Legal Counsel

OpenText; Reading; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenText is seeking a junior employment lawyer to join the international Employment Legal team. You will work under senior counsel, conducting research, drafting, coordination and project management for multinational employment matters across EMEA and APJ.

You will support HR, Employee Relations and business leaders globally, developing practical, commercial legal advice while growing international law expertise in a leading tech company.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years PQE in employment law or equivalent.
• Strong drafting, analytical and research skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Research employment law issues and draft first-level legal advice and communications.
• Support HR and Employee Relations on disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence and performance matters.
• Assist with recruitment, contracts changes, leave, flexible working and terminations.
• Maintain legal resources, trackers and knowledge materials.
• Coordinate advice from external counsel across jurisdictions; manage project plans and timelines.
• Provide administrative and project-management support on cross-border matters.
• Assist with tribunal, court or regulatory proceedings and case management.

Skills

Legal drafting

Research

Analytical skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Cross-border work

Education

Qualified lawyer/solicitor

Job description

Opentext - The Information Company OpenText is a global leader in information management, where innovation, creativity, and collaboration are the key components of our corporate culture. As a member of our team, you will have the opportunity to partner with the most highly regarded companies in the world, tackle complex issues, and contribute to projects that shape the future of digital transformation.

Opentext - The Information Company OpenText is a global leader in information management, where innovation, creativity, and collaboration are the key components of our corporate culture. As a member of our team, you will have the opportunity to partner with the most highly regarded companies in the world, tackle complex issues, and contribute to projects that shape the future of digital transformation.

AI-First. Future-Driven. Human-Centered. At OpenText, AI is at the heart of everything we do-powering innovation, transforming work, and empowering digital knowledge workers. We're hiring talent that AI can't replace to help us shape the future of information management. Join us. We are seeking an ambitious junior employment lawyer to join our international Employment Legal team. This development-focused role offers hands-on experience of multinational employment matters across EMEA and APJ. Working closely with senior employment counsel, you will undertake the research, drafting, coordination and project management work that underpin practical, commercial legal advice. This role would suit someone who enjoys detailed legal work, takes ownership of tasks and is keen to develop their international law expertise.

YOUR IMPACT

You will support senior employment counsel and the Legal Director in advising HR, Employee Relations and business leaders across multiple jurisdictions. You will also help manage the legal and operational activities needed to deliver high-quality advice and strategic support globally.

What The Role Involves

Employment Law Advisory

• Researching employment law issues and preparing first drafts of legal advice, guidance, presentations and communications.
• Supporting HR and Employee Relations with disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence, conduct and performance matters.
• Assisting with employee lifecycle matters including recruitment, contractual changes, leave, flexible working, accommodations and termination issues.
• Preparing and maintaining legal resources, trackers and knowledge materials.

Organizational Change and Transformation

• Supporting international restructuring, redundancy and workforce optimization projects.
• Assisting with works council, employee representative and trade union matters.
• Coordinating advice from external counsel across multiple jurisdictions.
• Maintaining project plans, consultation timelines, action trackers and legal risk assessments
• Providing administrative and project-management support on complex cross-border matters.

Litigation and Dispute Management

• Assisting with employment tribunal, labour court and administrative proceedings.
• Supporting document reviews, evidence gathering, witness preparation and case management.
• Helping manage external counsel relationships and ensuring matters progress efficiently.
• Assisting with invoice reviews, budget tracking and legal spend monitoring.
• Preparing case summaries and stakeholder updates.

Compliance and Legal Development

• Monitoring employment law developments across EMEA and APJ.
• Preparing legal updates and training materials for HR and leadership teams.
• Supporting the implementation of new legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Developing and maintaining templates, policies, playbooks and guidance materials.
• Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives within the Employment Legal function.

What You Bring

Required Experience/Skills

• Qualified lawyer/solicitor with relevant employment law experience, typically gained through 2-3 years’ PQE or an equivalent career path.
• Strong legal drafting, analytical and research skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly and practically.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines effectively.
• A proactive, dependable and service-oriented approach.

Preferred Experience/Skills

• Experience supporting multinational employers or working on cross-border employment law issues.
• Exposure to restructuring, collective consultation, employee representative engagement or workplace investigations.
• Familiarity with technology, software or another multinational corporate environment.
• Proficiency in using AI to streamline tasks and processes.
• Additional language skills.

Who You Are

• Commercially minded and solutions focused.
• Comfortable taking responsibility for detailed research, drafting and coordination work.
• Able to balance legal risk with business objectives.
• Confident building relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Adaptable and comfortable operating in a fast-paced global organization.
• Keen to learn, contribute and develop as part of a collaborative team.

WHY OPENTEXT?

You will gain hands-on experience of high-impact employment matters across a wide range of jurisdictions, supported by experienced international employment lawyers. The role offers mentoring, exposure to strategic decision-making and a strong foundation for building a career in international employment law within a leading global technology company.

OpenText's efforts to build an inclusive work environment go beyond simply complying with applicable laws. Our Employment Equity and Diversity Policy provides direction on maintaining a working environment that is inclusive of everyone, regardless of culture, national origin, race, color, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, family status, age, veteran status, disability, religion, or other basis protected by applicable laws.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Our proactive approach fosters collaboration, innovation, and personal growth, enriching OpenText's vibrant workplace.