Harper James
Senior Employment Solicitor

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Senior Employment Solicitor 7+ years PQE
Harper James is a growing, ambitious commercial law firm like no other. We are growing our Employment team and have an exciting new role for Senior Employment Solicitor with 7 + years PQE. The workload is varied and you will be supporting businesses of different sizes across a variety of sectors.
About Harper James
Forget any misconceptions you may have, we’re not stuffy or inhibited by traditions. Founded in 2014, our purpose is as strong now as it was then – to enable growth-oriented businesses to succeed through delivering top-quality legal services by acting as partners in our clients’ journeys while our people enjoy a true work-life balance. Harper James continues to grow at c40%+ year on year. This year, more than 150 people will support 4000+ businesses and we expect to double our turnover over the next two years.
What we are looking for
We are looking for an employment lawyer of 7+ years PQE with a particular interest in contentious employment work.
Having seen a big increase in complex tribunal work, which we foresee continuing to grow, we need a lawyer with contentious experience. We would also require more general employment experience, including the following:
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
- General day-to-day employment law support to SMEs and larger companies
- Business restructures & redundancies (including collective)
- Overseeing discrimination and whistle-blowing cases
- Advising on TUPE transfers, including corporate support
- Drafting consultancy agreements and advising on status (with a good knowledge of IR35)
- Drafting and advising on director service agreements and contracts of employment
- Managing disciplinary and grievance processes
- Handling senior exec severances
As a firm we pride ourselves in having commercially-minded lawyers. You should, therefore, be skilled at building strong relationships and delivering practical advice. We need tech-savvy self-starters who thrive in a fast-paced, modern and friendly work environment. We leverage cutting-edge technology to streamline our office processes and maximize productivity.
At Harper James, we keep things straightforward. We are relaxed and informal but well organised. There are no politics and no big egos, if people around us succeed, so do we. Our Employment team is made up of predominantly senior lawyers who work collaboratively and support one another to deliver exceptional client service.


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You’ll excel as part of the HJ team if you
- Are a quick learner, ready to adapt to new systems and technologies
- Are interested in using AI tools to improve efficiency and productivity
- Have a solid working knowledge of Microsoft 365 products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Can confidently navigate SharePoint to manage and collaborate on work
- Are comfortable working in a fast-paced, modern and technology-enabled environment
- Have a keen eye for detail when drafting documents, ensuring consistency and professionalism
The bottom line
- Competitive salary
- 33 days holiday, including public holidays
- Option to buy up to 5 additional holiday days per year
- Private healthcare
- Death in service benefit
- Access to our electric car scheme
- Flexible working as part of a fully remote but collaborative team
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