STADA UK Thornton & Ross is on an exciting growth journey with more than 700 employees being fully committed to our purpose of Caring for People’s Health as a Trusted Partner. Together we are shaping the future of Thornton & Ross by living our values of Integrity, Entrepreneurship, Agility and One STADA.

STADA UK Thornton & Ross – Legal and Compliance Placement Student

Reading |U.K.| Full-time | 12-month Fixed Term Contract

Commencing July 2027 | Salary £28,000

Step into the heart of an in‑house legal team and see how commercial law really works.

We’re looking for a driven LLB / BA Law undergraduate or BPC / SQE / LLM graduate to join our Legal Department on a 12‑month placement, working alongside experienced lawyers on real business matters. You’ll gain hands‑on exposure to the day‑to‑day operation of an in‑house legal function: supporting with legal administration, entry‑level legal work, basic legal research and project work, all with close supervision and guidance.

The role will appeal to those curious about an in‑house legal career or eager to gain practical commercial legal experience and who are excited to bring fresh ideas to help shape the future of our legal and compliance team. Please note: this is not a registered training contract (or Period of Recognised Training) under the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

How You Will Make an Impact

• Build real-world skills: work at the heart of a commercial in house legal team, organising live contracts and records while seeing how law actually operates in business.
• Do more than theory: support with genuine legal work and admin, from document management to trackers and registers, gaining experience you simply can’t get in lectures.
• Get hands-on with contracts and compliance: assist with contract administration, review low risk agreements under supervision, and see how legal risk is managed in a corporate setting.
• Grow your legal toolkit: conduct targeted legal research, support compliance tasks and help prepare guidance and briefings that shape decisions across an international pharma business.
• Learn from experts: receive mentoring and feedback from experienced in-house legal professionals, attend internal meetings and training, and watch how legal advice influences strategy.
• Boost your future applications: leave with standout, practical experience that will strengthen applications for training contracts, graduate roles, pupillage or further legal study.

What We Are Looking For

• You're looking for your industry placement year as a law undergraduate (LLB or BA Law), have completed your undergraduate degree or the SQE/LLM/BPC and have prior paralegal or office experience, ready to put your skills into practice.
• You write and communicate clearly, with strong attention to detail and the organisational skills to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines.
• You handle confidential information with maturity and professionalism, understanding the importance of discretion in legal work.
• You’re confident using Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and open to experimenting with smarter ways of working, like basic automation or workflow tools.
• You’re curious, proactive and reliable – comfortable asking questions, taking guidance and working independently on defined tasks.
• You care about doing things the right way, bringing a professional, ethical mindset and a genuine interest in developing your legal career after graduation.

How we care for you

At Thornton & Ross our purpose “Caring for people’s health as a trusted partner” motivates us every day. And what would be a better place than starting with our own employees. Which is why we give much in return:

💸 Competitive annual salary of £28,000 plus bonus scheme.

🗝 Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme.

⌚ Hybrid working – we spend three days of your choice in the office, with the remaining days working at home.

🌴 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays with the potential to buy up to 5 additional days.

💉 Free winter flu jab.

🧠 Wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme and KYAN Wellbeing – offering free coaching and counselling services for you and your family.

🚲 Cycle to Work Scheme.

🎉 Plus, many more employee benefits & celebration events.

STADA Group values and promotes its diverse culture, regardless of gender, age, social or ethnic origin, disabilities, religion, ideology, or sexual orientation. We use the strength of our uniqueness to develop creative ideas, expand our experience and increase innovative strength. Our focus is on equal opportunities, respectful cooperation, and the promotion of an inclusive working environment. We are looking forward to your application and welcome applications without a pharmaceutical background.

#LI – AJ1