Senior Legal Counsel

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Employment Lawyer to join the University's in-house Legal and Compliance team.

As a key member of our busy and supportive legal team, you will work closely with our Senior Legal Counsel (Employment) and a wide range of stakeholders across the University, particularly the People Team.

A central focus of the role will be managing a varied and often complex Employment Tribunal caseload. You will take responsibility for claims from initial instruction through to final hearing, including drafting pleadings, applications and witness statements, managing disclosure, and representing the University or instructing Counsel at Employment Tribunal hearings. Working collaboratively with colleagues across the institution, you will provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice while helping to ensure legal and regulatory compliance.

Supporting a single client offers a unique opportunity to build trusted relationships with colleagues across both Academic and Professional Services departments and gain a deep understanding of the University's culture, strategic priorities and approach to risk. This enables you to provide more impactful, strategic legal advice and contribute directly to effective decision-making, without the pressures of time recording, billing targets or business development.

You will join a friendly, collaborative and high-performing team that values mutual support and celebrates both personal and professional achievements. The University is committed to helping colleagues develop and thrive, offering a wide range of professional and personal development opportunities, including training programmes, workshops, mentoring and leadership initiatives.

We place a strong emphasis on work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements. The team currently operates a hybrid working model, with two in-office days per week (currently Tuesdays and Thursdays), with pro-rata arrangements available for part-time colleagues. Due to ongoing campus redevelopment works, attendance is currently required on Tuesdays only on an interim basis until approximately March 2027, with hot-desking facilities available on campus on other days. We recognise the value of flexibility, while also appreciating the benefits of in-person collaboration, and therefore the successful candidate will be expected to attend campus on additional days where required by the needs of the role or the University.

This is a fantastic opportunity to undertake high-quality employment law work in a respected Russell Group university while enjoying the benefits of an in-house role and a supportive working environment. 

We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis (e.g. job share), despite the position being advertised as full-time.

For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description (link here).

Closing Date: Sunday 6 December 2026, 11:59PM (UK)

The interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

Full details of the duties and selection criteria for this role can be found in the vacancy advert on the University of Warwick's jobs pages. You will be routed to this when you click on the 'Apply' button.

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