employment
playing the part
For those who love both contentious and non-contentious work, this seat is perfect.
The work involved spans both these areas as it includes drafting contracts of
employment, advising on the actions (and usually misbehaviour) of employees,
negotiating settlements and ultimately acting as an advocate in the employment
tribunal if negotiations prove unsuccessful.
Having been broken in gently and assisting on various tribunal claims, I was given
the opportunity to take charge of my own matters whilst also getting plenty of support and supervision.
Although nervous at first, conducting a case from the outset through to a full day hearing in front of a tribunal
judge and two wing members has given me a lot of confidence in my own abilities.
One of the most surprising (and interesting) aspects of my time spent within the
department was developing my advocacy and communication skills. Putting your case effectively in front of a judge is of course important and I got involved in training
seminars, which are provided to clients. Performing disciplinary role-plays in front of
a large audience is certainly an experience to get the heart racing.
All in all, an invaluable seat which provides many useful skills, including the ability to
understand the terms within my own contract of employment!
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