Employment Lawyer (2-4 PQE)
Location
West Yorkshire
Salary
£55000-62000 per annum
Sector
Private Practice
Type
Permanent Role
Practice Area
Employment
Reference
JR/H/0602T
This is a chance to join a specialist employment law boutique as it establishes a new Leeds office. The role is aimed at an employment lawyer around 2-4 PQE who wants close partner exposure, early responsibility, and the opportunity to be part of building a long-term presence in the Yorkshire market. This is a growth hire rather than a replacement.
About the firm
The firm is a pure employment law practice, founded almost five years ago and now moving into its next phase of growth. Manchester is well established, Leeds is the next strategic focus, and the client base is national. Growth has been deliberate, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, quality of work, and cultural fit rather than rapid expansion.
Role overview
The role sits alongside the incoming Leeds partner and the wider firm, covering a balanced mix of advisory and contentious employment work. It's a hands-on position with direct involvement in client matters rather than operating at a distance.
The work includes advising employer clients on day-to-day employment issues, running employment tribunal matters with appropriate support, and contributing to the employment aspects of corporate transactions, restructures, and wider business change projects.
Client contact forms a core part of the role from an early stage, with an emphasis on building trusted, long-term relationships rather than working behind layers of management. As the Leeds office becomes established, there's also scope to contribute to how the team operates locally and to the firm's developing profile in Yorkshire.
Candidate profile
The firm is likely to suit an employment lawyer around 2-4 PQE as a guide, with a clear focus on employment law and a solid grounding in both advisory and contentious work.
Comfort working closely with partners and dealing directly with clients is important, as is a structured, dependable approach and sound commercial judgement. An interest in being part of a growing Leeds office, rather than a large and established hierarchy, will be key. Cultural fit will be assessed carefully, with openness and collaboration valued highly.
Offer and benefits
- Salary is competitive and will reflect experience.
- The firm operates a flexible, trust-based agile working model, with no fixed office attendance targets.
- There's strong partner exposure, early responsibility, and clear expectations around development and progression, with a long-term view rather than a short-term step.
What now?
This hire is planned once the Leeds partner is fully in place, and the firm is prepared to be patient for the right person. Initial conversations can take place discreetly and will focus on motivation, fit, and long-term intent. You don't need a CV to start.
For more information, please contact Joe Rees at Thornton Legal on 07903 222 898 or joe@thorntonlegal.co.uk.
Thornton Legal connects talented lawyers with leading law firms across the North West, West Yorkshire and the West Midlands. We believe in straightforward, transparent recruitment that focuses on quality relationships, not volume.
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