Employment Lawyer (Legal Adviser)

Hampshire County Council; Abbots Worthy; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A progressive local authority in England seeks a Legal Advisor to support various employment matters, provide legal representation, and manage a caseload. Candidates should be qualified Solicitors or Barristers with strong legal skills. This role offers hybrid working and a benefits package that includes access to a pension scheme, generous annual leave, and employee support services. You will work within a supportive and progressive legal department dedicated to making a difference in the community.

Benefits

Access to Local Government Pension Scheme

25 or 28 days annual leave entitlement

Electric plug-in hybrid car Salary Sacrifice Scheme

Interest-free travel loans and discounts

Qualifications

• A qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Legal Executive eligible to hold a practising certificate for England & Wales.
• Evidence of sound legal skills and judgment.
• Ability to work both with colleagues and on your own initiative.

Responsibilities

• Advise on employment matters including disciplinary procedures and redundancy.
• Provide legal advice and representation to directorates and clients.
• Undertake legal research and manage a varied caseload.

Skills

Sound legal skills

Strong client relationship skills

Flexibility with hybrid working

Effective communication skills

Education

Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Legal Executive

Tools

Display screen equipment/laptop

Job description

Overview

You will take responsibility for a varied caseload and provide support to more senior fee-earners. Typical matters include advice on disciplinary and grievance procedures, capability and sickness absence, TUPE, redundancy, discrimination, settlements and dismissal. You will provide clear, timely and pragmatic legal advice and representation to the County Council's directorates, and to external public sector clients, undertake legal research and deliver training. You will also hold a caseload of employment tribunal matters. Having successfully adopted online and hybrid working, we can consider candidates from out of the area, working partially remotely and from our offices in Winchester. There’s a minimum requirement to be office based one day per week and you’ll need to attend meetings in person when required. We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.

The position offers the unique level of support that comes with working within our well-respected team and Hampshire County Council generally. You will be able to develop your legal skills through the practical application of your legal knowledge and gain valuable legal experience with involvement in a wide range of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters.

Responsibilities

• Advise on a range of employment matters including disciplinary and grievance procedures, capability and sickness absence, TUPE, redundancy, discrimination, settlements and dismissal.
• Provide clear, timely and pragmatic legal advice and representation to Hampshire County Council’s directorates and external public sector clients.
• Undertake legal research and deliver training.
• Manage a varied caseload including employment tribunal matters.
• Be flexible with hybrid/remote working arrangements and travel to other locations within Hampshire as required; attend meetings in person when necessary.

Qualifications

• A qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Legal Executive eligible to hold a practising certificate for England & Wales.
• Evidence of sound legal skills and judgment, a pragmatic solution-focused approach, and strong client relationship and communication skills.
• Ability to work both with colleagues and on your own initiative within a collaborative team.
• Resilience, motivation, and the ability to prioritise effectively to meet deadlines.
• This role would be well suited to a newly qualified legal adviser or someone wishing to change specialism.
• You may be required to visit other locations within Hampshire and therefore need the ability to travel.
• Display screen equipment/laptop will be supplied.

Team and Benefits

Join our friendly and supportive Lexcel accredited legal department, passionate about delivering the best for Hampshire and making a real difference to the community. Hampshire County Council is recognised nationally as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. Our large legal service supports all Hampshire County Council directorates and a wide range of other public service organisations. Working on matters that are as challenging as they are rewarding, you will advise on a range of interesting, varied, meaningful, high profile and complex projects at the very forefront of public interest, delivering improvements to people\'s lives.

As a forward-looking local authority, our commitment to delivering an exceptional quality of life to our Hampshire residents also extends to our employees. It is important to us that our staff feel supported in their work. We offer an improved work-life balance through flexible working and an excellent benefits package including:

• Access to Local Government Pension Scheme
• 25 or 28 days annual leave entitlement (dependent on Local Authority service)
• Electric plug-in hybrid car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Interest free travel loans and discounts
• Employee Support Services
• Family-friendly policies
• Access to online professional legal research resources.