At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide expert legal advice on employment matters and manage contentious cases.
- Company: Join a prestigious university with a commitment to excellence and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to influence university policies.
- Why this job: Shape employment processes and make a real impact in a dynamic legal team.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor or barrister with experience in employment law.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
Reporting to the General Counsel, the Senior Legal Counsel, Employment, will provide expert legal and strategic advice to colleagues across the University. In particular, the role will work closely with senior staff within the University’s Human Resources directorate. While the role will cover a wide range of employment matters, it is expected that contentious employment matters will constitute a primary focus. This role will be the University’s first point of contact for employment‑related legal advice. In consultation with other members of DGLS, and key internal and external stakeholders, this role provides a rare opportunity to shape processes and systems that strengthen compliance, enhance employee relations and support the University’s strategic aims. The Senior Legal Counsel, Employment, will also contribute to the operations of the wider Legal team, and support broader governance, legal, and administrative projects.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Managing all aspects of contentious employment matters relating to the University, including: providing legal advice; instructing external counsel as needed; and appearing before Tribunals where appropriate.
- Providing expert legal advice across a wide range of employment‑related areas, including: discrimination; equal opportunities; disciplinaries and grievances; trade unions; change management; whistleblowing; pensions; and/or policy development.
- Exercising sound judgment and pragmatism in providing legal advice on other legal matters and areas of law relating to the University.
- Instructing external legal counsel where required, and monitoring the performance, engagement and value for money of external legal counsel.
- Providing timely, expert, pragmatic, and effective legal advice that aligns with the University’s goals, interests, and objectives.
- Exercising excellent stakeholder management skills to develop and maintain strong relationships within and outside of the University.
- Employing expert time management and project management skills to manage a dynamic workload with multiple competing deadlines.
- Progressing broader strategic, governance, or administrative projects, whether as project lead, lead contributor from Legal, or supporting the contributions of other members of the Legal team.
- Proactively identifying potential legal risks to the University, and providing appropriate risk mitigation advice.
- Undertaking final reviews of student complaints when required.
- Providing training to University staff in relevant legal areas.
- Monitoring changes to relevant law and guidance, and advising the University as appropriate.
Qualifications and criteria
- Qualified solicitor or barrister with relevant post‑qualification experience and holding, or being entitled to hold, a current practising certificate issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or Bar Standards Board.
- Strong knowledge of, and experience in handling, contentious employment matters, including progressing those matters independently or with limited supervision and appearing before the Tribunal on procedural points.
- Strong generalist knowledge of, and experience in, employment law matters, including progressing those matters independently or with limited supervision.
- Building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders.
- Project managing complex employment matters (including contentious matters), including while managing external counsel.
- Legal issues in areas aligned to the subject matter focus of the role, particularly employment litigation; discrimination; equal opportunities; disciplinaries and grievances; trade unions; change management; whistleblowing; pensions; and/or policy development.
- Advising across a range of legal areas relevant to the University such as contracts, IP, charity law, public law, litigation, etc., including progressing those matters independently or with limited supervision (desirable but not essential).
- Developing and implementing policies, procedures, or processes (desirable but not essential).
- Previous in‑house experience, or experience working at a university (desirable but not essential).
- Appearing before employment tribunals (desirable but not essential).
- Excellent communication skills, including an ability to provide clear, succinct, timely, pragmatic, and actionable legal advice.
- Excellent time management and organisational skills to effectively manage dynamic workloads and multiple deadlines.
- Strong analytical skills, and sound and pragmatic judgment.
- Ability to pro‑actively influence people and ideas to arrive at outcomes that are beneficial to the University.
Senior Counsel, Employment in London employer: Queen Mary University of London
As a leading University, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment that empowers our employees to thrive. The Senior Counsel, Employment role offers a unique opportunity to engage with diverse stakeholders while shaping legal processes that enhance employee relations and compliance. With a commitment to professional development and a supportive culture, we provide our staff with the resources and opportunities needed for meaningful career growth in a vibrant academic setting.
Contact Detail:
Queen Mary University of London Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Counsel, Employment in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the legal field, especially those who have experience in employment law. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of contentious employment matters. Be ready to discuss real-life scenarios and how you’d handle them. Show us you’re the expert we need!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, drop a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation. It keeps you fresh in their minds and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website for the best chance at landing that Senior Counsel position. We love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Counsel, Employment in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in contentious employment matters. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant expertise!
Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills:Since this role involves a lot of collaboration, emphasise your ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders. Share examples of how you've successfully managed these interactions in the past.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, especially when it comes to legal advice. Make sure your points are easy to understand and directly related to the job description.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Queen Mary University of London
✨Know Your Employment Law Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of employment law, especially around contentious matters. Be prepared to discuss specific cases or scenarios where you've provided legal advice in these areas, as this will show your expertise and confidence.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills
Since this role involves working closely with senior staff and various stakeholders, think of examples where you've successfully built relationships and managed expectations. Highlight how you navigated complex situations and maintained strong communication.
✨Demonstrate Your Project Management Prowess
Be ready to talk about your experience managing multiple projects or cases simultaneously. Share specific instances where you effectively prioritised tasks and met deadlines, showcasing your organisational skills and ability to handle a dynamic workload.
✨Prepare for Hypothetical Scenarios
Expect to be asked about how you would handle certain employment-related legal issues. Practice articulating your thought process and the steps you would take to mitigate risks, ensuring your answers align with the University’s goals and compliance standards.
