Associate - Employment Law

Markel Corporation; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

Pension and private medical

Life insurance

Travel insurance

Career development

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Markel Law LLP in Manchester is seeking an Employment Law Associate to join our growing team, handling a varied and high-quality employment caseload with support from Partners. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your career within a supportive, people-first organisation.

Based in our Manchester office, you’ll work on both contentious and non-contentious matters for a diverse client base, including SME and larger retail clients, with real responsibility from day one and a collaborative,

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor with experience in both contentious and non-contentious employment law.
• Experience handling Employment Tribunal matters.
• Strong drafting, analytical, and client communication skills.
• Commercial, solutions-focused approach and attention to detail.
• Excellent case management and IT/legal research ability.

Responsibilities

• Managing Employment Tribunal claims from inception to conclusion
• Drafting ET claims, responses and EAT applications
• Preparing witness statements and legal documents
• Advocating at Preliminary and Final Hearings where appropriate
• Instructing and working with Counsel
• Advising clients on a wide range of non-contentious employment matters
• Supporting disciplinary, grievance and investigation processes
• Keeping clients and internal stakeholders updated on case strategy

Skills

Employment Tribunal experience

Drafting and analytical skills

Client communication

Commercial, solutions-focused

Attention to detail

Case management

IT and legal research

Education

Solicitor qualification (England & Wales)

Job description

Employment Law Associate Manchester | Hybrid working

Build your Employment Law career with a business that puts people first ! Are you an Employment Lawyer looking for a role where your work genuinely makes a difference to clients, colleagues and the wider business? Markel Law is looking for an Employment Law Associate to join our growing Manchester team. This is an excellent opportunity to handle a varied and high-quality employment caseload, work closely with experienced Partners, and develop your career within a supportive, people‑first organisation.

About Markel Law:

Markel Law LLP is an independent, SRA-regulated law firm and part of the wider Markel Group, a Fortune 500 company operating across insurance, legal and professional services globally. We advise insured and non‑insured clients across a broad range of sectors, with a strong reputation for combining technical excellence with commercial, pragmatic advice. Our lawyers work across offices in Manchester, Leeds, London and Croydon, supporting thousands of businesses and organisations every year. What sets us apart is our culture: we focus on long-term relationships, flexibility and trust, not billable targets for the sake of it.

The role:

Based in our Manchester office, you’ll work as part of a collaborative Employment Law team handling both contentious and non‑contentious matters for a diverse client base, including SME and larger retail clients. You will have real responsibility from day one, with the support and development you’d expect from a leading employment practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing Employment Tribunal claims from inception to conclusion
• Drafting ET claims, responses and EAT applications
• Preparing witness statements and legal documentation
• Conducting advocacy at Preliminary and Final Hearings where appropriate
• Instructing and working with Counsel
• Advising clients on a wide range of non‑contentious employment matters
• Supporting disciplinary, grievance and investigation processes
• Keeping clients and internal stakeholders updated on case strategy and prospects
• Contributing to employment law updates, training and client‑facing materials

What we’re looking for:

You’ll be a qualified Solicitor (or equivalent) with experience across contentious and non‑contentious employment law, ideally gained within a law firm or professional services environment. You’ll bring:

• Solid Employment Tribunal experience
• Strong drafting and analytical skills
• The ability to communicate confidently with clients and colleagues
• A commercial, solutions‑focused approach to legal advice
• Excellent attention to detail and case management skills
• The confidence to build trusted client relationships
• Strong IT and legal research capability

Why join Markel Law:

• Competitive salary and annual bonus
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with buy/sell options
• Excellent pension scheme, private medical and dental cover
• Life assurance, income protection and travel insurance
• Clear career development with access to training and progression
• A genuinely inclusive and supportive culture built around teamwork and trust

We are proud of our values: We’re all about people. We win together. We strive for better. We enjoy the everyday. We think further.

Markel celebrates the value of a diverse workforce that brings experience and expertise from a wide variety of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whatever your background, if you feel you meet the requirements of this role then we want to hear from you. We are also happy to consider candidates who are looking for flexible working patterns. We are an equal‑opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with all reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful.