Employment Solicitor/Associate

JMC Legal Recruitment; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Mentoring

Leadership opportunities

Benefits package

Job summary

JMC Legal Recruitment is assisting a respected Canterbury practice to recruit an Employment Solicitor 3–6 PQE. The role offers progression toward Associate, with the potential to join at Associate level for strong candidates.

You’ll handle a substantial caseload, work with partners, mentor juniors, and develop your own client base within a supportive team. Hybrid working is available after an initial in-office period, with real investment in your development and leadership opportunities across a

Qualifications

• 3–6 PQE in Employment Law (flexible for right candidate).
• Strong grounding in both contentious and non-contentious matters.
• Ability to manage a caseload independently.
• Excellent client care and communication skills.
• Commercial awareness and strategic mindset.
• Willingness to relocate to Canterbury area.

Responsibilities

• Manage your own substantial caseload of contentious and non-contentious matters.
• Work directly with experienced partners on strategy and high-value cases.
• Mentor and supervise junior lawyers as the team develops.
• Lead client relationships and build your own practice.
• Handle complex employment disputes with genuine autonomy.
• Contribute to business development and team growth.
• Progress to Associate level or join at Associate if suitable.

Skills

Employment Law

Caseload management

Client relationships

Mentoring

Business development

Strategic thinking

Job description

Employment Solicitor | 3+ PQE | Canterbury, Kent

A respected Chambers and Legal 500-ranked employment team in Canterbury is expanding and looking for an ambitious Employment Solicitor ready for the next step.

You could join as a mid-level solicitor and progress to Associate level. Or if you're already performing at Associate standard, they may consider bringing you in at that level. Either way, this is about genuine progression in a team that invests in developing its people.

The team has built a strong reputation across Kent and the South East for representing employers and employees on meaningful, varied employment matters. You'll develop real expertise, mentor junior lawyers, and have genuine influence in shaping the practice's future.

If you want to step up to Associate-level responsibility in a firm that actually backs its people, this is it.

The Opportunity

You’ll join a well-established, respected employment team with real scope for progression:

• Manage your own substantial caseload of contentious and non-contentious employment matters
• Work directly with experienced partners on strategy and high-value cases
• Mentor and supervise junior lawyers as the team develops
• Lead client relationships and build your own practice
• Handle complex employment disputes with genuine autonomy
• Contribute meaningfully to business development and team growth
• Clear pathway to Associate (or join at that level if you're already performing at this standard)

This is real responsibility with real influence, not just executing work set by others.

The Firm

A Canterbury practice with deep Kent roots and genuine regional respect. Chambers and Legal 500-ranked employment team known for quality work across both employer and employee representation.

The culture is supportive, collaborative, and genuinely interested in developing people. The team actively encourages progression and genuinely invests in building the next generation of senior lawyers.

The Work

You’ll handle a diverse, sophisticated employment law caseload:

• Contentious matters: employment disputes, unfair dismissal, discrimination claims, Tribunal representation
• Non-contentious work: HR advice, policies, procedures, employment contracts, restructuring
• Settlement negotiations and complex settlement agreements
• Advisory work for major employers on strategic employment issues
• Court and Tribunal representation with genuine autonomy
• Client relationship ownership across a varied, quality client base
• Mentoring junior lawyers and contributing to team development

This is senior mid-level employment work where technical excellence is expected and strategic thinking is valued.

About You

• 3-6 PQE in Employment Law (ideally, but flexible for the right candidate)
• Strong technical grounding across contentious and non-contentious matters
• Proven ability to manage a caseload independently
• Excellent client care and communication skills
• Commercial awareness and strategic mindset
• Comfortable with business development and client relationship building
• Demonstrated mentoring capability (or genuine interest in developing it)
• Ready for Associate-level responsibility and progression
• Ideally based in or willing to relocate to Canterbury area

What's On Offer

• Competitive salary reflecting your experience level (firm willing to be flexible for the right candidate)
• Clear pathway to Associate with defined progression criteria
• Potential to join at Associate level if you're already performing at that standard
• Hybrid working: flexible arrangements after initial in-office period
• Full or part-time options considered
• Genuine mentoring environment from experienced partners
• Real leadership opportunities: supervise junior lawyers and shape team direction
• Business development support to build your own practice
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Exposure to high-profile clients and meaningful employment law matters

Why This Works

This isn't about staying in a junior role indefinitely. It's about genuine progression in a firm that actively invests in developing its next layer of leadership.

You'll work with experienced partners who understand that mid-level lawyers need autonomy, responsibility, and proper support, not continued hand-holding.

You’ll have real influence over how the team operates and real scope to develop your own practice and reputation.

If you're ready to step up from junior work to genuine responsibility, with a team that will support your progression to Associate and beyond, this is it.