The Open University
Legal Counsel - Employment
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Legal Counsel - Employment
Are you passionate about delivering expert legal employment advice in a dynamic and mission-driven environment? Join The Open University as an Legal Counsel - Employment and help shape the legal landscape at the UK’s largest university.
About the Role
This Legal Counsel – Employment role offers an excellent opportunity for a qualified lawyer with at least 4 years’ post-qualification experience in employment law. The successful candidate, alongside the Senior Legal Counsel – Employment, will serve as the primary source of legal advice to the University on employment-related matters.
This role encompasses all aspects of employment law, covering both contentious and non-contentious issues.
Key Responsibilities
- Providing legal advice across the spectrum of employment law, including:
- Discrimination & equality matters
- Redundancies, disciplinary procedures, & grievances
- Trade Union issues
- TUPE transfers
- Reorganisations
- Freedom of Speech
- Managing Employment Tribunal claims, from initial stages to final hearing:
- Drafting & preparing documentation
- Preparing witness statements
- Advocacy at hearings or liaising with external counsel
- Drafting, reviewing, and updating:
- Employment contracts
- Policies & procedures
- Settlement agreements
- Commercial agreements with employment law provisions
- Delivering training sessions on employment law for:
- People Services and other University departments
- Maintaining strong relationships with:
- Internal stakeholders (particularly within People Services)
- External legal advisors
- Communicating legal solutions clearly to colleagues across all levels, prioritising matters by:
- Risk assessment
- Merits of claims/disputes
- Commercial recommendations
- Supporting external law-firm relationships to ensure:
- Cost-effectiveness
- High-quality service
- Consistent strategic value
- Staying current with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to:
- Maintain practicing certificate
- Ensure legal advice and documentation align with current law
- Undertaking reasonable additional duties commensurate with the position’s grade.
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About You
Essential
- Qualified Solicitor (or equivalent), with at least 4 years’ post-qualification experience in employment law
- Highly developed expertise in all aspects of employment law, including:
- Experience managing and advising on complex contentious & non-contentious employment issues
- Ability to handle Employment Tribunal claims, including:
- Early Conciliation through to final hearings
- Advocacy/representation at preliminary hearings
- Strong legal drafting skills for:
- Pleadings
- Witness statements
- Employment-related documentation, such as:
- Contracts
- Policies & procedures
- Settlement agreements
- TUPE provisions
- Proven ability to:
- Work independently or collaboratively
- Meet tight deadlines
- Prioritise workload effectively
- Excellent communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills
- Commercial awareness, strong analytical thinking, and sound judgement
- Ability to simplify complex legal matters for diverse audiences
- Proficient IT skills
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Desirable
- Experience within:
- Large, complex organizations
- In-house legal environments (preferably within higher education, unionised, or public sector)
- Private practice experience in serving:
- Clients within higher education or wider public sector
Why Join The Open University?
We’re proud pioneers in accessible education and operational excellence. This role offers the chance to deliver meaningful impact within a supportive, forward-thinking legal team.
Benefits include:
- 33 days’ annual leave (on top of bank holidays and a three-day Christmas closure)
- Access to a top-tier pension scheme for UK higher education, with generous contributions
- Staff Fee Waivers for OU qualifications
- Flexible working & family-friendly policies
- Discounts, wellbeing support, and personal development opportunities
Ready to make an impact? Apply now and help sustain the integrity of one of the UK’s most respected institutions.
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