What We Will Offer
If you require this document in an accessible format (e.g. large print), please contact
[email protected]We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.
You Can Expect
- A competitive salary and a host of family friendly policies
- Life assurance, private health and dental care for you and your family
- A range of flexible benefits including gym discount and retail vouchers
- Tech, cycle and electric car schemes
- The opportunity to support the firm's charity through volunteering leave
- A wellbeing strategy that focuses on preventative measures to maintain overall health, and tools and support for when our people experience physical or mental difficulties. The strategy focuses on four pillars: physical, emotional, financial and social aspects.
- Most of our roles are hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from working in our office and remotely. We are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.
- We are an equal opportunity organisation, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture, or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives
Team Structure
We are looking for a mid-level associate to join the friendly and ambitious Employment Team at Stephenson Harwood. The team is well regarded and recognised by the Chambers and Legal 500 directories. The team acts predominantly for employers but also has a strong senior executive practice. It attracts and retains a thriving standalone client base, as well as working extensively with clients and colleagues from other practice areas.
Clients include international banks, public and private UK companies, professional services firms, multinationals, charities and professional services firms, many of which are household names. It covers the three main areas of employment law practice: HR advisory, litigation (both Tribunal and High Court) and transactional work.
You will work closely with all three partners and the wider team on a broad range of matters with extensive client contact. Within a context of uncompromising standards of high quality legal and practical advice and commitment to client service, associates are given autonomy in running files with partner support and are fully engaged in developing client relationships and business opportunities. In combination with award winning firm wide training and development programmes, the employment partners are committed to ensuring technical excellence and individual professional development. This opportunity comes with lots of scope for professional development and growth, building on the successful candidate’s established skills and experience.
Main Responsibilities
- Pro-active day to day matter management and advice
- Liaison with clients under the supervision of a partner
- Conducting litigation (with Counsel where appropriate)
- Managing and completing transactional support
- Respect of and adherence to client and internal deadlines
- Clear, concise and unambiguous drafting
- Maintaining up to date knowledge of law and practice
- Conducting legal research using internal and external knowledge management resources
- Developing own informal internal and external network of contacts
- Building excellent working relationships with clients and peers within SH
- Attending business development and profile-raising events (client seminars, graduate recruitment activities)
Attributes/Skills Required
- Demonstrates the Stephenson Harwood values of individuality, commitment, teamwork and straight talking
- Keen commitment to business development
- Ability to acquire, consolidate and apply fundamental and up-to-date knowledge of the law
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- Excellent verbal communication skills
- Strong, commercial and concise drafting skills
- Organised and able to work efficiently to strict deadlines with the ability to prioritise realistically
- Flexibility in working hours and commitment to client service delivery
- Good housekeeping/file management practices; manages and records time promptly and accurately
- Resilient with the ability to handle setbacks and pressure
- Cooperative and collaborative in approach and is able to develop excellent working relationships at all levels and roles
- Ability to always operate professionally and proactively
- Active participant in self-development
- Commercial awareness
- Exhibits an understanding of the Firm’s position in the market and how it distinguishes its services from its competitors
- Excellent academic and professional qualifications
About The Firm
With 8 offices worldwide and with our headquarters based in London, Stephenson Harwood is a law firm where our people are committed to achieving the goals of our clients - listed and private companies, institutions and individuals across the globe. Our mix of expertise and culture results in a combination of deep local insight and the capability to provide a seamless international service.
Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.
We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.
We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.
Our Values
Individuality - We encourage creativity and devlop talent.
Commitment - To be the best and deliver the highest standard.
Teamwork - We work together to build close, long-term relationships.
Straight talking - We say what we mean and do what we say.
Our Vision into 2026
To be a successful firm where talented people work together in an entrepreneurial environment, building long term client relationships.
This version is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character - the attributes we want to see from all of our people. That's how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising our clients with top performing teams.
A key part of the 2026 strategy is to focus on five core sectors: energy transition; life sciences and healthcare; private capital and funds; technology; transportation and trade. These have been identified as crucial in the drive for accelerated profitable growth.
