Junior Legal Counsel Recruitment Project
Background
The GC of this organisation instructed us exclusively to assist with the recruitment of a more junior legal counsel.
The client, a leading British furniture retailer, had experienced significant growth in the 20 year period since it was founded. Now, with over 1,200 employees across the UK and a network of stores and distribution centres, the company needed to further strengthen its legal function to support continued expansion of the business.
The business had appointed their first ever lawyer in-house lawyer two years earlier. In that short time, and to this individual’s credit as a part-time GC, the legal and compliance function had become so embedded in the organisation that the senior management team’s reliance on in-house counsel meant they needed two lawyers rather than just one, in order to ensure continuity and succession planning.
The General Counsel therefore sought to add a more junior legal counsel, to support various aspects of company’s operational legal requirements – from commercial contracts to regulatory compliance.
Challenge
The primary challenge was finding a candidate who could thrive in a fast-paced retail environment while handling a really diverse portfolio of responsibilities. The role required someone who could:
- Navigate both B2B and B2C legal matters in retail
- Handle complex commercial contracts across multiple business functions
- Support sustainability initiatives and regulatory compliance
- Work effectively in a very lean legal team structure
- Adapt to a hybrid working model between home and their provincial UK headquarters
The company needed someone with sufficient experience to work autonomously, yet at a level where they could both grow with the organisation and be challenged professionally. Additionally, the relatively remote regional location meant the talent pool would be rather more limited than in major legal centres. This is often one of the primary challenges with the recruitment of in-house counsel, and in particular a junior lawyer.
Solution
First, we conducted extensive mapping of the retail sector legal market, targeting lawyers with 6+ months PQE from both in-house and private practice backgrounds. Special attention was paid to those with experience in consumer-facing businesses and e-commerce operations.
Second, we designed a focused two-stage interview process: initial video interviews to assess technical capabilities, followed by in-person meetings and technical legal assessment to evaluate both cultural fit and commercial acumen.
The successful appointment was made from a shortlist of candidates who demonstrated both the required commercial contracts expertise and the ability to support a growing retail business. The appointed lawyer brought experience from a top-tier law firm combined with some in-house retail sector exposure (via a client secondment), providing the perfect blend of technical expertise and commercial understanding needed for this expanding business.
