Employment Senior Associate/ Partner – Shape and Grow a Team in Ipswich

Clara Rose Consultancy; Colchester; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in the United Kingdom seeks an experienced employment lawyer to shape and lead their practice in Colchester. This role involves providing expert legal advice, mentoring junior staff, and actively participating in business development activities. The firm offers a supportive environment with a hybrid working model, unlimited holiday, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, enhanced family leave, and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Unlimited holiday policy

Health cash plan

Discounted gym memberships

Mental health support

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with extensive employment law experience.
• Proficient in both contentious and non-contentious legal matters.
• Adept at guiding junior colleagues and delivering training.

Responsibilities

• Offer advice across employment law for employer clients.
• Draft and negotiate employment documents like contracts.
• Lead seminars, webinars, and training sessions.
• Contribute to business development to grow the practice.

Skills

Employment law expertise

Leadership skills

Commercial awareness

Client relationship building

Education

Qualified solicitor

Job description

If you are an experienced employment lawyer looking for the chance to lead, shape and grow a thriving practice, this could be a rare and rewarding opportunity. As part of a well regarded and forward thinking firm, you will have the space and support to build the next phase of the employment team in Ipswich, with the option of hybrid working across Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds. You will be joining an existing solicitor and two paralegals, with scope to expand further as the practice grows.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys combining high quality legal work with genuine leadership. You will help set the direction of the service, guide colleagues, and work closely with HR professionals to offer clients clear, practical and commercially sound solutions.

What you will be doing

• Offering thoughtful, confident advice across the full range of employment law for employer clients
• Working closely with HR consultancy colleagues to provide a joined up service
• Drafting and negotiating employment documents, including settlement agreements and senior hires’ contracts
• Handling contentious matters and representing clients where needed
• Supporting work across the wider region and helping deliver a consistent service
• Leading seminars, webinars and training sessions for clients and colleagues
• Contributing to tenders and proposals
• Playing an active part in networking and business development to grow the practice

About you

• A qualified solicitor with strong, broad employment law experience
• Comfortable advising on both contentious and non contentious matters
• Commercially aware and able to build long standing client relationships
• Enjoy guiding and mentoring junior colleagues
• Confident in presenting and delivering training
• Naturally proactive in developing your practice and spotting opportunities

Why this firm

You will join a supportive, people centred environment that believes in genuine flexibility. Most lawyers work in the office two days a week, with an extra day encouraged for those earlier in their career. You can dress for your day, work in a way that supports family and other commitments, and enjoy an industry leading unlimited holiday policy.

Clear career pathways, in house learning and development, leadership programmes and funded CPD create a setting where you can keep progressing while shaping the direction of your team.

You will also have access to a generous range of benefits, including enhanced family leave, enhanced sick pay, a strong pension scheme, permanent health insurance (after probation), life assurance, health cash plan, mental health support, discounted gym memberships, legal services discounts, cycle to work and car leasing schemes, plus many lifestyle benefits that promote wellbeing and balance.

Let’s talk

If this feels like the right next step for you, or if you are curious and would like a confidential conversation about your options, please get in touch. All discussions are confidential and centred on understanding what you want from your career. If you meet some but not all of the criteria, please reach out anyway. Do not rule yourself out when you may be exactly what they are looking for!

To apply, request further details or arrange an informal chat, please contact: Clara Rose [e-mail] 07971 493048