Employment Law Associate/Senior Associate

Employment Associate/Senior Associate Salary: £50,000-£75,000 + Bonus Location: Manchester Experience: 4+ years PQE Join a Leading Tier 2 Ranked Employment Team with Outstanding Career Progression

Are you an ambitious employment lawyer looking to join one of the North's leading employment practices? Our client, a highly regarded Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners Tier 2 ranked firm, is expanding their employment team across three thriving offices. This is your opportunity to work with an impressive client portfolio spanning SMEs to PLCs, whilst developing your career in a supportive, dynamic environment that genuinely invests in your progression.

About the Role

As an Employment Associate or Senior Associate, you'll be at the heart of a busy, high-quality practice advising predominantly private sector respondent clients across diverse sectors including retail, sport, manufacturing, financial services, industrial services and healthcare.

Your Responsibilities Will Include:

• Advisory Work: Providing strategic employment law advice on complex HR matters, workforce management, policies and procedures
• Contentious Matters: Managing Employment Tribunal claims, defending unfair dismissal and discrimination cases, handling TUPE disputes
• Corporate Support: Advising on employment aspects of corporate transactions, due diligence, and restructuring projects
• Senior Executive Work: Acting for high-net-worth individuals in high-value employment disputes
• Client Relationship Management: Building and maintaining strong client relationships with opportunities for business development
• Team Collaboration: Working alongside a committed, energetic team on complex, high-value instructions

This role offers genuine variety, from day-to-day advisory work through to complex litigation and corporate support matters, ensuring continuous professional development and engagement.

About You Essential Requirements:

• 4-8 Years PQE in employment law gained at a leading national or regional law firm
• Strong technical knowledge across both contentious and non-contentious employment matters
• Experience managing a varied caseload independently with minimal supervision
• Proven track record in supporting high-value and complex employment instructions
• Corporate support experience (ideally including TUPE, due diligence, and restructuring)
• Excellent client care skills with demonstrable relationship-building abilities
• Strong commercial mindset with the ability to provide pragmatic, business-focused solutions
• Genuine passion for business development and career progression

Desirable Attributes:

• Experience advising senior executives on high-value disputes
• Established client following or demonstrable business development success
• Tribunal advocacy experience
• Knowledge of employment aspects of corporate transactions

What's On Offer Competitive Remuneration Package:

• Salary: £50,000-£75,000 (dependent on experience)
• Annual performance-based bonus
• Comprehensive pension scheme (group personal pension)
• Private healthcare (grade dependent)

Work-Life Balance:

• Hybrid working arrangements with flexibility
• Generous annual leave with option to purchase additional days
• Enhanced parental leave policies
• Flexible working patterns to support work-life balance

Professional Development:

• Extensive learning and development opportunities via dedicated Learn platform
• Coaching and mentorship from experienced partners and senior lawyers
• Clear career progression pathways with genuine promotion opportunities
• Support for professional qualifications and continuous development

Additional Benefits:

• Employee Assistance Programme for wellbeing support
• Critical illness benefit
• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Perks At Work/Home retail discount platform
• Community Online Academy with free courses (fitness, coding, languages, and more)

Award-Winning Culture:

• Annual Gateley Team Spirit awards recognising excellence
• Gold standard Law Society Diversity and Inclusion Charter
• Stonewall Diversity Champions
• Supportive, collaborative team environment

About Our Client

Our client is a forward-thinking legal and professional services group supporting over 5,700 active clients, from FTSE 100 companies to private individuals. Their employment team is recognised for delivering pragmatic solutions and commercial advice, working as an extension of clients' HR functions.

The team's approach is built on five core values. They pride themselves on fostering talent, providing genuine career development opportunities, and maintaining an inclusive, diverse workplace where everyone can thrive.

Location & Working Arrangements

This role is based in Manchester City Centre. Hybrid working available with flexible arrangements Office Environment: Modern, collaborative workspace with excellent facilities

How to Apply

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Lee Hawthorne-Finch

Please submit your CV in confidence. All applications will be treated with the utmost discretion.

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is committed to ethical recruitment practices. We value transparency, integrity, and building trusted partnerships. All candidate information is treated confidentially, and we never share your details without your explicit consent.