Mid/Senior Level Employment Lawyer (Solicitor/CILEx) - Leeds
| Posting date: | 23 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 February 2026 |
| Location: | Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1FT |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Hays Specialist Recruitment |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 4764266_1769168684 |
Summary
About the Organisation
A well-established legal practice with offices across the UK, providing specialist advice to a broad range of clients in both the public and private sectors. The team are recognised for their technical expertise and practical approach, and we continue to grow steadily across multiple disciplines.
About the Team
The Employment & Pensions department supports more than 200 social housing providers, together with a growing portfolio of corporate clients nationwide. They deliver clear, commercially‑focused advice on all aspects of employment law and operate across both contentious and non‑contentious matters. The department also handles an increasing amount of work for individual clients.
The Opportunity
Candidates will need to be qualified Employment lawyers with a minimum of 4-5 years' post‑qualification experience to join our expanding team. Applicants must be qualified either as a Solicitor in England & Wales or as a CILEx Lawyer with Civil Litigation Practice Rights. The successful candidate will manage their own varied caseload and have the opportunity to develop a specialist area within the team alongside their general practice work.
Key Responsibilities (Non‑exhaustive list)
- Managing a busy caseload of employment matters.
- Advising on day‑to‑day HR issues including disciplinary processes, sickness absence, grievances, and performance management.
- Drafting and advising on TUPE documentation.
- Handling Employment Tribunal litigation from initial instruction through to hearing, including some telephone advocacy where appropriate.
- Preparing, negotiating, and advising on settlement agreements for both employers and employees.
- Providing guidance on industrial relations issues, including strike action.
- Advising on restructures and organisational change.
- Supporting due diligence exercises and cross‑departmental projects involving workforce issues.
- Delivering training sessions to clients on employment‑related subjects.
- Assisting senior lawyers with complex or high‑value matters when required.
- Building and maintaining strong client relationships and managing expectations effectively.
- Meeting time recording, billing, and productivity targets.
- Managing competing deadlines across a diverse caseload.
- Participating in marketing and business development activities in a client‑focused manner.
Person Specification
Essential
- Qualified as a Solicitor (England & Wales) or as a CILEx Lawyer with Civil Litigation Practice Rights.
- Strong academic background (2:1 degree or equivalent).
- Excellent knowledge of employment law.
- Willingness to travel to meet clients across the UK.
Desirable
- Understanding of pensions law, particularly in relation to local authority outsourcing, admission agreements, and relevant statutory directions.
- Familiarity with the social housing sector.
- Knowledge of data protection requirements, including employee subject access requests.
- Experience conducting workplace investigations on behalf of clients.
For further information about this role, please contact Samuel Higgins at Hays Legal (0113 200 3717 / )
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