The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Contracts Administrator / Coordinator
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Mastering CLM data entry, understanding basic contract types (NDAs, simple SOWs), managing version control, and ensuring high accuracy in all administrative tasks.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently accurate CLM data entry with zero errors.
- Ability to independently process simple contracts from template to signature.
- Proactively identifies minor inconsistencies in documents.
- Reliably manages a pipeline of 10-15 standard contracts simultaneously.
- 2
Procurement Assistant / Officer
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Understanding the full procurement lifecycle, supplier onboarding processes, basic sourcing activities, and the commercial context in which contracts are formed.
You're ready to move on when
- Demonstrates a good understanding of our supplier onboarding and due diligence processes.
- Can articulate the commercial drivers behind a procurement decision.
- Successfully supported 2-3 sourcing projects from RFI to vendor selection.
- Shows a keen interest in the contractual aspects of supplier relationships.
- 3
Paralegal (Commercial Focus)
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Deep understanding of legal terminology, legal research skills, document review, and supporting legal counsel on commercial matters. This gives you a strong legal foundation.
You're ready to move on when
- Proven ability to support legal counsel on commercial contract reviews.
- Strong understanding of legal concepts like indemnity, liability, and governing law.
- Excellent attention to detail in legal document review and drafting.
- Can conduct basic legal research on contractual points.