Early Careers Specialist

Help shape the experience of the next generation of legal talent. We are looking for an experienced HR professional to play a central role in delivering our early careers programmes, from attracting and welcoming future lawyers to supporting their development and progression across the firm. You will join a collaborative HR team where you can build trusted relationships, take ownership and see the impact of your work.

Why Michelmores? We are a flexible, friendly and inclusive organisation with a clear focus on fresh thinking, growth and success. We care about what we stand for and provide a supportive environment in which our people can grow and flourish, both professionally and personally.

The opportunity We have an exciting opportunity for an Early Careers Specialist to join our HR team, based in either our Bristol or Exeter office. As the first point of contact for trainees, Graduate Solicitor Apprentices, Solicitor Apprentices and placement students, you will help deliver a high-quality and consistent experience throughout their journey with Michelmores.

Working closely with the Early Careers Manager, partners, supervisors and colleagues across HR, you will combine programme management, trusted HR advice and practical delivery. It is a varied role with scope to influence how we attract, welcome, develop and retain our early careers talent.

What you will do

• Support our early careers population: act as the key HR contact for trainees, Graduate Solicitor Apprentices, Solicitor Apprentices and placement students, providing clear, timely and trusted guidance throughout their time with the firm.
• Deliver our programmes: take ownership of the day-to-day delivery of our early careers programmes, including induction, onboarding, development, training, communications, performance reviews, trainee seat rotations and the newly qualified solicitor process.
• Attract future talent: support graduate and school-leaver recruitment, including law fairs, open days, university events, the summer vacation scheme and assessment days, and work with the Early Careers Coordinator to deliver school open days and legal work-experience programmes.
• Provide practical HR advice: advise partners and colleagues on HR policies, procedures, employment law and good practice, and support employee relations matters including absence, performance, reward and retention.
• Build strong partnerships: work with stakeholders across the firm, applying sound judgement, commercial awareness and a practical approach to find effective solutions.
• Keep the detail on track: prepare offer letters and employment contracts, maintain accurate programme information, and ensure each stage is well planned, communicated and delivered.
• Contribute across HR: support strategic and operational HR projects and provide additional day-to-day cover across the team when required.

Why this team? You will have the opportunity to take real ownership, work closely with senior stakeholders and contribute to the continued development of our early careers offering. The role combines people contact, programme design and delivery, recruitment and HR advice within a supportive team that values ideas and continuous improvement. We work in partnership with colleagues across the firm to create an environment in which people feel valued, supported and able to do their best work.

How we work We take a flexible, agile approach to working patterns. As a team, we agree the arrangements that enable us to provide exceptional client service, collaborate and connect with colleagues, and achieve the right balance between home and work. This is a hybrid role based in either our Exeter or Bristol office, with regular travel to our other offices when required.

What you will bring You will be an experienced HR professional who enjoys building relationships, managing detailed programmes and helping people develop. You will be comfortable balancing planned activity with unexpected issues and will bring sound judgement, discretion and a practical, commercially aware approach.

You will be CIPD qualified, or have equivalent experience, with at least three years’ experience in an HR advisory role. You will also have strong Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook skills.

You will also bring

• Strong organisation and programme-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and adapt when needs change.
• Confident written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build credibility with people at all levels.
• Experience of providing practical HR advice, handling sensitive matters and maintaining confidentiality.
• A proactive, collaborative and professional approach, with the resilience to work effectively under pressure.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to apply good judgement to find practical solutions.

This is a great opportunity to join a firm that values potential, inspiration and teamwork—and to play an important part in creating an excellent experience for our future lawyers.

Next steps To apply, please click below. If you would like to talk to someone about the role, please call Sarah McLean, Recruitment Specialist, on 07754 555106.

Michelmores LLP is an Equal Opportunities Employer

We do not discriminate on grounds of race, gender, marital status, age, religion, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, disability or sexual orientation in the selection, recruitment and treatment of our staff.

View our Inclusion and Belonging pages for more information.

As part of our recruitment policy our candidates are subject to pre-employment screening checks. The Employee Screening Process includes DBS screening, adverse media checks, financial screening, and will also involve verification of employment history, your right to work in the UK and any relevant qualifications and memberships. If you would like further information around this, at this stage, please get in touch with our recruitment team (careers@michelmores.com)

*No agencies please – any agency assistance will be via invitation only. Please note any speculative candidates submitted via agencies without invitation will not be considered as represented by that agent.