Senior Associate - Employment

JMC Legal Recruitment; Ballymena; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Excellent benefits

Hybrid working

Job summary

JMC Legal Recruitment in Belfast is seeking a Senior Associate in Employment to join a Tier 1, market-leading practice with a global client base. You will manage your own caseload and work with leading Partners on strategic mandates, often cross-border.

You will advise on the full spectrum of employment law, lead high-profile litigation, and contribute to client relationships and practice growth, with a clear path toward Partnership and a collaborative culture.

Qualifications

• UK-qualified Solicitor with 5-8 PQE in Employment law.
• Experience across advisory and contentious matters.
• Strong leadership and client relationship skills.
• Mentoring junior lawyers within the team.
• Commercially minded with a proactive, solutions-focused approach.
• Strong drafting and analytical skills.
• Interest in business development and contributing to team growth.

Responsibilities

• Advise employer clients on employment law, both contentious and non-contentious.
• Lead Employment Tribunal litigation including discrimination and whistleblowing.
• Handle High Court matters including restrictive covenants and team move disputes.
• Advise on TUPE, restructures, redundancies and large-scale workforce projects.
• Support cross-border and multi-jurisdictional mandates.
• Act as a key contact delivering commercial, solutions-led advice.
• Supervise and mentor junior lawyers within the team.
• Contribute to business development and client growth initiatives.

Skills

Communication skills

Drafting

Analytical thinking

Client relationship management

Mentoring

Education

UK Qualified Solicitor

Job description

Senior Associate - Employment (5-8 PQE)

Location: Belfast
Firm: Tier 1, Market-Leading Employment Practice
Salary: Highly Competitive + Bonus + Excellent Benefits

The Role

This is a rare opportunity for a Senior Associate to join a Tier 1 ranked Employment practice in the heart of Belfast, known for its depth of expertise, global reach and high-profile client base. Acting for multinational corporates, household names and fast-growth businesses, the team is trusted on some of the most complex and business-critical workplace matters in the market.

You’ll step into a role that offers both high-calibre work and real influence. Alongside managing your own caseload, you’ll work closely with Hall of Fame and other L500 recognised Partners on strategic mandates, often with a cross-border element, while also playing a visible role in client relationships and the continued growth of the practice.

The culture is a genuine differentiator and renowned across their offices in the UK and the rest of the world. This is a firm where collaboration, approachability and high performance coexist and where Senior Associates are given the platform, trust and autonomy to develop their profile, deepen client relationships and progress towards Partnership.

The Work

• Advising employer clients on the full spectrum of employment law, both contentious and non-contentious
• Leading on Employment Tribunal litigation, including discrimination, whistleblowing and high-value claims
• Handling High Court matters, including restrictive covenant and team move disputes
• Advising on TUPE, restructures, redundancies and large-scale workforce projects
• Supporting on cross-border and multi-jurisdictional mandates
• Acting as a key contact for clients, delivering commercial, solutions-led advice
• Supervising and mentoring junior lawyers within the team
• Contributing to business development and client growth initiatives

Your Experience

• UK-qualified Solicitor (5-8 PQE) with a strong background in Employment law
• Broad experience across both advisory and contentious matters
• Confident managing complex matters and leading client relationships
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior team members
• Commercially minded with a proactive, solutions-focused approach
• Strong communication, drafting and analytical skills
• Interest in business development and contributing to team growth

Why This Role?

• Join a top ranked Employment team with a leading UK and international presence
• Work alongside recognised leaders in the field on complex, high-profile matters
• Exposure to multinational clients and cross-border work
• Real autonomy and client ownership at Senior Associate level
• Clear and structured pathway to Partnership
• Collaborative, supportive culture with a strong focus on people and development
• Flexible and hybrid working with genuine work-life balance
• Highly competitive salary, bonus and comprehensive benefits package