Employment Lawyer

Optical Express; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

33 days annual leave

Professional development

Supportive in-house team

Job summary

Optical Express, the UK's leading eyecare provider, seeks an Employment Lawyer to join the in-house legal team in Glasgow. You will advise on all employment law matters, support HR with policy development, and manage tribunal risk, ensuring compliance with UK employment legislation.

Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years PQE in employment law, with private practice and in-house experience preferred. The role offers flexibility and UK-wide travel as required.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor in Scotland or England & Wales.
• Minimum of 5 years’ PQE in Employment Law.
• Experience handling both contentious and non-contentious matters.
• In-house experience, preferably in healthcare, retail, or large multi-site organisations.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advisory and compliance support on a wide range of employment law matters.
• Partner with HR and operations to interpret obligations and embed best practice people management.
• Draft, review, and maintain employment contracts, policies, handbooks, and related documentation.
• Manage Employment Tribunal claims from instruction to resolution, liaising with external counsel as required.
• Support strategic HR initiatives including restructures, TUPE transfers, and change programmes.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Drafting skills

Commercial mindset

Independent working

Travel across the UK

In-house experience

Education

Qualified Solicitor (Scotland or England & Wales)

Job description

Location - Glasgow City centre (Office based)

Working Pattern - Full or Part time with flexible working options

Optical Express is the UK’s leading provider of laser eye surgery, lens replacement, and private eyecare services. With a nationwide network of clinics and over a thousand of employees, we are committed to delivering exceptional patient care supported by robust legal, ethical, and operational standards.

As our organisation continues to grow, we are seeking a skilled Employment Lawyer to join our in‑house legal team.

Role Overview

The Employment Lawyer will act as a key legal advisor to the business on all employment law matters, providing high-quality, timely, and commercially focused legal support across the organisation. The role will involve advising on both contentious and non-contentious employment issues, supporting HR with policy development, managing litigation risk, and ensuring the company’s people practices remain compliant with UK employment legislation.

This role is suited to a confident, pragmatic lawyer with a minimum of 5 years’ post-qualification experience (PQE) in employment law, ideally gained across a combination of private practice and in-house environments.

Key Responsibilities

Advisory & Compliance

• Provide expert legal advice on a wide range of employment law matters, including disciplinary and grievance issues, absence management, discrimination, TUPE, redundancy, performance management, and employee relations.
• Partner with HR and operational teams to interpret legal obligations and embed best practice people management.
• Draft, review, and maintain employment contracts, HR policies, handbooks, and related documentation.
• Monitor developments in employment legislation and case law, ensuring the business remains compliant and informed.
• Manage Employment Tribunal claims from instruction through to resolution, including drafting pleadings, preparing witness statements, liaising with external counsel, and supporting hearings as required.
• Work proactively with stakeholders to identify legal risk, resolve disputes early, and minimise exposure.

Projects & Strategic Support

• Provide legal input into strategic HR initiatives, including organisational restructures, TUPE transfers, change programmes, and employee engagement projects.
• Deliver training and legal updates to HR teams and managers.
• Support senior leadership with complex, sensitive, or high-risk people matters.

Corporate & Commercial Support

• Advise on employment aspects of commercial agreements, consultancy arrangements, and third-party relationships.
• Support due diligence and integration activity linked to acquisitions, partnerships, or wider business development.

Skills & Experience Required

• Qualified Solicitor in Scotland, or England & Wales with a willingness to advise on Scottish employment law (with support where required).
• Minimum of 5 years’ PQE specialising in Employment Law.
• Strong technical expertise across contentious and non-contentious matters.
• Commercially minded with the ability to balance legal risk and business objectives.
• Excellent drafting skills and high attention to detail.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel across the UK as required.
• Previous in-house experience, particularly within healthcare, retail, or large multi-site organisations.
• Experience delivering training or presenting complex legal concepts to non-legal audiences.
• Working knowledge of data protection and privacy issues in the employment context.

Personal Attributes

• Pragmatic and solutions-focused with a strong commercial mindset.
• Confident, credible, and able to influence at senior levels.
• Resilient and discreet, with high levels of professionalism and integrity.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and comfortable working autonomously within a busy in-house environment.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• 33 days Annual leave*
• Opportunities for ongoing professional development.
• A supportive in‑house legal team within a dynamic and growing business.