Eventus Legal are seeking an Employment Solicitor to join a growing law firm in Leeds, West Yorkshire. This is a full-time, permanent job position for an experienced Employment Solicitor, ideally with around 5-6 years' PQE or more, who is confident handling contentious and advisory employment work and is motivated by the opportunity to build and develop a department. The position is paying up to £65,000 (DOE) fully office-based and offers private healthcare, 25 days' annual leave, birthday leave, additional paid Christmas closure days, a performance-related bonus scheme, free parking and genuine longer-term scope to grow a team and progress into senior leadership.

Role Responsibilities

The Employment Solicitor will take a leading role in developing the employment offering from the Leeds office, responding to an existing flow of enquiries while building a sustainable caseload and client base. Key responsibilities will include:

• Handling a broad mix of employment matters for both employers and employees
• Advising on dismissals, discrimination claims, settlement agreements, pay issues, contracts, redundancy and general HR matters
• Managing Employment Tribunal proceedings and other contentious employment matters from initial assessment through to conclusion
• Assessing the merits and commercial risk of potential litigation at the outset and advising clients accordingly
• Developing retained employment and HR advisory work alongside litigation matters
• Managing files independently and taking responsibility for matters from start to finish
• Using the firm's Proclaim case management system to manage caseload and workflow effectively
• Building relationships with businesses, HR professionals and other commercial contacts
• Contributing actively to business development and converting incoming opportunities into instructions
• Helping establish, grow and ultimately lead an employment team as the department develops
• Training and supporting junior colleagues as additional resource is introduced

Person Specification

This opportunity will suit an experienced and commercially minded Employment Solicitor who enjoys both legal practice and developing client relationships. Applications are welcomed from candidates who can demonstrate the following:

• Ideally around 5-6 years' PQE or more within employment law, with the confidence to run a broad and varied caseload independently
• Strong contentious employment experience, with Employment Tribunal experience particularly desirable
• Experience advising both employers and employees across a range of employment law matters
• The ability to assess litigation risk carefully and make sound commercial decisions at the outset of a matter
• A personable, calm and resilient approach, including the ability to work effectively under pressure
• Business development experience and a genuine desire to grow a department and client base
• A proven record of meeting appropriate fee or performance targets
• Strong client care, organisation, written communication and attention to detail
• Confidence using legal technology and case management systems, with Proclaim experience advantageous but not essential
• Ideally a minimum 2:1 degree and good A-level results are preferred, although relevant experience and track record will also be considered
• A local connection to Leeds or the ability to commute reliably to the office on a full-time basis

Benefits and Rewards

The Employment Solicitor will join at a stage where there is real opportunity to influence how the employment practice develops and to build something long term within the firm. The successful Employment Solicitor will also benefit from:

• Salary up to £65,000 (DOE)
• 25 days annual leave
• An additional paid day's leave for your birthday
• 3 additional paid Christmas closure days without using annual leave
• Private healthcare scheme
• Workplace pension scheme
• Performance-related bonus opportunities linked to fee generation
• Annual firm away day combining training and team activities
• On-site parking
• Ongoing professional development and training
• The opportunity to build and lead an employment team and progress towards senior leadership, including partnership or directorship for the right person

About the Law Firm

Our client is a well-established, independent Yorkshire law firm advising both businesses and individuals. The firm is growing and offers a friendly, collaborative and approachable working environment, with an emphasis on practical commercial advice, strong client relationships and professional development. The Employment Solicitor will have the opportunity to work with senior leadership while developing a practice area for which there is already organic demand, giving the successful lawyer the chance to make a visible contribution to the firm's continued growth.

Next Steps

Apply now to be considered for this career-enhancing job opportunity. Alternatively, for a confidential discussion about this Employment Solicitor job, please send your CV to Vanessa Grey at the Eventus Recruitment Group via email at vanessa.grey@eventuslegal.com or phone 0113 418 2494 for a confidential discussion. Due to the high volume of applications, if you have not heard from us within ten days, unfortunately you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact me at the details above for a confidential discussion on your career.

The Eventus Recruitment Group are award-winning recruitment specialists operating in the Legal, Finance and Financial Planning sectors across the UK. Please note, the years' experience and/or salary are listed in our advertisements as a guide. We are happy to consider applications from all candidates who are able to demonstrate the skills necessary to fulfil the role. As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances. Our privacy policy can be found on the bottom of our website.