Job Title: Employment Lawyer
Salary: £53,460 - £61,638 per annum
Grade: G
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
About the department
Thurrock Council is seeking an Employment Lawyer to join its Legal Services Team to provide expert legal advice and representation on employment matters for the Council. This includes managing a varied caseload, ensuring compliance with statutory obligations, and supporting governance processes to protect the Council's interests.
This is an exciting opportunity with growth in abundance at Thurrock. It is the perfect time to develop and progress in this vibrant and dynamic team. We are looking for someone with a passion for employment law, a proactive mindset, and a desire to grow professionally in a supportive and experienced environment. We welcome applications from candidates with experience in Employment Law matters who can demonstrate confidence in their specialism and show excellent legal aptitude. We are seeking a candidate with the requisite skills to build strong relationships and trust with all key stakeholders to provide support to the Council with minimum supervision.
About the Role
As an Employment Lawyer, you will be responsible for:
1. Legal Advice and Case Management. Provide legal advice and support on a wide range of issues varying in complexity, including:
o Providing legal advice to internal clients and stakeholders on all aspects of employment law.
o Taking instructions and responding to employment claims.
o Drafting legal responses.
o Conducting case management/preliminary hearings.
o Instructing and liaising with counsel for tribunal proceedings where external counsel may be required.
o Drafting settlement agreements.
o Advising panel members in relation to disciplinary hearings and drafting outcome decisions.
o Case management and advice on legal challenges around the SEND and TUPE processes.
o Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of legislation, case law, and best practice.
2. Advocacy and Representation. Provide advice to councillors, stakeholders and senior officers; liaise with external bodies and legal advisers; attend decision-making meetings (remote or in person as required); undertake advocacy at the Employment Tribunal if necessary.
3. Contribute to the innovative improvement of the Legal Services Team, including streamlining and case management workflow systems.
4. Support junior members of the team, including the Legal Apprentice, in legal practice and procedure, contributing towards their professional development.
5. Contribute to governance processes, ensuring legal compliance and sound decision-making. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, case law, and best practice. Carry out research and provide legal advice to Client Departments on related legal transactions.
6. Engage with senior officers and Members to offer high-quality legal services with a focus on social justice. Collaborate with directorates to ensure efficient delivery of Council priorities. Become a trusted advisor, advocate and problem solver as you contribute to Thurrock's vision of client-focused and innovative service delivery.
7. Personally manage a caseload and work unsupervised. Prepare, negotiate, draft, agree and process legal documents. Record key actions and ensure data is regularly updated. Collate and send or check supporting legal and financial documents. Protect the Council's interests while taking precautions against potential fraud and money laundering. Review and update templates and procedures as appropriate.
8. Notify and advise on any instructions or events that would result in a breach by the Council or an individual of any legislation, common law, standing order, or rule of propriety, or would constitute maladministration.
9. Attend and participate in meetings with Officers of the Council and provide legal advice when required.
10. Be willing and able to work in a flexible and agile way with regards to hours and location of work, including remote and home working, as required, subject to service needs. Two days minimum attendance in the office.
What We're Looking For
We’re looking for someone who has:
Skills and Abilities:
* Excellent demonstrable knowledge of leading on complex and high-profile local government employment cases, including preliminary hearings, tribunal proceedings, instructing Counsel for trials, drafting settlement agreements, advising on disciplinary hearings, and advising on TUPE and related matters.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to explain complex legal issues clearly and confidently.
* Ability to work collaboratively and build partnerships with experienced clients and colleagues. High emotional intelligence (EQ) with the ability to build positive working relationships and navigate sensitive issues professionally.
* You will be an effective leader acting as an ambassador for legal services across the council, sharing good practice and encouraging innovation among colleagues, including training/mentoring junior members of the team. Attend and advise in Committee Meetings.
* Excellent organisational skills, able to manage a complex and varied workload with a flexible and innovative approach, ensuring deadlines are met.
* Proactive and self-motivated, with a growth mindset and a willingness to learn. Ability to work on your own initiative with minimal supervision, to undertake research and make accurate, considered judgments and decisions.
* Ability to relate the Council's key policy objectives to the provision of the legal service and assist on best-value initiatives and improvements to client care.
Special Knowledge:
* Qualified Solicitor/Barrister or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
* Advocacy skills.
* Good general understanding of IT systems, especially case management/time recording packages.
* Excellent numeracy and literacy skills.
* Understanding of Local Government structures and legal frameworks.
* Understanding of Law Society practice management standards.
Experience:
* Experience leading on complex and high-profile local government employment cases, including preliminaries, tribunal proceedings, and instructing Counsel for trials, drafting settlement agreements, advising on disciplinary hearings, and TUPE matters.
* Experience of working toward achieving/monitoring quality initiatives.
Essential qualifications: Qualified Solicitor/Barrister or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives
DBS Check: Standard
Benefits of Working with Us
At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:
* Generous annual leave entitlement
* Local Government Pension Scheme
* Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)
* Ongoing training and professional development
* Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
* Staff discounts and local offers
* A supportive and inclusive working environment
Important Dates
Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 22 January 2026
Closing Date (Internal & External): 8 February 2026
Interview Date: w/c 12 February 2026 or 19 February 2026
Additional Information
If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:
Godwin Mangse - Principal Lawyer, Litigation Team
To view the Job Profile and Person Specification, please follow the link below:
Download Job Profile (PDF Document)
Note: This description consolidates the essential information for the role. For full details, refer to the official job posting.
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