Associate/Senior Associate - Employment - Jersey

Overview of role

Walkers is offering a unique opportunity to an ambitious and technically strong lawyer to join its Employment business, and to assist building out its Channel Islands' Employment practice so as to become the leading practice across the Channel Islands.

The successful candidate will be based in the Firm's Guernsey/Jersey office and will work alongside leading practitioners in that office and in Guernsey/Jersey in expanding out the Employment practice in line with the general expansion across all of the Firm's practice groups in the Channel Islands.

The available position in the team is at Associate/Senior Associate level (dependent upon experience).

Duties, Responsibilities & Person Specification

• Associate/Senior Associate in the Firm's Employment Practice in Guernsey/Jersey.
• Working alongside four other senior team members (two Partners, two Senior Counsel) and supported by more junior fee earners.
• Advise on the full range of employment law matters in Guernsey and Jersey, with a focus on advising employers generally on their rights/duties under Guernsey and Jersey law; drafting and amending contractual documentation and policies; business licensing, housing and immigration; assisting corporate teams with due diligence and transaction support
• Undertaking advocacy for interim and final hearings, including case management discussions, preliminary and full hearings in the local Employment & Discrimination Tribunals in Guernsey/Jersey.
• Draft pleadings, witness statements, skeleton arguments and agreements.
• Conduct legal research and maintain up to date knowledge of employment law.
• Proactively assist in developing and expanding client relationships important to the Firm’s success, at the same time becoming a valued resource to clients. This will involve being actively involved in   the development of relationships with core clients and participating in associate-led business development initiatives.
• Participate in the development of the practice’s know-how, and actively participate in thought leadership events such as conferences, seminars, client presentations and internal training. This will include regular trips to Guernsey/Jersey to participate in events.
• Provide technically sound advice and a highly responsive service to clients and support colleagues, senior counsel and partners on all client matters.
• Maintain a sustained record of revenue generation and profitability, follow recommended billing rates, manage costs appropriately and ensure personal utilization meets expectations.
• Adhere to the Firm's values and professional ethics and proactively seek resolution of conflicts.

Education, Skills & Experience

• Qualified UK barrister or solicitor with between 3 – 6 years PQE most/all of which spent advising on employment.
• Experience in advocacy, including cross-examination and presenting cases at tribunal level.
• Excellent academics.
• Ambitious and commercially driven, open to new opportunities and self-motivated.
• Solid legal skills and strong technical knowledge of employment law (whether in Jersey, Guernsey, or England and Wales) with an appropriate understanding of the needs of financial services clients.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work successfully in a collaborative environment, a team player, willing to support others regardless of  personal role or task and to help others in identifying needs and crafting development plans.
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Guernsey and/or Jersey jurisdiction experience and/or familiarity with offshore financial service providers preferred but not essential.
• Ability to use legal precedents and timekeeping and billing systems.
• Ability to support efforts to attract new clients and develop new initiatives.