Senior Employment Lawyer

Permanent | Full Time | 37 hours per week

Salary: £53,051 - £57,439 per annum
Market Supplement: £5,500

Do it for meaningful work. Do it for balance. Do it for Devon.

Looking for a different kind of employment law career?

We are looking for an experienced and pragmatic employment lawyer to join our People & Culture Directorate as a Senior Employment Lawyer. This is an opportunity to join Devon County Council at a pivotal time for our employment law and employee relations services. Following the integration of the Council’s employment law function within People & Culture, this newly established role gives you the opportunity to help shape a modern, responsive, and highly valued Employment Law Service.

And if you are considering a move from private practice, the proposition is genuinely different. There are no billing targets and no pressure to generate work. Instead, you can focus your expertise on interesting and varied employment law matters, build long-term relationships with the people you advise and see the impact your work has on decisions, people, and organisational culture. You will become part of the organisation you advise, working alongside experienced HR colleagues and senior leaders and helping us find practical solutions to complex people issues.

Do it for work that makes a difference. Do it for Devon.

Our Employment Law Service

Our Employment Law Service sits within HR Casework and provides specialist legal advice and support across the Council, as well as to schools and external customers.

This is not a typical standalone legal role. You will be embedded within People & Culture, working closely with HR professionals, senior leaders, elected Members and external legal representatives to provide timely, practical, and legally sound advice that supports good decision-making and manages organisational risk.

You will manage a diverse and complex caseload spanning matters including:

• disciplinary, grievance, capability, and absence
• discrimination and equality
• whistleblowing
• organisational change and restructuring
• redundancy and TUPE
• settlement agreements and ACAS early conciliation
• trade union matters
• employment tribunal claims.

You will also help develop employment law practice, procedures, guidance, and learning across the organisation. This is an opportunity to do more than respond to individual cases. You can use your expertise to influence how we work, develop good employment practice, and contribute positively to the organisation from within.

What we're looking for

We are looking for an experienced employment lawyer who combines strong technical expertise with sound judgement and the ability to build trusted relationships.

You do not necessarily need to come from local government. We are interested in candidates with substantial employment law expertise gained in, or advising, public sector or similarly complex organisations, including lawyers who can bring valuable transferable experience from private practice.

Why do it for Devon?

Perhaps you enjoy being an employment lawyer but are beginning to question whether the traditional private-practice model is right for the next stage of your career. At Devon County Council, your success will not depend on generating new clients or meeting billing targets. Your focus can be on what you do best: providing excellent legal advice, solving complex problems, and achieving positive outcomes.

Work that works for you

We know that a rewarding career also needs to work alongside life outside work.

We offer flexible and hybrid working arrangements and welcome conversations about different ways of working.

Whether you are looking for greater flexibility, a different balance or simply a working environment where your professional contribution is not measured by billable hours, we want excellent lawyers to see there is another way to build a fulfilling legal career.

DCC's wider employment commitment includes creating a flexible, inclusive, and supportive environment, including support for colleagues balancing work and caring responsibilities.

Do it for your career. Do it for balance. Do it for Devon.

Our Offer to You

Working for Devon County Council brings the benefits you would expect from a large public sector employer, alongside the opportunity to do meaningful, varied and influential work. Our offer includes:

• £5,500 Market Supplement
• Incremental pay increases within your grade
• 31 days annual leave and other holiday entitlements
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Entry into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discount schemes
• Ongoing professional development opportunities

Find out more about Our Offer to You and our People Strategy.

Additional Benefits

• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Hybrid working

Schedule

• Flexi-time
• Monday to Friday

We welcome applications from candidates who can bring the right employment law expertise, judgement and relationship-building skills, including those with transferable experience from outside local government.

For more information or to arrange an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact: Kathryn Chidzey-Jones, Head of HR Casework
kathryn.chidzeyjones@devon.gov.uk

Interview date: 11th and 13th November 2026

How to apply

Please ensure when completing your application form that you provide a supporting statement which demonstrates how you meet the essential and desirable criteria as described in the person specification of the job description. Applications may not be taken forwards if the supporting statement is not adequately completed.

Internal Applicants, please note: If you are an existing DCC employee, please use your iTrent Employee Self Service (ESS) details to log in and apply.

Please click here to see the Job Description

• DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages.
• For details on the use of AI in applications and Devon County Council’s use of AI in Recruitment please see Use of AI in Our Recruitment Processes - Working for Devon | Devon County Council
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working - The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.
• For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
• We cannot consider visa sponsorship at this time. UK Right to Work is required.For further guidance on right to work in the UK, please visit: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).