Employment Associate - Leeds

The Firm We stand out for being consistently excellent in advice: we not only provide technical excellence and experience but crucially, we also demonstrate real insight into our clients and what really matters to them. Our knowledge of our chosen sectors and markets, and our investment in our client relationships set us apart. We are a natural choice for FTSE100 and other "bold and beautiful" clients. We are a natural choice for talent - a firm where people fulfil their potential in an environment where they are developed and valued. We do fantastic work: exciting, challenging, fulfilling work that adds significant value to our clients, our people and our business. We are also known for our uncompromising quality. Everything we do - large and small, with our colleagues and our clients - stands up alongside the best. We are recognised for our extraordinary effort that creates sustainable value and a consistently positive experience for our clients, people and communities. The Group Our Employment Group consists of 9 Partners and 20 other lawyers across our 6 UK offices, supported by employment lawyers in our offices in Hong Kong and the Gulf states, together with a network of preferred firms around the Globe. We undertake both high-profile, top end work and more routine work for City institutions, FTSE 100 companies and major UK and international businesses, as well as advising a wide range of other businesses and senior executives, often in our local markets, on matters that are important to them. We adapt and develop our service in line with the changing and challenging business environments in which our clients operate. Our service to clients is founded on the principles of expertise, commerciality, great relationships and innovation. These, we believe are the cornerstones of a successful client/adviser partnership. We have a friendly approachable team and our aim is to build long-term client relationships, placing great emphasis on client care and in working in partnership with clients. To support this and to help with the development of our people, we have a deep commitment to client secondments, with over 90% of our team having undertaken one or more client secondments, most often to in-house legal functions. Duties The role involves acting as an associate in the Northern employment team (but based in Leeds) working on contentious and non-contentious matters for a range of clients from global financial institutions to owner managed businesses. Knowledge, skills and experience required (bespoke to role) The successful applicant will need the following skills: A mixture of contentious and non-contentious employment experience is preferred with the ability to deliver day-to-day employment advice on all employment issues, employment litigation and the employment aspects of corporate and project support work Sound technical understanding of the law Good drafting and communication skills Demonstrate a commercial and common sense approach to issues Be keen to develop their marketing and business development skills as well as being involved in seminars, training, tenders and other similar marketing activities Ideally have some experience of immigration but not essential Experience of working on cross-border employment issues The ability to work to deadlines within a challenging environment and to work as part of a team, be confident, personable and self-motivated The successful candidate will have: Excellent academic achievement with a minimum 2:1 degree Experience of Employment law gained within a comparable environment and at an appropriate level Clear understanding and working experience of the operation and structure of a leading law firm and the needs of the clients of a top flight employment team Ability to evidence and achieve continuous improvement and development There are excellent prospects for progression within this role and within the firm as a whole.