A 10-month internship with the Orbex Legal to support work on the company’s corporate governance administration, intellectual property portfolio, technical supply contracts, insurance programme, and space law research.

Company Description:

Orbex is a leading micro-launch company with our Prime and Proxima launch vehicles being prepared to launch from Scotland. We are well placed to be one of the first operational micro-launch companies in Europe with over €158m/£133m of project financing secured, a number of customers signed up, launch licence application submitted, and backing from organisations including UKSA and ESA.

We are a rapidly growing company with staff located between our production and test facilities in Forres, Scotland and Copenhagen, Denmark. Working on cutting edge advances in rocket fuel technology, Prime’s carbon footprint is up to 96% lower than comparable vehicles, leading to innovations in propulsion and tank structures. A state-of-the-art re-flight system means we can recover and reuse our technology, and innovations in separation mechanisms mean we leave no debris on orbit.
Having developed in-house production capability, we can 3D print complex engines, produce full-scale carbon composite fuel tanks, and have avionics and software testing labs in both Scotland and Denmark.

Based in Forres, this internship will be right in the heart of this fast-paced cutting-edge company, with a unique insight into what it takes to build a new launch vehicle for a buoyant commercial market.

Located at the foot of the Scottish Highlands, Forres is close to a spectacular coastline with easy access to woodlands, hills, and the nearby towns and cities of Inverness and Aberdeen, offering a fantastic professional and personal opportunity for growth and exploration.

Orbex is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is working towards a more diverse workforce in the aerospace industry.

Project Description:

Your time at Orbex will give you the opportunity to work alongside the Company Lawyer on a range of projects and activities including:

Advising the Board of Directors on a range of legal matters relating to space law
Drafting launch service agreements
Managing the Orbex insurance programme
Developing the Orbex Intellectual Property portfolio which already includes a range of patents and trademarks for novel launch vehicle technology
Working closely with the technical teams on a range of supply contracts for software, engineering, manufacturing and testing of the launch vehicle
Research of space law and international trade law, with a particular focus on the European Union and US Federal Code.

You will be embedded in the business services branch of the company supporting some of the most experienced launch vehicle engineers in the industry, on a programme that challenges the way rockets are developed and manufactured in Europe today.

We aim for you to gain:

A unique opportunity in Scots Law focusing on legal matters in the space industry from the in-house perspective.
Practical experience in contract drafting, applying legal skills to technical projects, and providing ad hoc advice on request and at short notice to leaders in the company and industry
An opportunity to research and publish articles on space law and related topics
Networking opportunities with Orbex’s external counsel in Scotland, England & Wales, the United States, and the European Union
Working in a multi-cultural and cross-discipline team, developing and improving your interpersonal skills
An understanding of what it takes to build a start-up company in the space industry.
An appreciation to embrace innovation
Confidence and inspiration to remain in the space sector

For the right candidate, this could be an extended job interview with the opportunity to join Orbex in a permanent role in the future, subject to obtaining the relevant qualifications.

Applicant Specification:

Orbex is looking for a candidate who works hard, delivers reliably, and puts the team above themselves.
The Company Lawyer is the sole in-house counsel and therefore there are many demands on the small legal team; you will be expected to hit the ground running, so we look for self-starters who can figure things out quickly using their initiative.

This would be an ideal role for a Diploma Graduate taking a year to gain practical legal experience before commencement of a Traineeship.

Minimum Requirements:

An Honours degree in Scots Law or equivalent
Completion of the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice or equivalent (preferred)
Office365 including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint competencies
Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
Immaculate spelling and grammar, and familiarity with professional writing and communications in letter and email formats
An interest in international law and space law
To be based at Forres, Scotland for the duration of the internship; and

Must be a UK or EU citizen, or from a country that is a signatory to the MTCR.

Further Details:

10-month internship
Salary, £1933 per calendar month gross

You will be responsible for finding your accommodation and organising your travel to Forres, and the workplace each day. Any requirement to travel outside of Forres for business will be fully reimbursed. All equipment required to complete the internship will be provided.
We do not take responsibility for organising or paying for work visas for internships and do not expect to pay for any additional training courses that you may wish to undertake during the placement period.

Closing Date for Applications: Monday 3rd March 2025 at 5pm

Please include in your application your areas of interest and why you are best suited to join us.
We are looking for CVs and covering letters embedded with links of your work and experience, including any published articles, or graded essays relevant to space/international law.
We can only accept one document upload, so please consolidate your full application into one document.

Applications should be made through the apply button before the closing date.

Please ensure that your email address is entered correctly so that we can contact you regarding your application progress.

Internship - Legal

Job description

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