Job Description

PQE: 5 years +


Term: Permanent


Working hours: Full-time


Practice area: Employment


Location: Guildford


The Role

We are looking for a qualified and talented employment solicitor (Senior Associate) to join our growing, top-ranked employment, pensions and immigration team, ideally with around 5-7 years' PQE (although we may consider those with more or less PQE in exceptional circumstances) gained in a City firm or leading national or regional practice.


Candidates must have strong drafting, negotiation and interpersonal skills and a proven track record in the full range of employment work, with a focus on acting for employers, and a drive and enthusiasm for business development activity.


We are based in Guildford, although we currently offer flexible hybrid working with most people choosing to spend 2 - 3 days per week in the office.


Although we are advertising this role as a full-time role, we would also consider this as a part-time role. A number of our lawyers work part time, usually four days a week.

The Employment Team

The employment, immigration and pensions team currently consists of 4 partners and 13 other lawyers (3 Managing Associates, 3 Senior Associates, 3 Associates, 2 Senior Knowledge Lawyers, and 2 trainee solicitors).


The firm's top-ranked employment team handles a wide range of quality contentious and non-contentious work, including employee relations advisory work, advising on restructures, disputes in the tribunal and courts, drafting employment documentation, employment support on corporate transactions and commercial outsourcing TUPE work. The team predominantly acts for businesses, including a number of household names, but also advises senior executives, especially in relation to the termination of their employment.


The employment team also works closely with the immigration and pensions team, advising employers and individuals in relation to immigration matters, as well as on sponsorship compliance and right to work checks, as well as pensions matters. The team's workload is increasingly top end, complex, premium work and accordingly we are working to strengthen our capacity.


Chantelle de Filippis, Senior Associate, comments: "The employment team is full of incredibly talented lawyers, who continuously encourage and support one another. I joined S&B in 2021, having trained and qualified at a regional law firm and from day one, I was tasked with varied, stimulating work for major clients across a range of industries and was provided with all the tools I needed to develop and succeed in my role. One of the real stand-out benefits of working at S&B is the culture - everyone across the firm is genuinely friendly and supportive and, even with flexible working options, there's a real sense of togetherness and focus on department and firm-wide socials."


Rachel Collins, Senior Associate, comments: "I was first attracted to Stevens & Bolton due to the firm's reputation of providing excellence outside of the City. Since joining the firm, not only have I been able to undertake work of great quality and variety, but I have also had an opportunity to work with talented colleagues, many of whom are leaders in their field. As an employment solicitor at S&B you are encouraged to undertake both contentious and non-contentious work which provides a great opportunity to develop skills across the practice area and to also work with departments across the firm. The team itself is extremely supportive, friendly and inclusive and provides an environment which allows all members of the team to thrive."





Qualifications and Experience

Essentials

Experience of advising employers on a range of contentious and non-contentious employment law and HR issues; Experience of providing employment support in connection with corporate transactions and M&A; Experience of advising directors, senior executives and individuals on employment issues, especially terminations and settlement agreements; Excellent technical ability, drafting skills and attention to detail; Business development skills; Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate concisely and with confidence and to work with clients from a range of backgrounds; Highly motivated, responsive and reliable; The ability to work both independently and as part of a team; Able to manage a varied workload with a number of ongoing matters at any time; Dedicated to delivering client service to the highest standards and the skill to effectively manage and nurture client relationships; Commercial awareness; and Strong academics.

Desirable

Experience of at least one of the following is preferred although not essential:


Advising on TUPE issues and drafting TUPE provisions; Employment agencies, employment businesses and agency worker matters; Business immigration; Regulatory issues in the Financial Services sector; Pensions.


The Opportunity


Competitive base salary Pensions Scheme (5% employer contribution) Private medical insurance Permanent health insurance Life assurance Receive either the sum of 750 per annum as a travel allowance or reimbursement of carparking expenses via a pay as you go card at a local carpark (likely to be Farnham Road carpark) Travel - option to apply for an interest free loan for a season ticket or parking permit Enhanced maternity/paternity pay (after sufficient service) Cash back scheme Comprehensive flexible benefits package including: Critical illness insurance Buy/Sell holiday scheme Dental insurance Cycle to work schemes Taste card Fun pass Give as you earn Discounted gym memberships and shopping Profit share and discretionary bonus schemes



The Firm

Stevens & Bolton - making a positive difference to your career


You'll work with people who listen, and who actively and willingly support one another within a collaborative and engaging environment. We genuinely care about our people and strive to build and maintain a diverse, inclusive and happy workforce.


We are recognised as a top firm in The Times Best Law Firms 2024 and shortlisted for ESG Initiative of the Year at the upcoming Women, Influence & Power in Law UK 2024 Awards. We were highly commended for both "Regional/Offshore Firm of the Year" - Legal Business Awards 2023 and "Law Firm of the Year" - SLS Legal Awards 2023, commended for "Law Firm of the Year: The Independents" - The Lawyer Awards 2023, and were shortlisted for "UK Law Firm of the Year - Small/Mid Sized Firm" - The British Legal Awards 2023 and "Workplace Fit-out of the Year" - Insider South East Property Awards 2023. Our refurbished office has been awarded a RICS SKA silver certificate and a 2 star Fitwel accreditation.


We've made excellence the hallmark of our firm: in the clear advice we give, in the enduring client relationships we build and in our proactive and highly responsive service. We seek to recruit people who will help us maintain and build on this, and in return we offer excellent long-term career and development opportunities.

Diversity & Inclusion

We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I). This drives a strategy which focuses on constant promotion of an inclusive culture that encourages everyone to realise their full potential and be themselves at work. Previously we have been shortlisted for "Best D&I Initiative" at The HR Awards and for "Best Talent and Inclusion Initiative" at The Lawyer Awards.