Associate – Employment Law (Manchester)

1–4 PQE | Hybrid | High-quality work

I’m working with a fast-growing, entrepreneurial Employment team in Manchester that’s continuing to invest heavily following sustained growth. The team is recognised in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500, and is well known for its collaborative culture, strong leadership and quality client base.

This is a great opportunity for an Employment Associate who wants proper responsibility, exposure to interesting work, and a clear runway for development.

The Team & Work

The team advises both businesses and individuals across the full employment law spectrum. The work is varied, technical and commercially interesting, with a roughly 70% respondent / 30% claimant split.

Clients include household names in the hospitality sector, strong expertise in the recruitment sector, and a steady flow of work for senior employees, directors and executives.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Advising employers and employees on all aspects of employment law
• Handling discrimination, redundancy, disciplinary and grievance matters
• Drafting and advising on employment contracts and policies
• Representing clients in Employment Tribunals and mediations
• Negotiating settlement agreements
• Managing your own caseload with partner support
• Contributing to BD, networking and profile-raising
• Working closely with Partners on complex and high-value matters

Who They’re Looking For

• 1–4 years’ PQE in Employment law (flexible for the right person)
• Strong grounding in UK employment law with hands-on experience
• Confident dealing directly with clients
• Commercial, organised and comfortable managing your own matters
• Interested in business development and growing with the team
• Collaborative mindset and a good sense of judgement

Why This Role?

This is a genuinely strong platform for an Employment lawyer who wants:

• Exposure to top-quality work early in their career
• Direct access to recognised Partners
• A team that’s growing, not standing still
• A supportive but ambitious environment where progression is realistic

If you’re an Employment Associate in Manchester (or looking to move back) and want a role with substance, progression and proper client exposure, I’m happy to talk through this confidentially.