Knowledge Lawyer

Farrer & Co; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in London seeks a Junior Knowledge Lawyer to support the Employment team. The role involves monitoring legal developments, managing knowledge resources, and assisting in training. Ideal candidates will have strong legal skills and a proactive approach to their work.

Qualifications

• Strong expertise and interest in employment law.
• Excellent written skills for drafting legal documents.
• Experience writing articles for publication.

Responsibilities

• Monitor legal developments and keep clients updated.
• Develop and maintain employment precedents.
• Assist in delivering internal training to the team.

Skills

Employment Law

Legal Research

Written Communication

Organizational Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Education

1 – 4 years PQE experience

Sound relevant experience of employment advisory

Tools

KM systems

Legal Tech Tools

Job description

Farrer & Co is synonymous with the highest quality legal advice and service.

We advise individuals, families, businesses, financial services, educational and not-for-profit organisations on every aspect of the law, wherever the need arises. From our offices in London we work with trusted professionals around the world to deliver a seamless international service.

Our clients present us with complex and varied challenges. Whether that's a complicated family trust issue, a multinational corporate transaction, or an emerging threat to their reputation, they need clear thinkers who can advise on the best solutions, fast thinkers when speed is of the essence and agile thinkers who can produce a fresh approach to get the job done. That's why they choose us.

Our clients value our in-depth knowledge, technical excellence and diversity of disciplines. But what really binds our long-standing relationships with them is our approach: pragmatic, plain speaking and always steadfast in our values, which we hold dear. Values which mean we gain our clients' trust, always strive to do the right thing, and aim for the best results for them.

Superb client service sits at the heart of everything we do. We are modern lawyers with timeless values.

The Team

We provide advice on the full range of employment issues advising (i) employers from the financial services, sports, corporate, media, retail, education, visitor attractions and charity sectors and (ii) individual senior executives. We pride ourselves on excellent client service and on providing pragmatic, swift solutions, which come off the fence.

Scope

The Employment team is looking to increase the knowledge and learning support for our busy and expanding practice. We are looking for a Junior Knowledge Lawyer to support the existing Senior Counsel and Knowledge Lawyer in providing professional and technical legal support to fee-earners and clients.

Responsibilities

The role would include the following responsibilities:

Legal know-how

• Monitor legal and technical developments (including legislative and case law updates).
• Proactively keep the team and where appropriate clients up to date with the latest legal developments.
• Horizon scan and research the market in which the team operates to understand our and our clients’ priorities.

Precedents and knowledge management

• Develop and maintain specialist employment precedents, ensuring they are kept up to date and supporting with the preparation of new documents where relevant.
• Develop and maintain other know-how resources for the team, such as guidance notes, template documents and training materials.
• Maintain and where relevant expand employment know-how materials on the team’s intranet and the firm’s know-how database.
• Work with the team to encourage knowledge sharing and capture, including promoting fee earners’ use of knowledge systems and content.
• Assist with the implementation of tools, technology and platforms which might assist fee earners in their work, including document automation and AI.
• Support on projects aimed at driving process and operational efficiencies.

Team training

• Plan, organise and where appropriate help to deliver internal training to the team, including arranging external and internal speakers. This includes assisting with knowledge sessions at the team’s monthly Anchor Day, and helping deliver trainee and solicitor apprentice training.
• Support with arranging external training, including helping to manage the team’s training budget.
• Support with planning and organising the team’s annual Away Day.
• Help with the preparation of training materials.

Business Development

• Assist with coordinating the team’s weekly Worklife blog, including planning topics and writing ad hoc articles.
• Work with team members to prepare training materials for clients.
• Plan and where relevant participate in certain client events, including online webinars and client roundtables.
• Support with preparing the team’s legal directory submissions.

Skills and Experience

Technical skills

• Strong expertise and interest in employment law, with a good grasp of legal concepts
• Excellent written skills, including an ability to draft clear and concise legal documents
• Experience writing articles for publication
• Confident in using Word and PowerPoint
• Proficiency in conducting thorough legal research and analysis

Preferable but training can be given

• Familiarity with using AI in the legal context and with legal tech tools, including experience of working with KM systems/ knowledge databases and updating intranet pages

Person Specification

• Excellent organisational skill
• Self-starting approach to tasks and projects and an ability to work on own initiative.
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills – an ability to interact with people at all levels and mentor junior lawyers
• Strong legal technical / academic background
• Legal curiosity – proactive in keeping up to date with legal changes and developing technical skills
• Enthusiasm to share knowledge with others and an ability to explain legal developments in accessible and practical terms (both verbally and written)
• A strong team player with a collaborative working style and an interest in promoting a collegiate working environment
• Ability to manage time effectively and flexibly to adjust to varying demands and deadlines

Education and Qualifications

• 1 – 4 years PQE experience
• Sound relevant experience of employment advisory and Employment Tribunal work gained within a respected employment team.
• Experience of advising on senior executive, partnerships or High Court employment matters preferable.

Special aspects

Happy to talk flexible working. The firm are able to consider candidates working a 0.6 FTE. The normal hours of work are 9.30am – 5.30pm but it is essential to be committed, flexible and prepared to work beyond the normal office hours when necessary and in response to client demand.

Farrer & Co operates an agile working framework under which members of the firm are expected to spend at least 40% of their working hours in the office. This is a minimum expectation: individuals may elect or be asked or expected to work more frequently in the office, depending on circumstance.

Farrer & Co is an equal opportunity employer which welcomes applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We look to employ the best candidates regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or any other protected characteristic.

We are keen to ensure candidates have the best interview experience possible. If you require any adjustments during the interview or application process, please let the recruitment team know.

Comments

Farrer & Co conducts a pre-employment screening which consists of a Criminal History Background and Credit Check for successful candidates.