Senior Lawyer - Programme Legal Advice

We are recruiting an experienced Senior Lawyer to join our Programme Legal Advice team. As a Senior Lawyer, you will provide pre-transmission advice on defamation, contempt, privacy, and other aspects of media law to journalists and content producers across the BBC's output.

The role is based in London's Broadcasting House, with some hybrid working. The Programme Legal Advice team works a minimum of Wednesdays and Thursdays from the office, with some further days based in the newsroom. Subject to other occasional team and client needs, the remaining time can be worked from home.

The proposed salary range for this role is £87,000 - £97,000pa, plus London weighting (£5,441pa), depending on relevant skills, knowledge, and experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advise programme makers and senior management on legal risks associated with their output and provide strategies for managing legal risk.
• Participate in the provision of advice to news programmes 24/7, occasionally being on call out of office hours.
• Support the BBC's journalism by challenging reporting restrictions, applying to courts and other bodies for access information, and advising on Freedom of Information Act requests.
• Prepare and present media law training for journalists and other programme makers.
• Keep closely across legal and regulatory developments affecting the BBC's journalism.

Essential Criteria:

• Fully qualified lawyer with a current practising certificate, good academics, and a good track record in and knowledge of media law.
• Experience of providing pre-publication advice on a range of output, including complex and sensitive news and current affairs investigations.
• A track record of providing proactive, specialist, timely, and authoritative legal advice and support to senior leaders and key decision-makers.
• Managing relationships - building relationships across a range of clients and colleagues across disciplines and within a team.

Desirable:

• Solicitors or barristers with 5 years' Post Qualified Experience plus.
• Previous experience in-house.
• Previous experience of preparing and delivering legal training.

Benefits:

• Fair pay and flexible benefits, including a competitive salary package.
• A flexible 35-hour working week.
• 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days.
• A defined pension scheme.
• Discounted dental, health care, and gym.