime, it requires enhanced pre-employment checks – we'll ask for six years of regulatory references, and once in the role, you'll be subject to periodic employment checks.