We are excited to be searching for an employment lawyer to join our top-ranked team in Cambridge. You will undertake a broad mix of contentious, non-contentious and transactional work with appropriate supervision as needed, predominantly for employers in the private commercial sector.
The Cambridge team is part of the firm's' cross office Employment, Pensions and Immigration National Service Line (“NSL”) which is led by Cambridge-based Partner, David Mills. You will be able to develop your career within the NSL, which nationally consists of over 50 lawyers, with 17 of these in Cambridge. The lawyers in Cambridge work in sector teams, supporting employer clients in the Commercial, Health, Higher Education and Charity sectors. This opportunity is to join the Commercial team.
The NSL is supported by two professional support lawyers who deliver our monthly in-house updates and assist with our know-how, precedents and client training. We also have an in-house advocacy unit which supports some of the NSL's Tribunal work.
As well as advisory work, you will be involved in delivering our annual programme of training, seminars and legal updates to clients and targets.
As a Senior Associate, you will be expected to:
Client service
Retain and develop client relationships by delivering outstanding client service to both internal and external clients
Have a sound understanding of clients¿ legal, commercial and service requirements
Demonstrate commercial and personable client relationship skills
Technical excellence
Have strong technical competence and legal knowledge in employment law
Deliver accurate, technically correct and commercial ¿advice that delivers advice¿ in writing, on the telephone and in person
New clients, new work
- Support the team¿s business development activities and initiatives with existing, new and target clients as well as multipliers and other professionals
The person
You will have 5+ years¿ experience gained in a reputable firm with an established employment law practice
What skills and attributes will I need?
Essential:
Strong experience of acting for employers on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters
Good academics
Clear drive and enthusiasm for employment law
Excellent written English for drafting purposes
Well-developed presentation skills
Self-starting with common sense, initiative
The ability to work effectively both within a team and also independently
An appetite to work on complex matters
Proactive case management skills
Keen attention to detail
Ability to establish personal chemistry and build effective and long lasting relationships with colleagues, clients, targets and multipliers
Appropriate IT skills, including an ability to use online information sources
Sound research skills
An understanding of business management and an ability to deliver profitable work
A desire to develop yourself and your career within the team
Desirable:
Previous experience of advising commercial clients in relation to a broad range of employee relations matters including workplace conflict (discipline and grievance), workforce planning (redundancy and reorganisation), capability and performance management (including ill health matters) and equality, diversity and inclusion matters
Experience of drafting contracts of employment, executive service agreements, policies and procedures, settlement agreements and COT3s
Previous experience of providing employment law support and input to corporate transactions, including undertaking due diligence and drafting and advising on the employment / TUPE provisions in transactional documents
Ability to lead on Employment Tribunal matters, including drafting pleadings, Tribunal applications, case management agendas, witness statements, handling disclosure and conducting/concluding without prejudice negotiations
Experience of conducting some Tribunal advocacy or an interest in doing so
Experience of supporting clients in the Life Sciences and Technology sectors would be advantageous but not essential
Who will I be working with?
You will join a team of collaborative commercial lawyers in our Cambridge office, ranging from newly qualified Associates through to Partners. You will primarily work with Partner, Melanie James, who will be responsible for mentoring, supervision and supporting your development.
What else should I know?
This is an ideal opportunity to build your skills and experience with a major UK law firm, listed as one of the “Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For” for the last 17 years - the only law firm to achieve this. This year we were named as Roll on Friday's Firm of the Year for 2020. We have also achieved the much sought after Three Star Accreditation and been named as one of 100 Best Mid-Sized Companies to Work For as a result of outstanding levels of staff engagement and the firm¿s commitment to creating a positive working environment for all employees.
Mills & Reeve is a major UK law firm renowned for its outstanding service to national and international clients, for its collaborative culture and for its deep sector expertise.
The firm has a strong sector focus with expertise in agriculture, charities, education, food and beverage, health, insurance, life sciences, private wealth, real estate investment, sport and technology. Clients include businesses from PLCs to start-ups, landowners, high net worth individuals, household and high street names, more than 120 universities, colleges and education bodies and over 100 NHS and private healthcare organisations.
Pre-employment screening
Please note that, in the event that we make an offer of employment, we will conduct pre-employment screening that includes checks relating to your professional and academic qualifications, references from previous employers, your eligibility to work in the UK and any disciplinary history recorded with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). You will also be required to complete a self-declaration to access your character and suitability.
Disclosure and barring service check
This post is also subject to a satisfactory response from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to check for any previous criminal convictions.