Senior Solicitor - Employment Law in England

At Sellafield Ltd, we are harnessing our expertise; bringing together world‑class skills and innovative technology to solve complex nuclear, infrastructure, and engineering challenges. By joining Sellafield Ltd, you join an amazing team of people, from all walks of life, where you can thrive in a connected, considerate culture of innovation, collaboration, and community; and play a significant part in the UK’s sustainable nuclear future.

About the role

The Senior Solicitor role delivers high quality, timely and accessible legal advice across all aspects of Employment Law. They will act as a trusted business partner to colleagues across Sellafield Ltd and, when required, the NDA group, providing clear, solution‑focused legal advice and guidance that supports effective decision making. The Senior Solicitor role will manage complex, sensitive and high‑profile matters, lead on major legal projects, and contribute to the delivery of the strategic objectives of both the business and the wider NDA group.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver high quality, timely and accessible legal advice to a broad range of stakeholders across the business through the provision of clear, practical and solution‑focused legal options that support effective decision making.
• Review, interpret and apply the law in practice, including analysing legal documents and external legal advice, extracting and adapting key points into clear, business‑focused guidance to support accurate application of the law by stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted adviser by applying a broad range of commercial and strategic legal skills to assist the business to secure outcomes that are legally compliant and aligned with business objectives.
• Build and maintain strong internal and external relationships, engaging in proactive stakeholder management to enhance the effectiveness, credibility and influence of the legal function; through the provision of clear legislative updates, guidance and training to internal stakeholders to enhance their understanding of the relevant legal obligations and how these apply to their jobs.
• Undertake legal risk analysis and manage across contentious and non‑contentious matters, to support effective risk management and develop appropriate mitigation strategies; escalating issues to the function head and/or General Counsel (as appropriate).
• Maintain high professional and technical standards in compliance with Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Principles and regulatory obligations to ensure technical competence through ongoing professional development and regulatory obligations.
• Drive continuous improvement, value for money and efficiency in line with company values and nuclear professional standards and expectations through effective individual and team performance in order to contribute to the effectiveness and development of the legal function.

Authorities & Dimensions

• Instruct and manage the provision of legal services from external providers, ensuring that they are provided with all necessary information to enable them to provide advice that is accurate and targeted.
• Pro‑actively monitor and manage external legal spend to ensure that the quality of services are appropriate, efficiencies are made and value for money is maximised.
• Act in accordance with the financial delegated powers authority relevant to the Office of General Counsel.

Your Skills and Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified to practice as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales with the relevant post‑qualification experience required for the job.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience in Employment Law.
• Substantial experience in providing legal advice concerning contentious, sensitive, confidential and complex cases.
• Effective use of analytical and innovative thinking and application, specifically but not exclusively in relation to the interpretation of law.

Desirable

• Prior in‑house experience (public or private sector) with additional private practice experience in Employment Law.
• Experience of mentoring and/or developing junior lawyers or team members.

Why us?

• You will benefit from an annual bonus of up to 10% – 15%, made up of company and personal performance.
• An attractive defined contribution pension scheme – the company will match up to 13.5% for a 7% employee contribution.
• 30 days annual leave + bank holidays. Plus, the ability to purchase an extra 2.5 days per year.
• The ability to carry over 10 days annual leave each financial year.
• Paid Sick Leave.
• Family Friendly Policies.
• Cyle to Work Scheme.
• Learning & Development Opportunities.
• Welfare & Employee Assistance Programme.
• Free Aviva Health App & Annual Health Check.
• MyDiscounts – Employee Savings & Discounts.
• MyBenefits – A Charity Giving Scheme.

Additional Information

The closing date for this vacancy is Sunday 7th June 2026. This role is subject to achieving security clearance. The role requires higher level of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 or 10 years of continuous residency in the UK. Factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the level of clearance you’re able to achieve. Sellafield Ltd are recognised as a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3).

What we’re proud of:

• Skilled at providing bespoke legal advice to support decision‑making at senior levels.
• Ability to handle sensitive, confidential and complex matters and manage a varied and complex caseload.
• Provides bespoke legal advice after clear instructions from the stakeholder, which considers reputational and business impact.
• Works on more complex matters with high autonomy and manages own workload.
• Anticipates dependencies and takes action when required to.
• Works collaboratively as part of a team and contributes to workload planning.
• Leads and advises on complex, high‑risk/value, multi‑party matters or projects with minimal supervision.
• Works with the stakeholders and advises on options available to meet their objectives.
• Works with stakeholders (including senior leaders) to ensure the legal advice incorporates risk framing and commercially aware advice.
• Working on and may lead cross‑functional/NDA wide legal projects.
• Acts as an escalation point for the team.