NQ Employment Solicitor

Employment Solicitor | NQ - 2 Years PQE | Top 100 Firm | Bristol

The Firm

This Top 100 firm has built a strong reputation for high profile work for the kind of clients typically associated with City firms. It is a national firm with an international network, and it backs its lawyers with serious investment in technology. Its employment practice has expanded significantly in recent years on the back of major client wins and a rise in instructions. Partners judge candidates on ability rather than pedigree.

The firm is investing heavily in legal AI. A dedicated platform has been rolled out across the employment team, supported by named AI leads, and senior lawyers work directly with juniors on how the tools are used. The focus is on using technology well, so that it strengthens professional development rather than replacing it.

The Role

The Bristol employment team is looking for a newly qualified solicitor to join a busy practice handling a high-quality caseload, working closely with partners and senior lawyers. At junior level the work is around 80% contentious, with a primary focus on representing respondent employers in tribunal claims. The partners see this as the best foundation for advisory work, since any advice can end up being tested in litigation. You'll take on more advisory work as you progress.

You'll advise employers on disciplinaries, grievances, restructurings and redundancies. You'll also draft documents including settlement agreements, consultancy agreements and staff handbooks. The team also provides employment support on corporate transactions.

Clients include some of the country's best-known employers in banking, retail, infrastructure, transport and the public sector. You won't be tied to a single partner, and you'll work across sectors and offices with regular, structured supervision. For a newly qualified lawyer, it's a strong place to build breadth early and learn from experienced practitioners.

The Ideal Candidate

You'll be a newly qualified solicitor with a clear interest in employment law, with litigators looking to move into employment law also being considered. You will have a real appetite for contentious work, along with strong commercial awareness and good analytical, communication and organisational skills. An interest in business development and in keeping up with changes in employment law will stand you in good stead. So will a willingness to engage with AI tools and to work collaboratively across partners and offices.

What's on Offer

• Bonus scheme rewarding both chargeable hours and wider contribution

• High quality, complex employment work for major employers

• Formal supervision and broad exposure across sectors, clients and partners, with scope to take on higher level work as you develop

• Hands on training in AI tools from senior lawyers and dedicated AI leads

• Hybrid working

To find out more, contact Ollie Fearon at ollie@jmc-legal.com or call 07441 937638