Role Type
Voluntary — Equity + Payment Upon Funding
Seniority Target
Early-to-mid career (1–4 years); LLB/LLM required or final year law student
Reports To
CEO
Location
Remote, UK preferred, European applications welcome
Commitment
~6–10 hrs/week during development phase; increasing as incorporation approaches
Branch
Lucerno Policy Insights (LPI) in advisory fashion; cross-functional oversight
ABOUT THE ROLE
As Lucerno transitions from an unincorporated organisation toward formal incorporation and eventual revenue generation, legal foundations become critical. The CLO will own legal risk management, governance compliance, and the contractual frameworks that underpin our client work, partnerships, and equity arrangements. In the near term, this is a light-touch advisory role. You’ll be responsible for reviewing agreements, advising on incorporation options, and establishing policies. This role is well-suited to a law graduate, trainee solicitor, or junior lawyer looking for substantive in-house experience.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Advise the executive team on legal structure options for incorporation (LLP, Ltd, CIC, or charitable status)
• Draft and review all external-facing agreements including pro-bono client contracts, partnership MOUs, and NDAs
• Develop and maintain internal policies including volunteer agreements, equity term sheets, and data handling
• Ensure GDPR and data protection compliance across all Lucerno operations and digital platforms
• Provide legal guidance on intellectual property, such as ownership of publications, brand protection, and content licensing
• Support the COO in building governance documentation appropriate to Lucerno\\\'s legal status
• Monitor regulatory developments relevant to think tanks, consultancies, and professional services in target markets
• Advise on employment law implications as Lucerno moves from volunteers to paid staff
ABOUT YOU
NECESSARY
• LLB, LLM, or equivalent legal qualification (or penultimate/ final year of study with strong academic record)
IDEAL
• Understanding of UK company law, contract law, and data protection frameworks
• Ability to translate legal complexity into plain-language guidance for non-lawyers
• High personal integrity and professional discretion
• Proactive self-starter, be able to identify legal exposure before being asked
• Comfortable working with ambiguous, early-stage governance contexts
DESIRABLE
• Training contract in progress or completed, or equivalent professional qualification
• Knowledge of European and EU commercial law (specifically French, German, Spanish, or Scandinavian jurisdictions)
• Experience with charity law, CIC structures, or think tank governance
• Familiarity with IP licensing, open access publishing, or creative commons frameworks
WHAT YOU GAIN
• Founding equity stake in Lucerno Advisory Group, formalised upon incorporation
• CLO title with full executive team membership
• Paid role upon first funding round, with terms agreed in advance
• Substantive in-house legal experience across corporate, commercial, and employment law contexts
• Unique exposure to start-up lifecycle legal work that most trainees do not access until mid-career
• A demonstrable leadership role for pupillage, training contract, or job applications
Any Questions About the Role: lucernoadvisorygroup@gmail.com