Legal Director (Employment Law)

Kalepa; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Holiday entitlement 25 days + bank

Private medical & life cover

Pension & lifestyle benefits

Flexible working & development

Job summary

Markel Law in Manchester seeks a Senior Associate in Employment Law to handle complex, high‑quality matters across contentious and non‑contentious work. You will advise a diverse client base, from SMEs to large organisations, and contribute to a growing, collaborative team.

The role offers a genuine path to leadership, flexible hybrid working, and a supportive culture that values experience and ambition. A competitive package and ongoing development are provided.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or barrister (UK) with current practising certificate.
• Strong drafting, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience across both contentious and non-contentious employment law.
• Excellent client relationship and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Provide end-to-end employment advice and transactional work.
• Draft and review contracts, policies, settlement agreements and handbooks.
• Manage Employment Tribunal cases from start to finish.
• Supervise and mentor junior team members.
• Deliver training and help develop client relationships.

Skills

Employment law (contentious & non‑con­

Drafting & analysis

Client relationships

Mentoring junior staff

Commercial awareness

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister (UK)

Job description

Legal Director### Legal DirectorApply: Manchester - UK: Full time: Posted Today: R0022175Senior Associate – Employment Law Manchester (hybrid working) Ready to take your employment law career further? At Markel Law, we don’t just practise law, we help businesses move forward with confidence. As part of a Fortune 500 group, we combine global strength with a people-first culture where your ideas, expertise, and ambition truly matter. We’re looking for a Senior Associate to join our highly regarded Employment Law team, recognised in the Legal 500 and known for delivering pragmatic, commercially focused advice to a diverse client base. If you’re passionate about complex, high-quality work and want to play a key role in a growing, collaborative team this could be your next move !**Why join Markel Law?*** Be part of a Legal 500-recognised employment team with deep expertise* Work on high-quality, complex matters across both contentious and non-contentious employment law* Advise a broad client base—from SMEs to large national and international organisations* Join a supportive, experienced team (majority 15+ years PQE)* Enjoy real opportunities to develop leadership skills and shape junior talent**What you’ll be doing:**You’ll play a key role advising clients and managing employment matters end-to-end, including:Advisory & transactional work* Providing expert advice on day-to-day HR issues, disciplinaries, grievances and disputes* Supporting ACAS early conciliation, settlements and employment strategies* Drafting and reviewing contracts, policies, settlement agreements and handbooks* Advising on complex issues including TUPE and collective consultationContentious work* Managing Employment Tribunal cases from start to finish* Drafting claims, responses and applications* Preparing witness statements and evidence* Briefing Counsel and attending hearings where appropriateClient & team impact* Delivering training, updates and thought leadership to clients and colleagues* Supporting business development initiatives and strengthening client relationships* Supervising and mentoring junior team members**What you’ll bring:**We’re looking for a confident, commercial employment lawyer who thrives in a fast-paced environment:* Strong experience across both contentious and non-contentious employment law* Qualified solicitor or barrister (UK) with a current practising certificate* Excellent drafting, analytical and problem-solving skills* Ability to build trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders* Commercial awareness and a client-first mindset* Experience supervising or mentoring others (or readiness to step into this)* Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and multitask effectively**What’s in it for you?*** Competitive salary + annual bonus* 25 days’ holiday (plus bank holidays) with option to buy/sell* Private medical, dental, life assurance & income protection* Generous pension and additional lifestyle benefits* Ongoing learning, development, and career progression opportunities* A genuinely flexible working environment**Our culture:**At Markel, everything we do is grounded in our values: We’re all about people. **We win together. We strive for better. We enjoy the everyday. We think further.**We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and bring their full selves to work.**Ready to make your mark?****Apply now** and take the next step in your career with a business that invests in your future and empowers you to make a real difference.At Markel, we are all about the people, celebrating the value of a diverse workforce that brings experience and expertise from a wide variety of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whatever your background, if you feel you meet the requirements of this role then we want to hear from you. We are also happy to consider candidates who are looking for flexible working patterns.We will ensure that individuals are provided with any reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful. Please contact us via email at [e-mail] or call us at 0161 507 5827 to request any accommodations or adjustments that may be needed, including alternative formats of documents or information on how to apply offline.#LI-PC1**#LI-Hybrid #PlayYourPartUK**