Employment Law (or Labor Law) is the subdivision of law practice that includes all the relationships between employers and employees, excluding any negotiation process that is managed through collective bargaining.
As an employment lawyer, your work will be based on counseling both employees and employers regarding disputes over the rights and duties of both parties.
You might defend worker rights in an occupational framework, involving matters such as benefit reclamation or workers compensation. Work is not only performed in the courts, it rather involves a strong share of negotiation as well.
On the corporate side, an Employment Law professional might be taking part in negotiations with trade unions and giving legal advice to employers regarding employment contracts, recruitment and cessation policies, and other similar matters.
There are interesting challenges involved in the practice of employment law. Controversial elements of organizational culture might come up, calling an employment lawyer or solicitor to action. Issues of harassment or discrimination might require the intervention of an employment Lawyer or Solicitor, either for contentious measures inside the courts, or for preventive action, helping to establish preventive policies against them.
Positions
Positions in the field of labor law can be either Employment Solicitor or Employment Lawyer.
The difference between both is the level of experience required. Solicitors are newly qualified professionals while Lawyers already have a solid expertise that allows them to assume further responsibilities.
While a 3 years degree in law (Juris Doctorate) is a must, familiarity with Human Resources Management can give an applicant the competitive edge needed to come up selected especially for positions opened inside corporations.
Skill Sets
• Public Speaking: Top-level presentation and rhetorical skills will pay off considering not only the courts but also negotiation and networking as well.
• Good Marketing and Networking: The ability to sell the services your firm provides is an element that employers are looking for in an Employment Law professional.
• Critical thinking and social intuitiveness: Generally useful characteristics in any field of law, critical thinking and social intuitiveness are key assets for an Employment Law professional.
Prior Experience
Most job openings require a minimum of two years of experience in the field, but not all. It is possible to start working as Solicitor in the Employment Law field directly out of law school depending on the prestige of the particular university the prospective employee has attended and the general recruitment policies of the potential employer.
For Employment Lawyer positions, a minimum of five years in a similar position is required.
Employment Outlook
Potential employers will be mainly law firms, but job opening in the legal or HR department of big corporations are not the exception, but the majority of jobs are inside the law firm environment, in contentious as well as non-contentious contexts.
Salary Range
As an employment solicitor, entry-level positions start at around $65,000 a year, going up to $200,000+ for an experienced Employment Lawyer.
Employment law is a demanding but interesting field that offers the opportunity to work for a wide array of industries. Law firms, corporations and even Trade Unions are in search for individuals with a keen diplomatic sense, good communication skills, a deep knowledge of the legal framework, and above all, an eye for people.
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