Legal Counsel (Employment)

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity for an early career level employment lawyer with experience in advising on a broad range of employment matters to play a key role in the Legal & Regulatory Affairs team supporting Imperial College London’s People Function Team.

The Legal & Regulatory Affairs team is well‑respected within Professional Services and plays a central role in enabling the University to achieve its strategic objectives. The team delivers consistently excellent, timely and pragmatic legal advice across the breadth of Imperial’s activities, with employment law forming a significant and high‑impact area of work. As the University continues to navigate a complex and evolving employment landscape, including litigation, organisational change, trade union engagement, and specialist matters such as TUPE, safeguarding and staff immigration, a requirement has arisen for this new post.

What you would be doing

You will provide high quality, timely, commercially focused legal support on a broad range of employment law matters, with a primary focus on litigation. The role will assist the Senior Legal Counsel (Employment), where capacity permits, in advising on disciplinaries; grievances, TUPE transactions, investigations and restructuring exercises.

You will work collaboratively with colleagues across Legal & Regulatory Affairs, People Function and external stakeholders, delivering pragmatic, robust, solutions focused advice and litigation support that is based upon a sound assessment of legal and other risks and represents excellent value for money to support the operational and strategic objectives of the University.

What we are looking for

• A minimum of degree-level education or equivalent experience;
• Qualified as a solicitor or barrister;
• Current Practising Certificate to practise law in England and Wales;
• Demonstrable experience of delivering high-quality employment litigation advice and representation together with providing legal advice at pace on a range of employment law work;
• Experience of working within a unionised work environment and having advised on collective consultation and pay and reward matters;
• A sound understanding of core employment law principles, with the confidence to apply legal judgement pragmatically across varied employment law queries;
• Clear ability to analyse and evaluate often complex data to identify risks and make well considered, pragmatic decisions that demonstrate reliable legal judgement;
• Excellent oral & written communication skills, with demonstrable ability to explain complex legal matters in a clear, concise way, both orally and in writing;
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills.

A full list of essential and desirable criteria can be found in the Job Description and Person Specification.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to use science for humanity.
• Benefit from a sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 43 days’ annual leave & generous pension schemes).
• Access to a range of workplace benefits including a flexible working policy from day one, generous family leave packages, on-site leisure facilities and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Interest-free season ticket loan schemes for travel.
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive & collaborative work culture.

Further information

In your application, with reference to each of the individual essential requirements listed in the person specification, please provide specific information describing how you meet these requirements. 

If you require any further details on the role please contact:

Senior Legal Counsel (Employment), Melissa Powys-Rodrigues on m.powys-rodrigues@imperial.ac.uk.

Available documents

Attached documents are available under links.

• download: Employee Benefits Booklet - V2.2026.pdf
• download: Legal Counsel (Employment) - Job Description.pdf