At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide commercial employment law advice and support international HR teams across multiple jurisdictions.
- Company: Fast-growing global organisation focused on people and innovation.
- Benefits: Significant international exposure, direct access to leadership, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with varied work beyond billable hours.
- Why this job: Rare in-house role with a chance to influence global business decisions early in your career.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor with 2-5 years' PQE in employment law and strong advisory skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
A rare opportunity has arisen for a junior to mid-level employment lawyer to step into a truly international in-house role within a fast-growing, people-focused global organisation.
Why this role is different:
- In-house employment law roles at this level are notoriously hard to come by.
- You will join a high-performing legal team embedded directly within the business, acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders across HR, operations, and leadership teams.
- This is not a domestic employment law position. You will support a business operating across multiple jurisdictions, including the UK, Europe, the US, and APAC.
The work spans:
- Multi-jurisdictional employment advisory work
- Cross-border workforce and recruitment-related issues
- Supporting international HR and leadership teams
- Navigating differing legal and regulatory frameworks across regions
- Exposure to external counsel in multiple territories
You will gain early experience advising on how employment law operates in practice across a global footprint—something rarely accessible at this stage in private practice.
What you will be doing:
- Providing clear, commercial employment law advice across both contentious and non-contentious matters
- Acting as a trusted partner to People/HR and senior stakeholders
- Supporting the development of templates, policies, and contractual documentation
- Identifying and escalating legal and regulatory risks
- Monitoring and interpreting employment law developments across jurisdictions
- Supporting legal projects and continuous improvement initiatives
- Working closely with external counsel where required
- Contributing to broader legal work, including occasional support on commercial contracts
What we are looking for:
- Qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with c.2-5 years' PQE in employment law
- Strong grounding in both advisory and contentious employment matters
- Commercial mindset with the ability to translate legal risk into practical guidance
- Confident communicator, comfortable engaging directly with senior stakeholders
- Interest in international employment law and developing cross-border expertise
- Pragmatic, organised, and able to manage a varied workload
- Collaborative approach and willingness to operate as part of a wider business function
Why join:
- Rare in-house entry point for employment lawyers at this level
- Significant international exposure early in your career
- Direct access to senior leadership and strategic decision-making
- Broad, varied work beyond the constraints of billable hours
- Opportunity to shape how employment law is delivered within a scaling global organisation
- High-visibility role with genuine long-term career development potential
If you are an ambitious employment lawyer looking to move into a role where your advice directly influences global business decisions, this is an opportunity worth serious consideration.
In-house Employment Counsel in Manchester employer: BCL Legal
Join a dynamic and people-focused global organisation in Manchester, where you will have the unique opportunity to work as an In-house Employment Counsel. This role offers significant international exposure, allowing you to engage directly with senior stakeholders and influence strategic decisions across multiple jurisdictions. With a collaborative work culture and a commitment to employee growth, you will be part of a high-performing legal team that values your contributions and supports your professional development.
