Grow your employment law career – flexible progression without partner politics
At Watershed, we do not believe career growth should be tied to outdated titles or internal politics. There is no partner track here, because we have built something better.
Our model allows senior lawyers to deepen their expertise, expand their influence, and shape their professional journey without the status games that often come with the hierarchies of traditional law firms.
Progression at Watershed is real, but it is measured in responsibility, client impact, and professional growth, not in time served or titles held.
How careers evolve here
Every Watershed lawyer starts from a position of trust. From day one, you are encouraged to manage your own clients, drive your own development, and chart a course that aligns with your strengths and ambitions.
Progression might look like:
- Leading increasingly complex or high-profile assignments.
- Becoming a go-to advisor for a key client or industry sector.
- Mentoring newer colleagues or shaping internal initiatives.
- Taking on a statutory directorship, with real strategic input.
- Expanding your scope into advocacy, investigations, or public sector work – based on interest and aptitude.
None of this requires ‘making partner’. It requires showing up, doing excellent legal work, and contributing to the firm’s collective success.
Journeys, not ladders
The path is not linear, and that is deliberate. One lawyer joined to focus on advocacy and, over time, built a reputation for handling sensitive multi-day hearings. Another, originally hired for advisory work, now leads complex redundancy and TUPE projects arising from Collinson Grant’s consultancy mandates.
A third found their niche in client development and internal mentoring, without stepping away from practice. These are not exceptions; they are examples of how flexibility, not formality, underpins real progression here.
Support that is not scripted
You will not find a rigid appraisal process or a one-size-fits-all development plan. What you will find is a culture that supports growth through thoughtful mentoring, peer collaboration, and a steady stream of high-quality work.
We learn from one another. We share insights, challenges, and second opinions. And we encourage ambition, whether that means becoming a technical authority, expanding into new client sectors, or building internal leadership.
If you are looking for a firm that invests in your trajectory without dictating its shape, you are in the right place.
No titles, no ceilings
We do not use traditional law firm titles like Senior Associate or Partner, because we do not need to. Recognition here is pragmatic and earned. Influence is visible in the work you lead, the relationships you build, and the respect you command.
Some of our lawyers have taken on formal director positions. Others have carved out specialist niches that make them indispensable. None of them had to wait for a vacancy or internal election to get there.
If you are ready to grow your career without playing politics, Watershed offers the space, support, and stimulus to make it happen.
Want to know more about how we work day-to-day? See Life at Watershed.
