Senior Associate - Business & Professional Risk - Employment - Education Sector
Vacancy type: Lawyer
Level: Mid
Business area: Business & Professional Risk
Duration: Permanent
Hours: Full time
Location: All offices
Reference number: LI0004
Job title: Senior Associate - Business & Professional Risk - Employment - Education Sector
Team: Business & Professional Risk
Vacancy owner: Jonah Philpott
At Browne Jacobson, we’ve always worked across business and society, and this expertise sets us apart. Social and environmental impact are at the top of our business agenda. We champion fairness, make the complex simple and forge connections between clients to find creative solutions. This is how we improve outcomes for every person, community and business we serve.
We nurture talent at all levels and from every background and celebrate what makes people individuals. Law needs all voices to reflect the society it serves and we’re working towards social mobility, diversity and inclusion in our firm - and our profession. We strive to create meaningful personal and professional development opportunities and offer flexible working in support of a good work-life balance. We focus on wellbeing and individuality, so that all our people can thrive.
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Tick on the application form if you’d like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.
Why is this role important and how does it fit into the team, department and wider firm?
Providing comprehensive and pragmatic employment advice and support to clients in the education sector.
To build excellent relationships with clients at all levels, striving to deliver pragmatic, sector orientated advice that is carefully aligned to client’s interests and at the forefront of national best practice.
What does the role actually involve:
* To provide solution focused, pragmatic employment advice to clients in the education sector including:
* Advising Schools and Academies on the full range of employment law issues that affect their organisation.
* Advocacy in employment tribunals, Preliminary Hearings through to Full Hearings.
* Ability to prepare for employment tribunal cases, including preparation of Claim/Response, preparing and answering discrimination questionnaires, Interlocutory Applications, Witness Statements, Skeleton Arguments.
* Drafting contracts, policies and procedures; advising clients on what procedures are required.
* Advise on union issues including how to navigate negotiating policies, restructures and changing t&cs in a unionised context.
* Advising on TUPE, including on academy transfers and projects as well as general transfer queries.
* General advice, e.g., conduct of disciplinary investigations; grievance procedures; redundancy programmes; holiday pay; general queries about flexible working, maternity rights, paternity rights etc.
* Maximise new business opportunities for the firm seeing them through to successful completion.
* Undertake public speaking at conferences and other events, demonstrating credibility.
* Write blog posts and advisory articles on an ad-hoc basis for both Browne Jacobson materials as well as sector publications and websites.
* Deliver exceptional client service at all times, keeping the client at the centre of all that we do.
* Keep abreast of sector developments and changes in order to ensure that advice is compliant, and sector focused.
* Delegate to and supervise more junior members of the team, as required.
* Contribute towards the marketing efforts and other non-fee-earning projects of the department.
* Undertake a proactive approach in terms of business development, maximising the potential for new opportunities.
What technical skills are required for someone to be successful and enjoy the role?
* A thorough understanding of the practical application of employment law – both contentious and non-contentious issues.
* Good IT and keyboard skills, familiar with Microsoft Office and experience of relevant case management systems.
* Familiarity with online and library research facilities.
* Be fully up to date with legal developments i.e. reviewing monthly law reports and journals.
Who would be a good fit for this role?
* Experience in contentious and non-contentious employment work.
* A strong interest and passion for advising education sector clients (particularly schools and academies) is essential.
* An enquiring mind, attention to detail and a willingness to accept new challenges.
* Commercial awareness with the ability to assimilate facts quickly and work towards tight timescales.
* The ability to provide and communicate practical, commercial advice in a straightforward manner.
* A willingness to attend marketing and social events organised by the firm or its clients.
* The ability to generate and contribute ideas for improving service to clients.
* Upholding Browne Jacobson’s core values and ethics, promoting and defending equal opportunities and embracing diversity and inclusion.
#J-18808-Ljbffr