Researcher

Watson Farley & Williams; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Wellbeing package

Job summary

Watson Farley & Williams is seeking a capable Legal Researcher to support the Information & Research team with legal and business research, knowledge management, and resource development. The role focuses on delivering timely insights to fee-earners across sectors and offices.

You will manage knowledge resources, contribute to intranet content, and help maintain information platforms while collaborating with stakeholders and providing targeted training on research tools.

Qualifications

• Several years' experience as a legal researcher.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, Teams, Lexis+UK, WestlawEdge and Practical Law.
• A degree or post-grad degree in Information Science/Library & Information Science or similar would be advantageous.
• Strong written, oral and digital communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Respond to legal and business enquiries globally.
• Coordinate and assist with larger research projects.
• Maintain newswires and keep knowledge resources up-to-date.
• Promote and support knowledge management initiatives across the firm.
• Provide training and support on information resources and research tools.

Skills

Microsoft 365

Teams

Lexis+UK

WestlawEdge

Practical Law

Education

Information Science degree

Job description

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is a sector-focused international law firm with extensive expertise and industry insight across its core sectors of energy, infrastructure and transport. Through its network of 19 offices, the firm advises clients on complex, high-value transactions and disputes - matters requiring precise legal execution and a nuanced understanding of global market dynamics.

The firm's success is driven by its people. It fosters a collaborative, inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can grow, share ideas and make an impact. Guided by its values -We are experts, We are united and We care - the firm delivers exceptional service through strong relationships and teamwork. The firm is committed to clear career paths, championing diversity and investing in its people so they can thrive.

The department

Unlike other firms of our size, the expertise in sector means we usually find ourselves opposite magic circle or big US firms, and our clients are in the same league. We sometimes describe ourselves as 'magic circle in sector' which is our great strength but also our challenge. How to compete with the 'big beasts' and continue to grow, while retaining our values and ethos as a friendly and collegiate workplace environment. This includes knowledge and information management, research, training and technical solutions to help our lawyers work efficiently and collaboratively and to ensure that the firm's collective knowledge is leveraged for the benefit of our clients. Our Researcher role goes to the heart of that.

The Global Head of Knowledge Management leads the wider Knowledge team made up of the firm's Professional Support Lawyers and the Information & Research team. The Information and Research team works towards achieving the firm's knowledge strategy by ensuring everyone has access to WFW's knowledge and resources. The team manages the firm's online and hard copy resources, legal and business enquiries and collaborates with stakeholders across all offices.

Key activities/responsibilities

Legal and Business Research:

• Ability to respond to legal and business enquiries globally.
• Coordinate and assist with larger projects.
• Maintain a portfolio of newswires on specific topics and clients and sectors.
• Ensure alignment of newswires on key campaigns by liaising with BD.
• Maintain bespoke good practice guide.
• Promotion of service to key stakeholders across the business to drive internal. engagement and to add value.

Contract Management:

• Promotion, testing and researching of new services.
• Maintaining good relationships with allocated suppliers and attending update meetings as required.
• Championing of allocated products to the Information and Research team and wider firm to ensure awareness of benefits of existing and new features.

Research resources platform:

• Ensuring the key product entries remain current and accurate.
• Contributing to I&R generated content to help fee-earners navigate resources effectively.
• Promotion of database to the firm as part of responding to enquiries.

Knowledge Management:

• Supporting the firm's developing Knowledge Management strategy.
• Identifying and implementing process improvements.

Intranet

• Promotion of new subscriptions and tools.
• Promotion and updating of the Information and Research page.

Training

• New trainee induction training and ongoing training during training contract.
• Vacation student inductions.
• Provide new fee-earners training in person/virtual.
• Provide targeted training by department/sector/resource on an ongoing basis.
• Maintaining training collateral.

Ad hoc:

• General team admin.
• Undertake other projects as required.

Skills and experience - desired

• Several years' experience in a legal researcher role.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, Teams, Lexis+UK, WestlawEdge and Practical Law.
• A degree or post-grad degree in Information Science/Library & Information Science or similar course would be advantageous.
• A high degree of written, oral and digital communication skills.
• Highly organised with the ability to meet deadlines under pressure.
• The ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong attention to detail.
• A can-do attitude and a willingness to take on additional tasks as and when required.
• Proven time management and prioritisation skills.
• Pro-active, collaborative team player.
• An appetite for continuous learning and development.
• Experience of carrying out complex legal and business research and working in a legal or professional services environment.

We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.

Additional information

The Firm promotes a culture of agility and flexibility and is fully supportive of flexible working arrangements where these can be accommodated.

Equal opportunities

Diversity and inclusion are integral to the firm's strategy and underpin its efforts to attract and retain top talent. All employment decisions are made objectively, based on merit and ability and the firm is committed to inclusive and barrier-free recruitment. As a Disability Confident employer, WFW welcomes adjustments for candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions and participates in the Disability Confident interview scheme. If you would like to apply through this scheme or require adjustments during any stage of the process, please contact [e-mail] .