Senior Employment Lawyer

Your new company
You will be joining a large, well‑established public sector legal service providing specialist legal support to multiple local authorities and wider public bodies across Manchester. The service works closely with senior officers, elected members and partner organisations to support effective policy, governance and decision‑making. The team is known for handling high‑profile, complex and politically sensitive matters, offering a collaborative and professional environment where high‑quality legal advice is central to organisational success. This role sits within a supportive Legal Services Department and is offered on a maternity cover contract, initially for three months with a strong likelihood of extension.

Your new role
As a Senior Employment Lawyer, you will act as a subject matter expert within Employment Law, managing a broad range of contentious and non‑contentious employment matters with a high degree of autonomy.
Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing complex Employment Tribunal claims, from ET3 drafting through to final hearing
• Preparing cases for hearing and attending Tribunal hearings in person and via CVP
• Dealing with interim applications and undertaking advocacy at interim hearings
• Advising on and managing Early Conciliation matters
• Providing clear, pragmatic employment law advice to officers and key stakeholders
• Managing a personal caseload of high‑value, sensitive and complex matters
• Supporting and, where appropriate, providing guidance to junior colleagues
• Working collaboratively across services to support effective, lawful and timely decision‑making

The role is full‑time (35 hours per week). Office attendance will be expected for the first couple of weeks, followed by mainly remote working, with availability to attend final hearings as required.

What you'll need to succeed
To be successful in this position, you will have:

• You must be a Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX Lawyer
• At least 3 years' PQE in Employment Law
• Proven experience handling complex Employment Tribunal litigation
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation, Tribunal procedure and civil procedure rules
• The ability to pick up complex matters quickly and work with minimal supervision
• Experience drafting pleadings, legal advice, instructions to Counsel and court documentation
• Confidence undertaking advocacy at interim hearings
• Experience in a local authority or wider public sector environment (desirable)
• Strong stakeholder management skills and political awareness

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now on View phone number on findajob.dwp.gov.uk.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

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