An exciting opportunity has arisen for a
Principle Solicitor (Employment Law)
to join Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and support development of in-house Legal Affairs Team - this role specializing inEmployment Law.
You will be responsible for providing legal advice and services to Trust staff across a wide range of matters, including supporting HR Department with employment law matters and assisting in developing internal policies and processes relevant to area of human resources & workforce management.
You will need to have a recognized legal qualification and current professional registration, combined with recent experience in the field of employment and contracts law.
You should be self-motivated and enthusiastic, with excellent written and verbal communication skills, an eye for accuracy and detail, and a desire to ensure high quality care and services to patients, staff and the public.
An ability to work with minimal supervision and manage day to day systems, processes and teams whilst managing a personal workload is essential.
In return we offer a best in class pension scheme, flexible working patterns and work locations coupled with excellent work -life balance. Furthermore the trust has a host of discounts and incentives - including salary sacrifice car scheme.
Main duties of the job
1. To provide professional legal advice and representation to clients regarding issues, processes, legal claims/concerns/disputes/risk management, policy and procedures.
2. To represent the client in formal negotiations, legal proceedings, at courts, tribunals, or other venues, undertaking advocacy where appropriate.
3. To take and maintain detailed and accurate notes of meetings, such as court hearings, witness meetings, tribunals, inquests and case conferences and other key activities (as appropriate for the specialist area of law) for use by the post holder and others.
4. To draft advice and formal legal documentation, such as formal legal
correspondence witness statements, instructions to counsel and experts,
agreements, contractual documentation, court documents and forms, or policies.
5. Generally, to work autonomously with responsibility for the day-to-day management of their own case load.
6. Line management and supervision of junior qualified lawyers, pre-qualified lawyers (such as paralegals and trainee solicitors) and support staff as required.
7. To work with our legal case and document management systems and processes, to securely create, store and share documents, to enter and maintain key information, including key dates and accurate records of time spent.
Working for your organisation
Were a Trust thats big enough to make an impact, but small enough to feel personal. We care deeply about our people - both those we support in the community and those who work with us. As our Trust Solicitor youll play a key role in shaping our future, improving our culture, driving excellence, and helping us deliver compassionate, high-quality care every day.
This is your chance to make a lasting impact. To help us do our best for the Black Country, and for everyone who calls it home.
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides specialist mental health, learning disability, and community healthcare services for the population of the Black Country. Across the whole of the region, we provide:
Adult and older adult mental health services
Specialist learning disability services
CAMHS
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 April 2020, after NHS England and NHS Improvement approved the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.
Combining resources, strategies and talented workforce enables us to deliver a wider variety of outstanding services that are based on best practice and are continually improving.
As a public body, we are accountable to the people we serve. The Trust Board is responsible for determining the strategy and overall direction of the Trust in an open, honest, and transparent manner.
Person Spec
*Solicitor/Barrister with current practising certificate
*Higher Rights of Audience for Civil Advocacy (desirable NOT essential)
Minimum 3 years post-qualification experience as a Solicitor/Barrister/Legal Executive
Experience of working within a legal team
Experience of managing employment law related cases on your own, including litigating cases independently and providing pre-litigation advice to HR representatives and managers related to various HR matters (grievance, disciplinary, performance, sickness management, etc.)
Experience of working within this area of employment law, on behalf of local authorities/NHS Trust or in private practice.
Experience of providing effective legal support for operational activity undergoing change and challenge.
Ability to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in employment law, with good understanding of the specific arrangements related to NHS workforce and implication for employment law practice.
Advocacy experience in a variety of settings
Previous experience working within the NHS (Desirable)
Knowledge of the principles and processes of litigation within the UK Courts and Tribunal service.
Knowledge of key legal issues in the NHS/healthcare, including, but not limited to: Employment Rights Act 2025 Employment Rights Act 1996 Equality Act 2010 Employment Relations Act 1999 Agency Workers Regulations 2010 Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Working Time Regulations 1998 National Minimum Wage Act 1998
Able to prioritise your own workload
Ability to draft documents and prepare pleadings.
Ability to prepare and process of all legal documents, including agreements, deeds, notices, orders, consents, byelaws relevant to the work of the Trust.
Ability to present cases before courts and tribunals where the postholder has a right of audience on all matters in relation to the work of the Trust.
Ability to respond to legal questions received from staff, board members, Ombudsman and external organisations within a specific area of activity.
Ability to undertake the review of files, organise meetings and take notes of meetings.
Ability to support and advise at meetings, working parties and officer groups as required.
Ability to maintain good governance in managing own caseload of complex work under minimal supervision.
Ability to co-ordinate research upon legal questions arising from the work of team including, where necessary, briefing Lawyers/or Counsel. Essential Interview Ability to assist with negotiating and concluding contractual arrangements with Solicitors, Barristers, Valuers and Land Agents, and external agencies.
Able to work under time pressure and set deadlines
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