Legal Counsel - Employment Lawyer - Reading, Berkshire, RG7 4PR
Job Type: Full-TimeSalary: + benefits
Legal Counsel - Employment Lawyer
Closing date : 12th March 2026
Location: AWE is a multi-site business operating at Aldermaston, Burghfield, Green Park (Reading) and London. You will be based primarily at Green Park (Reading). We offer hybrid working, a combination of home and onsite office presence with free onsite parking
Package: Starting from £63,270 up to £90,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)
Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests.
Ready to play your part?
At AWE, its not just a job, its far more than that. Our shared purpose is to help keep the nation safe. Could this role be the opportunity for you to play your part?
AWE is currently recruiting for a Legal Counsel - Employment Lawyer .
In this key role, you will apply expert legal solutions to complex business challenges, ensuring the Company not only operates fully within the law but also benefits from its protections wherever possible. You will provide clear, strategic employment law advice that supports confident decision making, safeguards organisational interests, and enables the business to thrive in a compliant and fair working environment.
This role will work in a busy legal team as part of an organisation that is currently going through a period of significant change and re-structure.
You will be an experienced legal practitioner, providing practical, solutions-focused legal advice in relation to employment law and employee/industrial relations matters.
Ideally with experience in both private practice and in-house, you will;
* Provide day-to-day legal advice to HR professionals, business managers and senior leaders on employment law compliance, including both contentious and non-contentious advisory and transactional work
* Provide commercially focused HR/ER advisory support to a variety of stakeholders, advising on internal grievance, disciplinary and whistleblowing/ethics procedures
* Have a strong working knowledge of the employment aspects of service provision change, in/out-sourcing and restructuring (TUPE) involving a variety of contractor organisations, including due diligence and the review and drafting of transactional documentation
* Have demonstrable practical experience of industrial relations in a unionised environment
* Draft and review employment contracts, restrictive covenants and HR policies and procedures
* Have strong technical employment law skills and be able to work with autonomy, whilst also working with others in the team and cross-functionally on complex cases
* Attend Employment Tribunal and Court hearings online and/or in person as required
* Support with the creation and development of a variety of training materials
* Have a general working knowledge of GDPR and Freedom of Information Act legislation
Who are we looking for?
* Currently practising as a Solicitor or Barrister, you are qualified in at least one jurisdiction in the UK with around seven or more years post-qualification experience
* Enjoy direct client contact and working collaboratively across teams.
* Proven ability to manage legal risks in large-scale projects and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
* Be able to succinctly analyse legislative and case law developments and advise strategically upon their effect on the organisation.
* Ability to work with a variety of stakeholders including project managers, engineers, and scientists.
* Solid application of legal oversight to complex situations at appropriate levels.
* Experience within the construction, government contracting and defence-sector would be an advantage
Work hard, be rewarded:
We ask a lot and set the bar high because our work truly matters. In return we offer balance, with award winning benefits including:
* 9-day working fortnight - meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
* Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
* Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
* Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.
* Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
* Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
* Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
* Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.
Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions
We recognise that great people dont always tick every box. Thats why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you dont meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, wed love to receive your application.
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