Employment Senior Associate

Weightmans; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm is seeking an experienced employment lawyer to join their growing London team. The successful candidate will manage a mixed caseload of contentious and non-contentious employment matters while playing a key role in business development and mentorship. With a focus on client relationships, the firm offers an engaging environment, opportunities for career growth, and competitive benefits including hybrid working and extensive support for personal development.

Benefits

28 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Hybrid working with provision for home office equipment

Healthcare cover

Pension plan

Life insurance 4x salary

Interest-free travel loan scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted gym membership

Cycle to work scheme

Great reward scheme

Qualifications

• Genuine interest in employment law and related fields.
• Previous experience managing own caseload is preferred.
• Ability to adapt to various tasks.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on employment law issues, including redundancy and discrimination.
• Conduct the defence of Employment Tribunal claims.
• Provide transactional support with Corporate colleagues.
• Advise on TUPE application and boardroom disputes.
• Handle change and restructuring projects.

Skills

Strong technical knowledge

Excellent communication skills

Attention to detail

Demonstrable business development skills

Excellent teamwork skills

Time management and organisational skills

Ability to multi-task and prioritise

Flexible approach

Education

6+ years qualified solicitor

Job description

Our market leading Employment, Pensions and Immigration team is seeking an experienced employment lawyer. We advise clients across the UK and internationally, including some of the UK's largest and best known employers. We believe that the quality of our clients and the strength of our relationships with our clients speaks volumes about the quality of the service we provide.

The candidate will be based at our London office, which currently consists of two Partners, one Associate, two Solicitor and a Trainee. Our London employment team is highly ranked in the Legal Directories and has ambitions to grow further.

As a Principal (Senior) Associate, this is a great opportunity to play an integral role in growing the London team, working alongside Partners to drive the practice forward. Business development is an important part of this role and for the right candidate this opens up scope for career development to partnership.

You will manage a mixed caseload of contentious and non-contentious employment work and your responsibilities will include:

• Advising clients in a range of sectors on the full range of employment law issues, including redundancy, disciplinary matters, grievances, whistleblowing, discrimination and detriment claims.
• Responsibility for conduct of the defence of Employment Tribunal claims.
• Working with Corporate colleagues to provide transactional support.
• Advising on the application of TUPE to business transfers and service provision changes in both the public and private sectors.
• Advising on boardroom disputes.
• Advising in relation to change and restructuring projects, changing terms and conditions and consultation requirements.
• Industrial relations advice.
• Drafting articles and legal updates, training and networking as part of a structured business development initiative.

This list is not intended to be exhaustive and you will have other duties and responsibilities that fall within the remit of the role.

About You

Ideally you will have previous experience and a genuine and demonstrable interest in the above area of work. As the role is varied, we are looking for you to have a flexible approach to the work you do and be able to adapt to different tasks. We also require you to have/be:

• 6 + YR Qualified Solicitor
• Previous experience of managing your own caseload
• Ideally previous experience of mentoring junior fee-earners
• Excellent team work skills
• Attention to detail
• Strong technical knowledge
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Demonstrable business development skills
• Ability to multi-task and prioritise
• Ability to work to strict deadlines and targets
• Flexible approach

If you meet our criteria and think this is a job where you could bring enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn, then we look forward to receiving your application.

Why work for us

Weightmans is a Top 40 law firm with offices throughout the UK. Having been recognised as the leading legal employer and 5th overall employer at the annual Britain's Top Employers awards 2025 and achieved recordrankings in Chambers UK.

We are proud to be an accredited living wage employer.

Click here to find out more about industry recognition for excellence, through our achievements, awards and accreditations.

The independent research showed "Weightmans provides exceptional employee conditions, nurtures and develops talent throughout all levels of the organisation".

We are truly committed to fostering a culture of equality and diversity, where everyone in the firm is respected and recognised on merit for the work that they do.

We strongly encourage applications from people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations and disabilities. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustment at any stage of the application process.

Please feel free to note your preferred pronouns in your application.

Work for a firm where people matter – work for Weightmans – We See the possibility in you.

As well as being immensely proud of the work we carry out for our clients and the culture we provide to our people we offer a wide range of benefits including:

• 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rated for part time) / Lateral Hires will differ*
• Hybrid working including provision of home office equipment*
• Healthcare cover/ Medicash
• Pension plan
• Life Insurance 4 x salary
• Interest free travel loan scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme including counselling, legal and consumer advice service
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounted dental scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Offers & discounts
• Great reward and recognition scheme

*there are a small number of roles that cannot be performed from home, your Recruitment Adviser can confirm.

* lateral hires and Legal Director’s annual holiday entitlement and benefits will differ from those above

Please note

• We encourage candidates to speak to us direct/apply direct for the opportunities we have available.
• Any reference to experience or PQE in our adverts or job descriptions is to be used as a guideline only.
• The successful candidate appointed to this role will be subject to our standard background checking process, and any offer of employment made is conditional upon successful completion of those checks.
• We are open to part time/job share applicants.

Recruitment agencies (PSL /non-PSL)

Weightmans operates a strict 'preferred supplier list' (PSL) and is committed to working closely with the recruitment agencies that feature on that list. As such, Weightmans does not accept speculative or unsolicited CVs, profiles or any other introductions from both our PSL and non-PSL agencies. If a PSL or non-PSL agency chooses to submit a speculative or unsolicited CV, profile, or introduction without instruction from a member of Weightmans’ recruitment team, we will reserve the right to treat the introduction as a gift and contact the candidate directly without accepting or entering into the agency’s terms nor being liable for a recruitment fee.

Eligibility to work in the UK

Eligibility to work in the UK will be verified in the final stages of the selection process. All candidates must either already have a right to work in the UK before commencing employment or meet the Home Office criteria for Visa sponsorship. Candidates who require sponsorship should evaluate the Home Office eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa before applying.