Employment Lawyer
- Civil Service
- Full Time
- London
- 87,204
Job Description
Job summary
This is a new standalone role to provide expert legal advice and support on all employment law matters within the organisation, advising on compliance with UK employment law and mitigating associated legal risks across the business. This role will primarily be working with the Human Resources Division. The postholder will also develop and maintain strong working relationships with Government Legal Department (GLD).
Job description
Legal Advice & Compliance
- Advise HR and leadership teams on employment law issues including contracts, policies, disciplinary actions, grievances, redundancies, and restructures.
- Advise on compliance with evolving UK employment legislation and workplace regulations.
- Monitor and interpret regulatory changes and communicate implications to stakeholders.
Contracts & Documentation
- Drafting, reviewing, and updating employment contracts and reviewing, and providing legal input to, template letters, staff handbooks, and any related documentation.
- Negotiate and prepare settlement agreements and severance packages.
Transactions and Dispute Resolution
- Advise on transactional work in connection with employment aspects of the Department.
- Manage Employment Tribunal claims and other employment-related disputes.
- Liaise with external counsel and oversee litigation strategy when necessary.
Strategic Support
- Provide employment law input on mergers, acquisitions, and organisational changes.
- Identify potential legal risks in workforce decisions and propose mitigation strategies.
Training & Development
- Coordinate, arrange and deliver training sessions to HR and management, translating employment law into practical day-to-day application.
- Support internal investigations and compliance initiatives.
Other
From time to time, the post holder may be required to advise generally on the wider activities of the organisation which may cover:
- public law matters;
- public procurement law matters;
- international agreements governing the provision of export credits and public international law matters;
- information law, including the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations requests and the UK GDPR
This list is not exhaustive, and you may be required to carry out additional duties according to business needs.
Person specification
Essential
Qualifications
- Qualified to practice law in England & Wales as a solicitor or barrister (A)
- A 2.1 degree in law or other subject (A)
- Must hold LPC, BVC or equivalent (A)
Knowledge
- Working knowledge of public law and the workings of Government (A,I,P)
Skills/Ability
- Effective drafting, negotiation, and communication skills (A,I,P)
- Ability to provide pragmatic, business-oriented legal advice (A,I,P)
- Sound powers of legal analysis and research, coupled with strong judgement and decision making (A,I,P)
- Evidence of strong interpersonal skills, combined with an ability to manage and prioritise workloads (A,I)
- Commercial awareness and ability to balance legal risk with business objectives (A,I,P)
Experience
- Significant post qualifying experience with a solid focus on employment law (contentious and non-contentious) in a reputable law firm and/or in-house team (A,I,P)
