About Us

The role of the Legal Services Department is to support the University in a large and diverse range of projects, collaborations and other activities by providing legal, regulatory and commercial advice.

The Legal Services Department provides advice and support to the University Executive Board and its individual members; Heads of School; Heads of Function; Deans; other professional services within the University; and, subject to the approval of the Heads of School or Heads of Function, all staff acting on University business. 

We encourage colleagues to involve Legal Services from an early stage so that we can advise the University of legal, commercial and reputational risk; to ensure it is compliant with the relevant regulatory obligations; and to better enable it to meet its strategic objectives.

Areas we can provide advice and support on

• Drafting and negotiating contracts and other legal agreements or arrangements with external organisations, both local and internationally based
• Terminating, amending and interpreting existing agreements and contracts
• Legal and regulatory compliance and risk
• Legal issues arising from the University’s estate
• Intellectual property matters
• Registration, use and protection of trademarks
• Education and student matters
• Employment matters
• Governance matters
• Commercial and Corporate matters
• University Strategic Project
• Drafting and reviewing policies, procedures and regulations
• Reviewing and advising on legal aspects of communications
• Managing disputes and claims either against the University or brought by the University

The Legal Services Department works closely with colleagues from a number of other departments. We therefore request that if your query relates to one of the following matters, you first seek advice from colleagues in the relevant department, who will contact and involve Legal Services when necessary.

• Data Protection or Freedom of Information	IMPS
  Copyright compliance	Copyright Officer
  Contractual activity regarding research	Research Services
  Contracts or Questions relating to the purchase of goods or services	Procurement
  Staff matters	HR
  Insurance matters	Insurance Officer

Legal Services also provide a number of standard template self-service documents which can be accessed and used by University of Reading staff.

If you have a query or matter of a legal nature, please submit a request to Legal Services using our Legal Services Request Form 

Please note that as the Legal Services lawyers work for the University, they are unable to advise or support staff or students on private matters, or in relation to claims they may have against the University.