Employment Law Senior Associate | Hybrid/Remote ("in-house")| High-Growth Team | Career Progression

QED Legal; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading legal firm in Manchester is looking for an Employment Law Senior Associate to join their high-growth team. This hybrid role offers a mix of contentious and non-contentious work, with significant opportunities for career progression and the development of your professional profile within a collaborative environment. Competitive salary and benefits are included, emphasizing work-life balance and employee wellbeing.

Benefits

Up to 39 days’ holiday

Bonus scheme

Enhanced pension

Income protection

Health cash plan

Flexible working culture

Qualifications

• Solid experience in contentious and non-contentious employment law matters.
• Ability to manage a diverse caseload effectively.
• Experience in advising on various employment law issues and drafting HR documents.

Responsibilities

• Manage and advise on a variety of employment law cases and disputes.
• Provide contract drafting, policy formulation, and HR advisory services.
• Support the training and development of apprentice solicitors.

Skills

Contentious employment law experience

Non-contentious employment law knowledge

Strong advisory skills

Education

Qualified solicitor

Apprentice solicitor program experience

Job description

Overview

Employment Law Senior Associate | Hybrid/Remote ("in-house")| High-Growth Team | Career Progression

If you're an Employment Solicitor interested in a position with variety, support, and real scope for development, within an in-house environment—this is for you.

Responsibilities

The position covers the full range of employment issues—from straightforward unfair dismissal and unpaid wage claims to complex whistleblowing and discrimination matters—with around 80% of the work being litigious. The team acts for both employees and employers, also providing valuable non-contentious support including drafting contracts, policies, handbooks, and advising on settlement agreements. This offers exposure not only to varied litigation but also to advisory HR work and advocacy.

Team and Role Culture

You'll be joining a team known for its diversity of experience and background, including a number of highly capable paralegals who’ve built strong careers without following traditional qualification routes. There's a genuine sense of collaboration here, and you'll be encouraged to take ownership of your caseload, contribute to team performance, and develop your professional profile within a £3.5m revenue-generating department.

Working Arrangement

This is a hybrid role (3days WFH), but the firm is open to fully remote arrangements depending on experience. Full-time is preferred, but part-time applicants (four days or equivalent hours) are welcomed. You’ll need solid experience in both contentious and non-contentious employment work.

Training and Development

The department is proud of its commitment to training and development. They currently support 7-8 apprentice solicitors and offer 4-5 internal training contracts annually, with this level of investment contributing to a strong junior pipeline.

Salary and Benefits

The firm offers a competitive salary and generous benefits package, including up to 39days’ holiday, bonus, enhanced pension, income protection, group legal protection, health cash plan, and a well-supported culture of flexibility, inclusion, and work-life balance.