Job Title : Employment Legal Counsel
Location : Milton Keynes (Hybrid / Remote)
Salary : £47,389 - £56,535 per annum
Hours : Full-time Permanent, 37 hours per week
Closing Date : 12 November 2025
Join a University That Changes Lives :
Pertemps Recruitment is proud to be working with The Open University, the UK’s largest provider of flexible, part‑time higher education. With a mission to make learning accessible to everyone, the OU transforms lives through world‑class education and research, and you could play a key role in that mission.
The Opportunity
We are looking for an experienced Employment Legal Counsel (qualified solicitor, minimum 4 years PQE) to join the University’s in‑house Legal Services team. You will work alongside another employment lawyer as a trusted advisor to colleagues across the organisation, covering a broad range of employment law matters.
This is a varied and rewarding role, ideal for someone who enjoys both strategic advisory work and hands‑on case management in a complex, people‑focused environment.
Key Responsibilities of the Employment Legal Counsel
* Provide expert legal advice on a full range of employment law matters – including discrimination, disciplinaries, redundancies, TUPE, trade union relations, and freedom of speech issues.
* Manage Employment Tribunal claims end‑to‑end: drafting, preparing, and representing the University at hearings.
* Draft, review and update contracts, policies, settlement agreements, and other employment‑related documentation.
* Deliver employment law training and guidance to colleagues, ensuring best practice across the University.
* Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and manage external legal advisers for best value and quality of service.
* Keep up to date with legal developments, ensuring the University remains compliant and well‑informed.
About You
* Qualified Solicitor (or equivalent) with 4+ years PQE in employment law.
* Confident advising on both contentious and non‑contentious matters.
* Skilled advocate, with experience managing tribunal claims from start to finish.
* Excellent drafting and communication skills, able to translate complex legal issues clearly.
* Collaborative, pragmatic, and commercially aware with strong stakeholder management skills.
Desirable
* Experience working in‑house within higher education, the public sector, or a unionised environment.
* Background advising similar organisations from private practice.
Why Join the Open University?
This role is hybrid, combining home working with attendance at the Milton Keynes campus as required. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a values‑driven organisation with a powerful mission: widening access to education and transforming lives. The Open University offers a supportive, inclusive, and flexible working environment, committed to diversity and equity.
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