Part-Time Senior Solicitor - Employment

Part-Time Senior Solicitor - Employment

Local Authority | Contract

Location: Luton

Rate: £60.00 per hour (Umbrella)

Contract: Contract

Hours: Part Time - Approximately 18 Hours Per Week

Working Pattern: Core Business Hours

Pay: Bi-Weekly

Summary

We are seeking a seasoned Senior Solicitor - Employment to join our Local Authority Legal Services team on a part-time basis. This pivotal role involves delivering expert employment law advice on a wide array of contentious and non-contentious issues, supporting HR, senior management, and elected officials. The position requires managing a complex caseload, representing the organization in Employment Tribunals and Courts, aiding in organizational change initiatives, and mentoring junior legal staff. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in employment law, with strong advocacy skills and the ability to offer practical, commercially aware, and risk-based legal counsel.

Key Responsibilities

• Offer expert legal guidance to HR teams, senior managers, and officers on intricate employment law issues.
  
• Handle a diverse caseload of both contentious and non-contentious employment matters.
  
• Provide advice on discrimination, equality, harassment, victimization, whistleblowing, grievances, disciplinary actions, capability, and performance management.
  
• Counsel on redundancies, restructures, organizational change programs, and collective consultation duties.
  
• Support legal aspects of TUPE transfers, outsourcing, and contractual disputes.
  
• Advise on employment-related data protection, confidentiality, Subject Access Requests, and Freedom of Information issues.
  
• Represent the organization in Employment Tribunals, Courts, and hearings.
  
• Negotiate settlements and resolve disputes efficiently.
  
• Instruct and manage external Counsel as needed.
  
• Draft pleadings, witness statements, settlement agreements, legal submissions, and correspondence.
  
• Advise on employment aspects of procurement, partnerships, and commercial arrangements.
  
• Attend committees, executive meetings, and governance forums, providing legal and procedural advice.
  
• Conduct employment law training, briefings, and legal updates.
  
• Mentor, supervise, and support junior solicitors, legal officers, trainees, and paralegals.
  
• Contribute to the leadership and development of the broader Legal Services team.
  

Essential

Requirements

Requirements:

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or FCILEx with a current practicing certificate.
  
• At least 7 years of post-qualification experience in Employment Law.
  
• Extensive experience in providing senior-level employment law advice.
  
• Significant advocacy experience in Employment Tribunals.
  
• Experience handling complex employment matters, including:
  • Discrimination claims
    
  • Equal Pay claims
    
  • TUPE
    
  • Trade Union issues
    
  • Restructures and redundancies
    
  • Whistleblowing
    
  • Employment disputes
    
• Proficiency in drafting complex legal documents and agreements.
  
• Strong negotiation, advocacy, and communication skills.
  
• Excellent understanding of Employment Tribunal procedures.
  
• Familiarity with Civil Procedure Rules.
  
• Knowledge of GDPR, Subject Access Requests, and FOI legislation related to employment.
  
• Ability to manage a complex caseload independently.
  
• Experience in supervising or mentoring junior legal staff.
  
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to provide solution-oriented advice.
  

Desirable

• Previous experience in Local Authority employment law.
  
• Experience advising schools on employment matters.
  
• Experience with pensions-related employment issues.
  
• Experience in handling County Court or Court of Appeal employment cases.
  
• Experience in supporting organizational transformation programs.
  

Additional Information

• Part-time role with approximately 18 hours per week.
  
• Work to be conducted during core business hours.
  
• Position available until a permanent appointment is made.
  
• Attendance at Tribunal hearings, meetings, and offices as necessary.
  
• Opportunity to engage with high-profile and complex employment law matters.
  

What's on Offer?

• £60.00 per hour (Umbrella)
  
• Contract position
  
• Approximately 18 hours per week
  
• Flexible part-time working
  
• Bi-weekly pay
  
• Diverse and complex employment law caseload
  
• Opportunities for Tribunal advocacy
  
• Leadership and mentoring responsibilities
  
• Role available pending permanent recruitment
  

Ideal for candidates with experience as a Senior Employment Solicitor, Employment Lawyer, Principal Solicitor, Employment Law Specialist, Litigation Solicitor, Senior Legal Counsel, Local Government Lawyer, Employment Tribunal Advocate, or Head of Employment Law.