Employment Solicitor/Associate

Overview

Join a leading UK law firm’s Employment team in Exeter to handle a broad, high-stakes caseload. You will advise clients on contracts, HR policies, and statutory issues, and manage Employment Tribunal claims from early conciliation to appeal. The role blends litigation with advisory work and business development, collaborating with senior lawyers to support client relationships. This is an opportunity to work on complex discrimination, restructures, TUPE, and multi-layer disputes in a supportive, inclusive culture. You will contribute to shaping the team’s growth while delivering practical, commercial solutions to employers and public bodies.

Pay / Benefits

• excellent training, mentoring and clear career progression pathways
• flexible, agile working approach
• inclusive, supportive and collaborative culture
• balance and wellbeing
• diverse client base
• national reputation

Responsibilities

• Advise on employment status, contracts, handbooks, redundancy, discrimination and HR matters
• Provide commercial support to HR teams on grievances, disciplinaries, performance, and sickness management
• Manage Employment Tribunal claims from ACAS Early Conciliation through to appeals
• Represent clients in Tribunals, mediations and other dispute resolution processes
• Support business development through events, training, relationship building and thought leadership
• Work with clients facing high-stakes challenges such as discrimination claims, whistleblowing investigations, restructures, TUPE, industrial action, and multi-layer disputes

Key requirements

• Qualified solicitor (England & Wales or Scotland)
• 1-5 years' PQE in employment law
• Strong knowledge of UK employment legislation and case law
• Experience handling complex matters, including settlement negotiations and Tribunal work
• Excellent communication, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong attention to detail and methodical management of a varied caseload
• Confidence working with multiple senior lawyers and prioritising in a fast-paced environment
• Proactive in contributing ideas, improving processes and supporting team growth
• Interest in business development and maintaining long-term client relationships
• Advantageous but not essential: Advocacy experience and familiarity with Scottish employment law

• communication
• analytical thinking
• problem solving
• UK employment legislation
• case law in employment
• Tribunal procedure

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