Senior Associate

The role will be based in our Reading office but from time to time the successful candidate will be expected to work from our London and/or Bristol offices. This is important so as to get exposure to other lawyers in the team and other types of clients. We operate a collegiate one-firm policy and lawyers in different offices often work together on client matters.

There are 13 Employment lawyers in Reading, 18 in London and 2 in Bristol. The Immigration team and lawyers specialising in pensions, regulatory and corporate matters are also based across these offices and there are 60+ fee-earners at the firm.

The successful candidate will be expected to take on a balanced workload of employee and employer work.

At the mid-senior level, employee work is for senior executives, partners and managers and can range from advice on grievance and disciplinary matters, performance management, unfair dismissal, discrimination and whistleblowing issues and claims, assistance with litigation in the Employment Tribunal and High Court including on team moves, and settlement agreements.

Employer clients includes well-known brands in tech, retail and pharma and a wide range of financial services organisations. Work will include the same matters as well as general day-to-day advice, work on contracts and policies, strategic and management issues, reorganisations and business transfers. We also expect mid-senior level lawyers to be a role model and sounding board for junior lawyers.

We do not operate strict partner teams and so the successful candidate can expect the enriching benefit of working with a range of experienced partners and senior fee earners. We also give plenty of responsibility and autonomy to lawyers once they have demonstrated that they are capable, as well as monthly 1:1s with Team Leaders and regular performance and career progression meetings.

As a smaller and entrepreneurial firm, our lawyers are expected to take a more ’hands-on’ approach to their workload than in larger more process-driven firms, and therefore the successful candidate will be adept at managing their own admin and file management.

Role Requirements

Excellent attention to detail.

Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.

Being able to work independently and part of a team.

Ability to multi-task and manage sensitive documents

A flexible, ‘can and will do’ attitude with a desire to learn and grow.

Being proactive especially in anticipating potential issues.

Strong oral and written communication skills, in particular being able communicate clearly and in a professional manner.

Excellent client care approach.

Ability to work in a fast paced environment and manage a busy workload.

Being able to manage client and colleague expectations effectively, including when issues arise.

Confident user of Microsoft Office products and other common software/applications.

Strong experience in claimant or respondent work, or both. It is not a disadvantage if the candidate has focused on claimant or respondent work as in the role they will have the opportunity to learn and gain experience of the other side.

Experience in Tribunal and High Court litigation.

Minimum of six years’ post-qualification experience.

Doyle Clayton Employee Benefits

28 or 30 days’ holiday (dependent on role and in addition to bank holidays).

Birthday off as an additional day’s leave.

Employee Ownership Trust bonus (tax free up to £3,600).

5% matched pension contributions.

26 weeks paid Maternity Leave.

6 weeks paid Paternity Leave.

Eye tests.

Hybrid working (usually three days in the office and two days from home).

Private Medical Insurance.

Income Protection Insurance.

Life Assurance.

Household and lifestyle shopping discounts.