Employment Lawyer - ER in Belfast

We are currently recruiting for an Employment Lawyer - ER to join our Employee Relations team within HR in London or Belfast. This is a key role providing legal advice and guidance to the Global HR team on all matters relating to employment law and developing policy and procedures. ER lawyers are also responsible for internal case management of any contentious employment issues and liaison with external advisors and Counsel.

The Employee Relations team includes employment lawyers and ER specialists. They work globally across the firm to:

• Ensure that the relationship between the firm and its employees globally is underpinned by clear and fair procedures, policies and application of employment law;
• Ensure that relationships between individuals are driven by a set of values and behaviours that respect difference while working toward the firm’s strategic objectives;
• Support and advise the Global HR team and line managers/partners throughout the employee life cycle in relation to all contentious employee matters;
• Provide bespoke training and legal updates;
• Keep all employee contracts, policies and procedures up-to-date;
• Deliver Inclusion strategy and monitor progress.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

The role will include providing legal advice and guidance to our Global HR team and line managers/partners on all matters relating to employment law including:

• Providing advice on contentious and non-contentious issues, including transaction experience and management of tribunal cases where necessary.
• Co-ordinating all external advisers on employment law to ensure that advice is promptly available to the HR team and other internal clients.
• Providing commercial employment law advice and support to HR in the line and partners across the global network.
• Providing ER advice on firm-wide projects.
• Supporting in the development of HR policies and initiatives to ensure best practice and market leading provision.
• Engaging with other in-house legal functions and business teams to ensure compliance with technical issues impacting the HR team such as data protection, privacy, procurement and other compliance related issues that impact employees within the firm.
• Initiating, developing and delivering training sessions for employees and Partners, keeping abreast of all developments and relevant legislation on employment law issues.
• Auditing and, working with the wider HR function and other business teams, continually developing our processes and documentation.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate will be an employment lawyer with around four years PQE and experience of advisory, transaction and litigation work, ideally either in house or some experience of advising in-house if in private practice. Strong commercial acumen, together with the ability to form effective ‘client’ relationships across all levels. Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills. Strong negotiation skills. Resilient, with a proven ability to manage workflows and multi-task in a fast-paced, busy team. Proven ability to deliver advice in a timely, measured, pragmatic and risk conscious manner. Proven ability to deal with sensitive issues with discretion, professionalism and empathy. An independent self-starter, ‘hands‑on’ approach, pro‑active and a quick learner.

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required. We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services, emergency back‑up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

Our approach to hybrid working seeks to combine and maximise the benefits of effective remote working with the benefits of being in the office. Our current hybrid working arrangements require office based working for a minimum of 60% of your time (i.e. three days per week for a full time role) in accordance with our hybrid working policy.