Associate / Senior Associate - Employment

Mills & Reeve; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in Birmingham seeks an experienced Employment Solicitor to join their award-winning team. The role involves advising universities and diverse clients across various sectors, including health, automotive, and retail. The ideal candidate will have over 3 years PQE, a strong enthusiasm for employment law, and excellent presentation skills. This position offers growth opportunities and the chance to contribute to significant projects while working in a dynamic, supportive environment.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Career growth opportunities

Competitive salary

Wide range of benefits

Qualifications

• 3+ years PQE in a reputable firm specialized in employment law.
• Demonstrated experience in advising on Employment Tribunal matters.
• Ability to delegate to junior team members.

Responsibilities

• Support growth in the education sector with employment work.
• Undertake contentious and non-contentious employment work.
• Deliver training, seminars, and legal updates to clients.

Skills

Enthusiasm for employment law

Excellent presentational skills

Common sense

Ability to work as a team player

Experience in Employment Tribunal matters

Relationship building

Education

Qualified Solicitor

Degree or equivalent with A levels or equivalent

Job description

Shape the future of employment law with our Tier 1 Birmingham team, where your ideas and growth truly matter.

Are you ready to shape the future of employment law for some of the UK's most respected education institutions and an impressive portfolio of commercial clients? Join our award-winning, Tier 1 Employment team in Birmingham, where your ideas are valued, your development is prioritised, and no two days are ever the same.

We're not just looking for technical expertise, we want someone who's passionate about people, thrives on variety, and is excited to work in a team that's as collaborative as it is ambitious.

Why join us?

• Work that Matters : Advise over 120 universities and educational institutions, as well as clients in health, care, automotive, manufacturing, retail, and beyond.
• High-Profile & Innovative : Get involved in recent headline cases, sector-shaping projects, and creative solutions for complex employment issues.
• Genuine Collaboration : Be part of a supportive, cross-office team that celebrates success together and values every voice.
• Career Growth : Benefit from regular training, cross-sector projects, and the chance to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the field.
• Flexibility & Wellbeing : We're committed to flexible working and a healthy work-life balance, with a wide range of benefits to support you.

The role

Due to the continued growth of the work being done by the Employment Team, we are looking for an experienced employment solicitor to join our top-ranked Birmingham team. This is an exciting opportunity to support further growth and make a real difference across the education sector, supporting over 120 universities and educational institutions across the UK with opportunities to work for a diverse range of employers, including clients in health and care, automotive, manufacturing, retail, and beyond.

You will undertake a broad mix of contentious and non-contentious employment work. The work is technically varied and interesting, arising from the size and complexity of higher education institutions as public, private and charitable employers.

As well as advisory and Employment Tribunal work, you will be involved in delivering our annual programme of training, seminars and legal updates to clients and targets, and will assist with business development opportunities to promote the firm's practice across both education and commercial sectors.

Training will be provided on sector-specific issues, so all you need is an inquiring mind and an interest in working with great clients.

The person

You will ideally be 3+ years PQE and be able to demonstrate good employment experience gained in a reputable firm which specialises in employment law.

Essential

• Qualified Solicitor
• Degree or equivalent with A levels or equivalent
• Clear enthusiasm for employment law
• Excellent presentational skills
• Common sense and initiative, and ability to work as a team-player working on complex matters
• Ability to lead on Employment Tribunal matters and on advisory matters on a day to day basis with appropriate supervision for a lawyer working at a senior associate grade
• Experience of delegating to junior members of the team
• Ability to build very good relationships with colleagues, clients, potential clients and multipliers

The team

You will work with Siân Jackson , Employment Partner, as well as other members of our national employment education team. You will be part of the cross-office Employment, Pensions and Immigration NSL of 87 + lawyers which is headed up by partner, David Mills and supported by three professional support lawyers. You'll have the chance to build your skills and experience within the firm including through our monthly cross-office NSL training sessions delivered by our professional support lawyers, together with cross-office and sector away days. As part of that cross-office team, you may also be required to assist colleagues in other sectors and offices.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The benefits

As you'd expect, we offer a competitive salary and a wide range of benefits. Click here to find out more about our core benefit offering.

Pre employment screening

If we offer you a role, we will conduct comprehensive pre-employment screening. This screening will include, but is not limited to, a basic DBS, verification of your right to work, a three year employment history and a self-declaration to assess your character and suitability for the role. Full details of our pre-screening employment process are available upon request.

The firm

Mills & Reeve is centred on achieving more for clients, their businesses and the wider communities we serve. Our clients and their industries benefit from our knowledge and learning, and receive consistent experiences with no surprises. We tell them what they need to know when they need to know it.

We build personal relationships, with advice individually tailored to individual need. And if clients need things we don't offer, we draw on our network to give recommendations. Our 1,250 plus people and over 750 lawyers share one vision - achieving more for clients.

By joining Mills & Reeve, you'll have the chance to build your skills and experience within a firm that's not only ranked in the top 50 UK law firms, but also one that truly values their people. Our mantra is "Achieve more. Together.", which we feel embodies our purpose and is more than just a catchphrase! We're also ranked in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work list, and were recently awarded Platinum Investors in People.

And finally

Everyone at Mills & Reeve brings a unique perspective and ideas to the team and we do everything we can to help each person to thrive. We're committed to providing an inclusive and supportive working environment, are happy to consider flexible working arrangements, and want to achieve the right balance for both our people and the firm. We encourage everyone to ask if they feel they need any workplace adjustments, and will do our best to support with these.

To find out more about our diversity and inclusion work, visit our website .

Documents

• Associate Senior Associate - Employment - Education - JD - Birmingham - November 2025.pdf (185.20 KB)