Shakespeare Martineau is a Top 50 law firm that combines creativity, commerciality and clarity. We work with blue-chip companies, leading organisations, high street brands and individuals across the country.
As enterprising and original thinkers, we’re driven to create exceptional experiences for our clients and our people. We handle personal and business-critical issues and game-changing deals across many dynamic sectors. It’s stimulating and rewarding.
We’re hardworking and deeply ambitious about creating opportunities for our employees; to move forward and achieve our ambition together. We provide an environment in which you’re supported to reach your potential.
Our people have a blend of excellent technical and business skills with the talent to do things differently.
Here you’ll find top quality work, cutting edge training, high profile clients, and supportive colleagues. We think it could be time you joined us. |
Our Corporate and Commercial group undertakes various corporate, commercial, tax, banking and employment work at all levels. Our specialist teams combine unsurpassed expertise with a sound understanding of the corporate landscape to provide exceptional solutions for every aspect of our clients’ corporate and business law requirements.
Our Employment 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, and largely undertake our own advocacy in Tribunals. 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. |
The role:
We are looking for a Solicitor to join our Birmingham based Employment Team, which forms part of the Corporate and Commercial Group.
You will provide high quality legal services to clients on all aspects of employment work, both contentious and non contentious, to a variety of corporate/commercial clients, but with a particular focus on our university and college clients.
Your key duties will include:
- 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
- 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
- being a key team player, in the Employment-Education mini-team, the Birmingham Employment team and the wider cross-office Employment team
- assisting and potentially supervising more junior fee earners, delegating appropriate work to trainees and supporting more senior staff on large complex matters
- taking a proactive approach to business development
Skills and experience you will have:
- a minimum of 4 yrs’ experience in employment law, preferably from within private practice
- experience in advising universities and colleges is desirable although not essential
- experience in the public sector is desirable although not essential
- some previous experience in supervising junior fee earners is desirable although not essential
Key competencies you will need:
- a willingness and enthusiasm to get involved in business development activities, with ideally the ability to demonstrate a proven track record of success in this area
- motivation to take up a challenge at an exciting time
- ideally strong connections to and a knowledge of higher and further education sectors
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Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. |
