Employment Legal Counsel

Pertemps Contracts; Aylesbury; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution is seeking an experienced Employment Legal Counsel to join their in-house Legal Services team. You will provide expert legal advice on employment law matters and manage tribunal claims. This hybrid role offers a collaborative and inclusive working environment. The ideal candidate will have over 4 years of post-qualification experience and strong communication skills, making a significant impact in transforming lives through education.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years PQE in employment law.
• Confident in advising on contentious and non-contentious matters.
• Experience managing tribunal claims from inception to resolution.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice on a range of employment law matters.
• Manage Employment Tribunal claims, including drafting and representation.
• Deliver training on employment law to internal colleagues.

Skills

Expert legal advice on employment law matters

Managing Employment Tribunal claims

Excellent drafting and communication skills

Stakeholder management skills

Education

Qualified Solicitor with 4+ years PQE in employment law

Job description

Job Title: Employment Legal Counsel
Location: Milton Keynes (Hybrid/Remote)
Salary: £47,389 - £56,535 per annum
Hours: Full-time Permanent, 37 hours per week
Closing Date: 12 November 2025

Join a University That Changes Lives:

Pertemps Recruitment is proud to be working with The Open University, the UK's largest provider of flexible, part-time higher education. With a mission to make learning accessible to everyone, the OU transforms lives through world‑class education and research, and you could play a key role in that mission.

The Opportunity:

We are looking for an experienced Employment Legal Counsel (qualified solicitor, minimum 4 years PQE) to join the University's in‑house Legal Services team. You will work alongside another employment lawyer as a trusted advisor to colleagues across the organisation, covering a broad range of employment law matters. This is a varied and rewarding role, ideal for someone who enjoys both strategic advisory work and hands‑on case management in a complex, people‑focused environment.

Key Responsibilities of the Employment Legal Counsel:

• Provide expert legal advice on a full range of employment law matters – including discrimination, disciplinaries, redundancies, TUPE, trade union relations, and freedom of speech issues.
• Manage Employment Tribunal claims end‑to‑end: drafting, preparing, and representing the University at hearings.
• Draft, review and update contracts, policies, settlement agreements, and other employment‑related documentation.
• Deliver employment law training and guidance to colleagues, ensuring best practice across the University.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and manage external legal advisers for best value and quality of service.
• Keep up to date with legal developments, ensuring the University remains compliant and well‑informed.

About You:

• Qualified Solicitor (or equivalent) with 4+ years PQE in employment law.
• Confident advising on both contentious and non‑contentious matters.
• Skilled advocate, with experience managing tribunal claims from start to finish.
• Excellent drafting and communication skills, able to translate complex legal issues clearly.
• Collaborative, pragmatic, and commercially aware with strong stakeholder management skills.

Desirable:

• Experience working in-house within higher education, the public sector, or a unionised environment.
• Background advising similar organisations from private practice.

Why Join the Open University?

This role is hybrid, combining home working with attendance at the Milton Keynes campus as required. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a values‑driven organisation with a powerful mission: widening access to education and transforming lives. The Open University offers a supportive, inclusive, and flexible working environment, committed to diversity and equity.