Due to the continued growth of the work being done by our Employment Team for education and charity clients, we are looking for an experienced employment solicitor to join our top-ranked team to support further growth and make a real difference in the education sector by supporting over 120 universities, colleges, academies, and educational institutions across the UK.
You will undertake a broad mix of contentious and non-contentious employment work, primarily supporting our education clients as well as some large charities. The work is technically very interesting, arising from the size and complexity of many higher education institutions as public, private and charitable employers and the national and geopolitical context in which they sit.
As well as advisory and Employment Tribunal work, you will be involved in delivering our annual programme of training, seminars and legal updates to clients and targets and will assist with business development opportunities.
Training will be provided on sector specific issues, so if you have not worked in the higher education sector before, all you need is an inquiring mind and an interest in working with these great clients.
You will ideally be 3+ years PQE and be able to demonstrate good employment experience gained in a reputable firm which specialises in employment law.
At this level, you will be expected to perform as follows:
Client service
- Deliver outstanding client service to both internal and external clients to encourage client retention and referrals
- Have a sound understanding of clients' legal, commercial and service requirements
- Have effective client relationship and client service skills
- Demonstrate strong business development credentials in terms of growth from existing clients and bringing in new work
Technical excellence
- Have strong technical competence and legal knowledge in employment law
- Deliver high quality and commercially focussed advice
- Experience in managing Employment Tribunal litigation
- Deliver training to clients and target clients
- Carry out supervision of junior lawyers
Essential
- Degree or equivalent with A levels or equivalent
- Clear enthusiasm for employment law
- Excellent written English for drafting purposes
- Excellent presentational skills
- Common sense and initiative, and ability to work as a team-player working on complex matters
- Very good time and documentation management skills
- Ability to lead on Employment Tribunal matters and on advisory matters on a day-to-day basis with appropriate supervision for a lawyer working at a senior associate grade
- Experience of delegating to junior members of the team
- Ability to build very good relationships with colleagues, clients, potential clients and multipliers
- Very good research skills, including an ability to use online information sources
- Excellent interpersonal and team skills, including ability to work with others, influence and persuade
- Keen interest in developing client training skills
- Marketing and business development skills
Desirable
- Previous experience of advising large employers
You will work with Alex Russell, Employment Partner, as well as other members of our national employment education team. You will be part of the cross-office Employment, Pensions and Immigration NSL of 87 + lawyers which is headed up by partner, David Mills and supported by three professional support lawyers. You'll have the chance to build your skills and experience within the firm including through our monthly cross-office NSL training sessions delivered by our professional support lawyers, together with cross-office and sector away days. As part of that cross-office team, you may also be required to assist colleagues in other sectors and offices.
