employment lawyer

Devon County Council; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£5,500 Market Supplement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible and hybrid working

31 days annual leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Discount schemes

Ongoing professional development

Job summary

Devon County Council is seeking an experienced Senior Employment Lawyer to join the People & Culture Directorate. You will advise on a broad range of employment law matters, be part of a supportive, non-billable environment, and help shape a modern, responsive Employment Law Service for the council.

You will work closely with HR colleagues and senior leaders, delivering practical legal solutions to complex people issues, while enjoying flexible and hybrid working arrangements in the Devon area.

Qualifications

• Experience as an employment lawyer in public sector or complex organisations.
• Strong technical expertise and practical judgement.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with colleagues and clients.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality employment law advice to the council on a wide range of matters including disciplinaries, grievances, capability, absence and TUPE.
• Advise on discrimination, whistleblowing, and organisational change, and support employment tribunal work as required.
• Collaborate with HR colleagues and senior leaders to deliver practical solutions and shape a modern Employment Law Service.

Skills

Employment law

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and pragmatic employment lawyer to join our People & Culture Directorate as a Senior Employment Lawyer. This is an opportunity to join Devon County Council at a pivotal time for our employment law and employee relations services. Following the integration of the Council's employment law function within People & Culture, this newly established role gives you the opportunity to help shape a modern, responsive, and highly valued Employment Law Service. And if you are considering a move from private practice, the proposition is genuinely different. There are no billing targets and no pressure to generate work. Instead, you can focus your expertise on interesting and varied employment law matters, build long‑term relationships with the people you advise and see the impact your work has on decisions, people, and organisational culture. You will become part of the organisation you advise, working alongside experienced HR colleagues and senior leaders and helping us find practical solutions to complex people issues. Do it for work that makes a difference. Do it for Devon.

• disciplinary, grievance, capability, and absence
• discrimination and equality
• whistleblowing
• organisational change and restructuring
• redundancy and TUPE
• settlement agreements and ACAS early conciliation
• trade union matters
• employment tribunal claims.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.
• For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
• We cannot consider visa sponsorship at this time. UK Right to Work is required. For further guidance on right to work in the UK, please visit: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
• We are looking for an experienced employment lawyer who combines strong technical expertise with sound judgement and the ability to build trusted relationships., We welcome applications from candidates who can bring the right employment law expertise, judgement and relationship-building skills, including those with transferable experience from outside local government.
• DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages.
• For details on the use of AI in applications and Devon County Council's use of AI in Recruitment please see Use of AI in Our Recruitment Processes - Working for Devon | Devon County Council
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working - The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part‑time, condensed hours etc.
• You do not necessarily need to come from local government. We are interested in candidates with substantial employment law expertise gained in, or advising, public sector or similarly complex organisations, including lawyers who can bring valuable transferable experience from private practice.

Why do it for Devon?

Perhaps you enjoy being an employment lawyer but are beginning to question whether the traditional private‑practice model is right for the next stage of your career. At Devon County Council, your success will not depend on generating new clients or meeting billing targets. Your focus can be on what you do best: providing excellent legal advice, solving complex problems, and achieving positive outcomes.

Work that works for you

We know that a rewarding career also needs to work alongside life outside work. We offer flexible and hybrid working arrangements and welcome conversations about different ways of working. Whether you are looking for greater flexibility, a different balance or simply a working environment where your professional contribution is not measured by billable hours, we want excellent lawyers to see there is another way to build a fulfilling legal career. DCC's wider employment commitment includes creating a flexible, inclusive, and supportive environment, including support for colleagues balancing work and caring responsibilities. Do it for your career. Do it for balance. Do it for Devon.

Our Offer to You

Working for Devon County Council brings the benefits you would expect from a large public sector employer, alongside the opportunity to do meaningful, varied and influential work.

• £5,500 Market Supplement
• Incremental pay increases within your grade
• 31 days annual leave and other holiday entitlements
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Entry into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discount schemes
• Ongoing professional development opportunities

Find out more about Our Offer to You and our People Strategy.

Additional Benefits

• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On‑site parking
• Hybrid working

Schedule

• Flexi‑time
• Monday to Friday