Senior Professional Development Coordinator

Sidley Austin LLP; City Of London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global law firm in London is looking for a Senior Professional Development Coordinator to assist in coordinating lawyer training and professional development initiatives. This role involves monitoring training records, managing communications, and supporting compliance with professional education requirements. Ideal candidates are proficient in Microsoft Office and possess strong organizational skills. A supportive and collaborative work environment is offered, with competitive benefits and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Annual discretionary performance bonus

Non-contributory pension scheme

33 days paid time off

Private Medical Insurance

Life Assurance – x4 salary

Contribution towards health club membership

Interest free season ticket loan

Free GP Service

Qualifications

• Experience of general administration in an office environment.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organisational skills.
• Ability to work harmoniously in a team.

Responsibilities

• Assist with coordination of training programmes.
• Monitor and track SRA training records for Trainee Solicitors.
• Manage Professional Development mailboxes for Europe and APAC.

Skills

General administration in an office environment

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Teamwork

Education

Degree level education

Job description

Summary

Sidley in London

We are proud to offer our lawyers and professional staff myriad opportunities to apply their talents toward important, challenging projects on a global stage. Our culture of collegiality attracts people with diverse skills and backgrounds who are dedicated to teamwork, collaboration and superior client service.

Sidley has built an inclusive, collegiate culture firmwide and we maintain an environment focused on teamwork and cooperation. Our London office has a relaxed, down-to‑earth friendliness, with lawyers and business professionals at all levels treating each other with genuine respect. We value the skills and knowledge that each team member brings and believe in creating a work environment where everyone thrives.

We are located in a distinctive new development at 70 St. Mary Axe with panoramic views across London. Based in the heart of the City and close to Liverpool Street station with all the area has to offer – fantastic restaurants and bars, shopping and sporting facilities. You’ll find a great social scene within the office, with organised events including sailing and skiing weekends, seasonal parties and charitable team activities.

Inclusion

Sidley is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive culture. We recognise that bringing together individuals from various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives strengthens the quality of our legal work and continues to position us as a trusted leader in the legal profession. Our commitment to inclusion not only enriches our workplace but also enhances our ability to fulfill our mission providing the highest quality legal services for our clients.

Duties and Responsibilities

Role Overview

At Sidley, our award‑winning Learning & Development team plays a vital role in driving professional excellence across the firm. Through impactful training, personalised career development and continuous learning, we empower our people to grow with confidence, capability and purpose at every stage of their Sidley journey.

We are looking for a Senior Professional Development Coordinator to join our London office to work closely with the Director of Professional Development – Europe & Asia Pacific, and team members, lawyers and other business professionals across the firm to guide and support learning and professional development initiatives for lawyers and business professionals in the European and Asia Pacific offices.

Key responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the Essential Duties.

• Assist with the coordination of training programmes and professional development initiatives for lawyers and business professionals in Europe and APAC.
• Support the organisation and implementation of the London Trainee Orientation Programme, and Trainee Skills Development Programme ensuring compliance with the SRA's requirements regarding training and supervision of trainees.
• Monitor and track SRA training records for Trainee Solicitors.
• Maintain Continuing Competence compliance records for all England & Wales Solicitors and Registered Foreign Lawyers (including those based outside of the UK), generating reports and analysing results as required using the firm’s tracking systems to comply with the SRA’s requirements.
• Manage the Professional Development mailboxes for Europe and APAC, escalating queries when required.
• Work with relevant team members, regulatory bodies and others, as required, to monitor and support compliance with all applicable continuing professional education requirements for lawyers in Europe and APAC.
• Liaise with the firm’s US-based CLE team to ensure CLE credits are available for internal
• Manage the Hong Kong Law Society portal for CPD applications and liaise with appropriate team members to ensure Hong Kong CPD or Risk Management Education (RME) credits are available for relevant internal and client training events.
• Solicit and analyse feedback and data for firmwide conferences, local and regional programmes, and professional development initiatives; prepare summary reports and recommend adjustments. Create and develop other internal reports and presentations as needed.
• Use the firm’s learning management system for all European and APAC learning events (registration, reminders, attendance tracking and online course completions).
• Manage programme and meeting logistics, including recruiting presenters; scheduling training sessions and meetings, securing conference rooms and necessary AV/IT support, coordinating room set‑up and materials, and trouble‑shooting as needed.
• Keep the firm’s document management system up to date, ensuring all training materials and team documents are correctly filed.
• Assist with special projects and initiatives as required

Qualifications

Candidate profile

The following candidate attributes are desirable for this position:

Required:

• Experience of general administration in an office environement
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills
• Able to work harmoniously and effectively in a team environment
• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion

Preferred:

• Educated to degree level
• Experience in coordinating lawyer training and/or professional development programs and initiatives
• Experience working as part of a global team, including across time zones
• Experience working with a global learning management
• Knowledge of continuing professional education rules and procedures

Benefits

• Annual discretionary performance bonus
• Non‑contributory pension scheme – 5% from firm matched by 3% from employee
• 33 days paid time off (to include short‑term sickness absence)
• Private Medical Insurance
• Permanent Health Insurance
• Life Assurance – x4 salary
• Contribution towards health club membership
• Interest free season ticket loan
• Free GP Service
• Regular health check