A well-regarded UK law firm, known for combining strong technical expertise with a genuinely collegiate, people-first culture, is looking for an ambitious Employment Associate to join its Employment practice. The team advises a broad client base — from household-name corporates and international groups to fast-growing and owner-managed businesses — and this is a strong opportunity for a 2–5 PQE employment lawyer to build a well-rounded practice spanning both advisory and contentious work.
The successful candidate will work across the full spectrum of employment law, supporting clients on everything from day-to-day HR queries through to complex, high-value tribunal litigation and strategically significant projects. The team places real emphasis on giving associates direct client contact and genuine ownership of their own matters from an early stage.
The Team
The Employment team has built a strong reputation over many years and is regularly recognised as one of the leading practices of its kind, with several partners individually ranked as market leaders. The team’s reach extends beyond the UK through a network of international alliances and overseas offices, giving associates exposure to cross-border and multi-jurisdictional employment issues alongside their domestic caseload.
Rather than specialising narrowly, the team covers the whole employment law spectrum: general advisory work, tribunal and High Court litigation, senior executive matters, collective and trade union issues, TUPE and transactional support, global mobility, and reward. This breadth means associates can shape a practice that plays to their own interests while still developing rounded, transferable expertise.
The team also has a strong track record of leading on precedent-setting cases and high-profile matters, giving associates the chance to work on legally interesting and commercially significant issues rather than routine, repetitive work.
Key Areas of Work
- Advising employer clients on the full range of day-to-day employment issues, including disciplinaries, grievances, contracts, policies and flexible working requests
- Running and defending Employment Tribunal claims (unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, equal pay) and drafting the related documents — claim responses, pleadings, witness statements and hearing bundles
- Supporting restrictive covenant disputes, team-move litigation and High Court applications over confidential information
- Advising on collective consultation, industrial action, union recognition and works council matters
- Assisting with the employment aspects of corporate transactions, including TUPE due diligence on mergers, disposals and outsourcings
- Advising on senior executive matters, including exit negotiations and bonus or contractual disputes
- Supporting international and multi-jurisdictional employment queries, including global mobility and cross-border project work
- Contributing to larger strategic projects such as restructures, redundancy programmes and organisational change
Your Future
- Take on increasing autonomy and ownership of your own caseload, with supervision calibrated to your experience and development needs
- Build direct relationships with clients rather than working solely through senior colleagues
- Get involved in business development and profile-building activity — from articles and legal updates to client pitches and training sessions
- Develop advocacy and public speaking skills through supported opportunities, with no expectation of prior experience
- Broaden into adjacent specialisms such as senior executive work, collective/trade union matters or international employment
- Play an active part in mentoring trainees and more junior colleagues as you progress
- Work within a firm that sets out clear expectations for progression at each career stage
Candidate Profile
Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to manage a varied and sometimes fast-moving caseload
Approximately 2–5 years’ PQE gained within an employment team, with a mix of advisory and litigation experience preferred
Strong drafting, analytical and written communication skills, with close attention to detail
Comfortable working autonomously, managing your own workload and dealing directly with clients
A commercially minded, curious and proactive approach, with genuine interest in the business context behind legal issues
Some experience of, or enthusiasm for, marketing and business development activity
Willingness to get involved in advocacy or client-facing work, even without extensive prior experience
A collaborative team player who is as keen to support colleagues’ development as their own
If you’re an Employment lawyer looking for a genuinely varied practice, real client contact and the scope to shape your own career within a well-regarded team, this could be a great next step.
