Employment Solicitor

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title: Employment Solicitor

Job purpose: To assist the Employment Counsel in providing and maintaining a comprehensive employment advice service for its members.

Reports to: Employment Counsel and Director of Legal and Regulatory Services r

Directorate: Legal and Regulatory

The Legal and Regulatory team advises the organisation’s members on a variety of legal and regulatory enquiries. The team also responds to claims and complaints. The Employment Counsel provides telephone and written advice to employees and employers on employment law issues and supports members through internal and grievance disciplinary procedures. Additionally, the Employment Counsel produces regular communications for members via OT and the AOP website on a variety of current topics.

1. Duties and key responsibilities

1.1 Legal advice

Provide employment law advice service to members by email, telephone and face to face
Respond to members’ employment law queries promptly and effectively
Maintain an active caseload, including contentious and non-contentious matters. Maintain case records within a legal document management system ensuring they meet Law society requirements
Carry out complex casework and research
Assist and prepare members for forthcoming disciplinary and grievance hearings
Liaise promptly and effectively with external solicitors, counsel and trade union representatives where required.

1.2 Drafting

Prepare written advice to members including employers, employees or self-employed practitioners
Prepare, edit and review documentation for members to use in their HR and employment law matters
Undertake contract reviews
Drafting settlement documentation.

1.3 Additional duties

Collating statistics and monthly reporting information
Collating research and know how materials
Assist with preparation of know how emails and articles for publications and website
Assist Employment Counsel with membership advice initiatives including preparation of templates

General responsibilities

Be proactive in keeping up to date with employment law developments
Operate within organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice and work collaboratively with staff across the association
Contribute to team meetings and organisational priorities, strategic goals and Performance targets
Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned within the broad remit of the post.

Person Specification

Qualification and Experience

Qualified solicitor with a minimum of 3 years post qualified experience

Skills and abilities

Clear verbal and written communication skills with emphasis on accuracy in letters, calculations, preparing cases, opinions, reports and correspondence.
Giving detailed and complex advice to clients in a clear and accessible format
Analytical, prioritising and decision making skills
Plan and manage a complex workload, meet deadlines and respond to unplanned demands.
Ability to read complex information, summarise and to present complex information
Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word and Outlook
Strong organisational skills
Effective legal research skills to include summarising and tailoring advice to fit the members’ specific needs
Clear appreciation of the need for integrity and confidentiality
Can use initiative to deliver best results

Knowledge

Comprehensive employment law knowledge
Clear understanding of professional integrity and confidentiality in delivering advice

Personal attributes and other requirements

Self motivated, ability to juggle priorities and work both alone and in a team
Flexible and adaptable with the ability to work in a changing environment and manage multiple work activities, projects and deadlines.
Committed to achieving a high quality service with good attention to detail
Confident and assertive whilst approachable and client friendly

To apply

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send a covering letter, explaining your suitability for the role, and your CV to [email protected].