Solicitor- Employment

Forbes Solicitors; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Annual leave purchase

Maternity/Paternity pay

Health care benefits

Staff discounts

Profit share

Job summary

Forbes Solicitors is seeking a Solicitor to join our Public Sector Employment team. Based at Gordon House Office near Preston, the role handles a varied Employment caseload including Education, Housing and Local Authority matters, with opportunities to attend Tribunal hearings and provide strategic advice.

The ideal candidate will have up to 4 years PQE, solid Employment experience, and a track record in handling tribunal matters.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive (or equivalent) with up to 4 years PQE.
• Experience in an employment team.
• Experience working on employment tribunal cases.
• Experience advising onEmployment matters including Unfair dismissal, Discrimination, TUPE and Redundancy.

Responsibilities

• Handle a varied case load of Public Sector Employment matters (Education, Housing and Local Authority) and Settlement Agreements.
• Attend/represent at Tribunal hearings across a range of matters such as Unfair Dismissal, Discrimination, TUPE, Redundancy.
• Provide clear written and verbal legal advice and manage communications with clients, Courts/Tribunals and third parties.
• Represent internal client hearings (disciplinaries, dismissals, grievances, appeals) and investigations.
• Support the wider team, contribute to departmental objectives, and collaborate on joint matters.
• Deliver presentations and training sessions on key employment updates.
• Collaborate with Senior Associates and Partners on complex cases and build client relationships.

Education

Qualified Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive

Job description

Solicitor- Employment

Location: Gordon House Office

Based at Sceptre Way (PR5 6AW), this role offers excellent accessibility, positioned just a 10-minute drive from Junction 29/30 of the M6 and the M61/M65 interchange near the M60 network.

Walton Summit Centre is a well-established commercial hub, ideally situated for candidates commuting from Preston, Chorley, Leyland, Blackburn, and Greater Manchester. With quick links to major motorway routes, the site is perfect for those looking to avoid city centre congestion while still benefiting from strong regional connectivity.

Hours: Full-time, 36.25 hours per week

The Role

Forbes Solicitors are seeking a Solicitor to join our Public Sector Employment team. This exciting opportunity allows you to work in a supportive environment while handling a varied case load of Employment matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Handling a varied case load of Public Sector Employment matters- primarily consisting of Education, Housing and Local Authority matters and Settlement Agreements.
• Attending/representing at Tribunal hearings for a wide variety of hearings, including:
  • Unfair Dismissal
  • Discrimination
  • TUPE
  • Redundancy
  • Safeguarding Issues
• Providing clear written and verbal legal advice, and managing communications with clients, opponents, Courts/Tribunals and third parties to progress files.
• Representation at internal client hearings such as disciplinaries, dismissals, grievances, appeals and conducting investigations.
• Supporting the wider team by assisting colleagues on cases, contributing to departmental objectives, and collaborating across departments on joint matters and projects.
• Delivery of presentations and training sessions to clients and third parties on key employment updates.
• Collaborate on complex cases with Senior Associates and Partners.
• Building strong client and stakeholder relationships, enhancing the Firm’s profile, and supporting business development.

About You

We are looking for people that can demonstrate the following:

Essential:

• Be a qualified Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive, (or equivalent), with up to 4 years PQE.
• Previous experience of working within an employment team.
• Previous experience of working on employment tribunal cases.
• Previous experience working with a range of employment matters, such as, Unfair dismissal, Discrimination, TUPE and Redundancy.
• Demonstrates excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Previous experience in managing a busy caseload and meeting deadlines while achieving fee targets and contributing effectively within a team.
• Aligns with the Firm’s values.

Desirable

• Previous experience in own advocacy.
• Previous experience working with clients within the Education, Housing and Local Authority sectors.
• Ability to deliver presentations and training sessions to clients and third parties.

The Firm

Forbes Solicitors is a Legal 500 Top Tier and Chambers Leading Firm with offices across the North. We are proud Investors in People UK Employer of the Year: Silver (250+), committed to collaboration, growth, and delivering practical, results-driven legal services.

Benefits

• 33 days annual leave, including bank holidays, increasing with length of service.
• Annual leave purchase scheme (Subject to T&Cs).
• Enhanced family friendly policies and pay for Maternity, Paternity and Adoption.
• Enhanced sick pay.
• Celebration and Volunteer leave.
• Ongoing professional development and progression opportunities.
• Profit share scheme.
• Additional long service awards.
• Subsidised tuck shops.
• Staff discount on Firm services.
• Health care benefits (Health Cash Back Plan and Mental Health Counselling Services).
• BUPA (Solicitor positions only, for self, not dependents).
• Retail and gym membership discounts.
• Recruitment and legal department referrals (Subject to T&Cs).
• Annual Events.

Forbes is an equal opportunities and disability-confident employer, accredited by Investors in People and ISO 9001 quality management systems. We are committed to equal opportunities in employment, service provision, and supplier engagement, and strive to maintain a workforce that reflects the local community.