Professional Support Lawyer

DWF; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

DWF is seeking a Professional Support Lawyer in the Finance & Restructuring practice to develop and share practical legal knowledge. The role collaborates across teams to provide high-quality resources, updates on market developments, and training to fee earners.

The PSL will help shape knowledge processes, respond to queries, and explore AI tools to enhance knowledge work. Hybrid UK-office base options are available and encouraged.

Qualifications

• 8+ years PQE as a solicitor or equivalent experience with strong banking and finance background.

Responsibilities

• Identify relevant cases and legal developments and disseminate to departments.
• Answer legal queries and prepare responses on behalf of the Firm.
• Develop and maintain precedents, practice notes and procedures for fee earners.
• Design and deliver training sessions and workshops for lawyers and staff.
• Contribute to intranet, knowledge databases, and client materials.

Skills

Legal knowledge

Knowledge management

Training delivery

Research & analysis

Communication skills

Project management

Education

8+ years PQE as a solicitor

Tools

LMA documentation

Job description

Why join us?

Step into a role at DWF that sits at the forefront of how modern legal knowledge is created, delivered, and transformed.

As a Professional Support Lawyer within our Finance & Restructuring practice, you’ll work closely with colleagues across the team to help shape, develop and share legal knowledge, ensuring our lawyers have access to high-quality, practical resources and insight.

You’ll also have the opportunity to explore AI and emerging legal technologies, helping us consider how these tools can enhance the way we create, curate and share knowledge. It’s a great opportunity to combine your technical legal expertise with innovation and play an active role in how the practice continues to evolve.

Your role will include developing and maintaining guidance notes and precedents, monitoring key legal and market developments across banking and finance, designing and delivering training, responding to queries from fee earners and identifying ways to continually improve the team’s knowledge processes and resources.

If you’re passionate about elevating legal excellence, driving innovation, and making a meaningful impact beyond traditional fee-earning, this is an opportunity to help lead the evolution of how we work and the value we deliver.

We’re flexible on UK location, with the opportunity to be based from any of our UK offices and work on a flexible, hybrid basis.

Responsibilities

A PSL is required to undertake work in Knowledge Management Know How, Research and Development, and Training for our Clients. Below is an outline of the focus areas PSL's will be expected undertake.

Know-how

• Identifying relevant cases and articles and disseminate to departments
• Updating the fee earning departments on key legal development
• Answering legal queries
• Identifying relevant consultation papers and preparing a response on behalf of the Firm
• Advising on use of AI tools

Research and Development

• Carrying out discrete research on points of law
• Collation and development of precedents, practice notes and working practices
• Producing and implementing procedures to help fee earners to achieve their goals, work efficiently, strive towards best practice in the delivery of legal services, comply with regulatory obligations and any practice/business management standards, etc.
• Advising management on legal and compliance issues in conjunction with the Risk Teams
• Managing or contributing to parts of the intranet and corporate site, information databases, online products and knowledge management systems in conjunction with Marketing and IT Teams.
• Innovation in research and development, process improvements/due diligence

Training

• Identifying training needs
• Mentoring: Working with lawyers and other PSL's to influence, mentor and manage their production of evidence-led, impact-driven, authentic and timely legal content
• Organising in-house training sessions and workshops using internal and external trainers/speakers and advising on content, structure and required outcomes in conjunction with the L&D Team
• Delivering training sessions to lawyers, paralegals and administrative staff
• Producing training material

Client

• Producing articles, briefings and newsletters to clients, and suggesting topics for fee earners
• Arrange client training
• Deliver client training
• Attending and giving talks at external conferences/seminars
• Working on bids, tenders and client audits

Job Skills

• Ideally at least 8 years’ PQE as a solicitor, or equivalent experience, with a strong background in banking and finance law including areas such as acquisition and leveraged finance, structured finance, real estate finance, or restructuring and insolvency.
• Strong working knowledge of LMA documentation, with experience using and negotiating LMA-based finance documents in practice.
• Excellent IT skills
• Previous/current experience as a PSL; ideal but not essential
• Experience in the preparation and delivery of group training sessions; ideal but not essential

General Skills

• Demonstrates a high level of technical knowledge and experience
• Produces high quality written materials, reports and data
• Demonstrates excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Well organised, uses initiative, prioritises appropriately, applies self, shows attention to detail
• Manages own workload and meets deadlines
• Demonstrates financial and commercial awareness
• Seeks and maintains good business relationships with suppliers, agents and others
• Manages excellent internal client-focused services, adds value to the business
• Manages and develops others, motivates for optimum performance, promotes teamwork,
• Demonstrates sound judgement and decision making skills
• Shows commitment, passion and enthusiasm for knowledge sharing and improving the ways in which the Firm and all its staff work together
• Reflects the Firm’s culture and values

What we offer?

We are committed to ensuring that each member of our team feels valued and duly rewarded during their time at DWF.

We are an equal opportunities employer that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We aim to create a positive experience for all candidates and offer any adjustments or additional support needed. If you're excited about the opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all the requirements, you may be the right candidate for the role or others across the wider team.

About Us

DWF is a leading global provider of integrated legal and business services. Our approach delivers efficiency, price certainty and transparency for our clients across the world without compromising on quality or service. Our purpose is to deliver positive outcomes with our colleagues, clients and communities and we foster a culture that places our colleagues at the centre of all that we do.