Associate – Employment

Associate Solicitor (Employment)
 
Location: Reading
PQE: 5-8 Years
Salary:  £65,000 – £80,000
Working Arrangement: Full-time | Hybrid Agile Working (up to 50% remote working)
 
 
Overview & Opportunity
Achieve Professionals is working in partnership with a highly regarded law firm to recruit a 5-8 year PQE Employment Associate to join its established Employment team in Reading.
 
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Employment Solicitor to join a busy and well-regarded team, supporting Partners in Reading and, where required, colleagues and clients across the firm’s wider office network.
 
The successful candidate will ideally have experience across both contentious and non-contentious employment matters, with a strong track record of advising employers, HR teams and senior executives. Experience across capability and conduct concerns, redundancy, TUPE, whistleblowing, employment tribunal litigation, settlement negotiations and trade union law will be particularly valuable.
 
The Reading office acts for a number of well-known employers and has a significant client base within the technology and education sectors, providing the successful candidate with exposure to a varied and high-quality caseload.
 
With high visibility both within and outside the firm, alongside strong Partner support and a key role in business development, this position offers an excellent platform for career development and would suit an ambitious Employment Solicitor looking to take the next step in their career.
 
The Role
 
As an Employment Associate, your responsibilities will include:

• Advising employers, HR teams and senior executives across a broad range of employment matters.
• Handling both contentious and non-contentious employment work.
• Advising on capability and conduct concerns, redundancy, TUPE and whistleblowing matters.
• Bringing and defending Employment Tribunal litigation.
• Negotiating settlement agreements and other employment-related settlements.
• Advising clients on trade union law and related employee relations matters.
• Providing strategic and pragmatic employment advice to employers and senior stakeholders.
• Advising clients within the education sector, including independent schools on parent complaints, disputes, regulatory matters and SEND Tribunal issues.
• Managing a varied caseload and undertaking fee-earning work to make a profitable contribution to the Employment Team and wider Business Services Division.
• Working closely with Partners in Reading and supporting clients and colleagues across the firm’s other offices where required.
• Developing and maintaining strong client relationships.
• Contributing to the successful development of the firm in line with its business plan and wider objectives.
• Supporting the continued growth and development of the Employment practice through business development and networking activity.
• Delivering a high-quality, commercial legal service while maintaining professional standards and ethical requirements.
• Acting as an ambassador for the firm and promoting its reputation positively at all times.

The Ideal Candidate
 
The successful candidate will have:

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or FCILEx with 5-8 years’ PQE.
• Strong experience within an Employment team in a reputable private practice environment.
• A strong track record of advising employers and senior executives.
• Experience across both contentious and non-contentious employment matters.
• Strong experience in Employment Tribunal litigation, including bringing and defending claims.
• Experience advising on capability and conduct issues, redundancy, TUPE and whistleblowing.
• Experience negotiating settlement agreements and advising on trade union matters.
• Experience within the education sector would be advantageous, particularly advising independent schools.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to provide clear, pragmatic and client-focused advice.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills.
• Experience working with HR teams and senior stakeholders.
• Previous business development experience and a genuine interest in developing client relationships.
• The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with Partners and the wider team.
• A proactive, ambitious and commercially minded approach.
• Evidence of having achieved the competency levels expected of a mid-level Associate.

What’s on Offer?

• Opportunity to join a well-established and busy Employment team in Reading.
• High-quality work for a portfolio of well-known employers.
• Exposure to clients across the technology and education sectors.
• A broad mix of contentious and non-contentious employment work.
• Close support and collaboration with experienced Partners.
• Genuine involvement in business development and client relationship development.
• Excellent opportunities for career development and progression.
• Generous leave allowances.
• Private medical insurance, life cover and critical illness protection.
• Hybrid agile working, allowing employees to work from home or another UK location for at least 50% of their time.

If you are an experienced Employment Solicitor looking for a new opportunity in Reading and would like to find out more, please send your CV to sophie-jo@achieveprofessionals.com.