Associate - Employment

at  Shakespeare Martineau

This is a fabulous opportunity to join a new role within a growing team. The team has a superb reputation, particularly in the education sector.
Our Employment team is a leader in providing employment advice. We work with incredible clients and we are continually winning new ones. The team is committed to growing the practice and having a significant presence in the sector.
The team provides commercial, practical advice to employers and senior employees on all aspects of employment law. The team comprises a number of highly skilled litigators and is known for its successful handling of Employment Tribunal litigation, including large complex discrimination cases. We also have experience of dealing with cases in the Employment Appeal Tribunal, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Justice. Our specialist lawyers train and advise managers to handle staff effectively and to deal with disputes where and when they arise, including fighting court and tribunal cases where necessary. We have a strong, local, national and multinational corporate client base, particularly in industry sectors such as education, logistics, food and drink, retail, transport and manufacturing. The team also includes specialist advisors on business immigration and provide that support to many clients in most sectors.
Meet Nick Jones Partner based in our Bristol hub.
Key Responsibilities
You will play a key role providing high quality legal services to clients on all aspects of employment work, both contentious and non-contentious, for a variety of clients. This role would suit someone who enjoys client contact and thrives in a busy environment and is interested in developing their own career.

Key Duties:

• Assisting on large complex matters with appropriate supervision, and also building up your own caseload
• Attending and conducting client meetings
• Taking clients’ instructions
• Giving clear advice in correspondence and in person
• Drafting documents, letters and contracts tailored to the client’s individual needs
• Being a key team player in both the Bristol hub and wider cross-office Employment team
• Negotiating with clients and other professionals to secure agreed objectives
• Acting on behalf of clients in disputes and representing them in court, as necessary
• Instructing Counsel or specialist advocates to appear in court and Tribunal for the client in potentially complex disputes
• Preparing papers for court and Tribunal
• Delivering training to clients on various employment related issues

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Previous experience in employment law, preferably from within private practice
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail, with excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Motivation to take up a challenge at an exciting time
• To be personable and have experience of dealing with a broad range of clients
• Excellent organisational and prioritising skills
• Full time preferred but we would consider flexible for the ideal candidate

Job Benefits
We embrace agile working and offer a blended approach to where and how we work. We appreciate that people have different needs and preferences and we’re keen to be flexible, after all, we value what you do, not where you do it.
We have hubs in Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leicester, London, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Solihull, Stratford-upon-Avon, Lincoln, Sheffield and Southampton.

THIS ROLE CAN BE A BLEND OF HOME AND OFFICE BASED WORK, BASED PRIMARILY OUT OF OUR OFFICES IN CENTRAL BRISTOL. ON OCCASION TRAVEL INTO THE BIRMINGHAM HUB AND SOME OF OUR OTHER REGIONAL HUBS WOULD BE REQUIRED.

About Shakespeare Martineau
Welcome to Shakespeare Martineau, where we’re more than just a full-service law firm. With over 1100 specialists, including lawyers and business support professionals, we’re committed to unlocking potential in our people and clients, inspiring confidence, growth, and development.
Our purpose is clear: we provide creative solutions and advice that help individuals and businesses achieve their commercial and personal goals. But what truly sets us apart is our focus on building lasting relationships and championing our clients, ensuring they receive the best possible business and personal advice.
At Shakespeare Martineau, it’s our people who make us special. We understand what our team members want and give them the support they need to succeed. Recognising everyone’s contribution and harnessing the unique power of teams, we work together to achieve success.
Diversity is at the heart of our firm. We actively build and develop diverse teams, bringing together different backgrounds, personalities, and perspectives to deliver amazing solutions for our clients. We believe in playing to our strengths, constantly striving to improve, and empowering our teams with individual responsibility for their own learning and growth.
Join us at Shakespeare Martineau and become a valued member of a team where we unlock your potential, appreciate your contributions, and achieve success together.
As part of Ampa, we are part of a large multi-brand group, all of our brands are linked by a shared purpose and set of values that brings about a positive, inclusive and diverse work culture - helping everyone achieve their ambitions.

Key Duties:

• Assisting on large complex matters with appropriate supervision, and also building up your own caseload
• Attending and conducting client meetings
• Taking clients’ instructions
• Giving clear advice in correspondence and in person
• Drafting documents, letters and contracts tailored to the client’s individual needs
• Being a key team player in both the Bristol hub and wider cross-office Employment team
• Negotiating with clients and other professionals to secure agreed objectives
• Acting on behalf of clients in disputes and representing them in court, as necessary
• Instructing Counsel or specialist advocates to appear in court and Tribunal for the client in potentially complex disputes
• Preparing papers for court and Tribunal
• Delivering training to clients on various employment related issue