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’s Legal Services team is seeking an Employment Lawyer 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.
About the Role
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.
Responsibilities
- Legal Advice and Case Management – Provide legal advice and support on a wide range of issues varying in complexity but not limited to:
- Providing legal advice to internal clients and stakeholders in relation to all aspects of employment law.
- Taking instructions and responding to employment claims.
- Drafting legal responses.
- Conducting case management and preliminary hearings.
- Instructing and liaising with counsel in relation to any tribunal proceedings where external legal counsel may be required.
- Drafting settlement agreements.
- Advising panel members in relation to disciplinary hearings & drafting outcome decisions.
- Providing case management and advice of any legal challenges around the SEND process and TUPE process.
- Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of legislation, case law, and best practice.
- Advocacy and Representation – Provide advice to councillors, stakeholders and senior officers, liaise with external bodies and legal advisers, attend decision‑making meetings (including committee meetings) remotely or in person, and undertake advocacy at the Employment Tribunal when necessary.
- Contribute to the innovative improvement of the Legal Services Team, including streamlining and case‑management workflow systems.
- Support junior members of the team, including the Legal Apprentice, in legal practice and procedure and contribute to their professional development.
- Contribute to governance processes and ensure legal compliance and sound decision‑making. Carry out research and provide legal advice to client departments on all related legal transactions.
- Engage with senior officers and Members to offer high‑quality legal services, focusing on social justice and collaborating closely with directorates to ensure efficient delivery of Council priorities.
- Personally manage a caseload and work unsupervised. Prepare, negotiate, draft, agree and process legal documents, record key actions, update data and templates, protect Council interests and mitigate fraud and money‑laundering risks.
- Notify and advise on any instructions or events that would result in a breach of legislation, common law, standing orders or propriety, or constitute maladministration.
- Attend and participate in meetings with Officers of the Council and provide legal advice when required.
- Work flexibly and agilely, with a minimum of two days in the office, using remote or home working as required.
What We're Looking For
- Essential – Excellent demonstrable knowledge of leading complex and high‑profile local government employment cases, including preliminary hearings, tribunal proceedings, counsel instruction for trials, drafting settlement agreements, advising on disciplinary hearings, TUPE and other employment matters; excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work collaboratively, high EQ, active leadership in legal services, organisational skills, proactive self‑motivation, ability to relate policy objectives to service delivery, advocacy skills, IT competence, numeracy and literacy, understanding of local government and law society standards, commitment to agile working, and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Desirable – Experience delivering annual work plans, monitoring performance, innovating workflow systems, and contributing to quality initiatives.
Essential qualifications: Qualified Solicitor/Barrister or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
DBS Check: Standard.
Benefits of Working with Us
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Flexible and hybrid working opportunities
- Ongoing training and professional development
- Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
- Staff discounts and local offers
- Supportive and inclusive working environment
Important Dates
- Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 23rd April 2026
- Closing Date (Internal & External): 24th May 2026
- Interview Date: To Be Confirmed
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)
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