Knowledge Lawyer

Working hours: Part-time((2 or 3 days per week (flexible)))

Reports to: Practice Area Manager

Team: Charity and Community

Location: London

The Firm

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 broad legal assistance and expertise to the charity and not-for-profit sector, covering all the areas affecting institutions in these sectors, and those engaging with them.

Whilst our core work is in the field of charity and constitutional law, and related tax law, members of our team have broad legal experience and advise on a range of legal issues, often working alongside specialists in other teams across the firm.

The team prides itself as a source of innovative solutions for clients and thought leadership of relevance to the sector as a whole. Our work is largely for clients based in England and Wales, although a significant proportion of our clients are based overseas or have international interests.

Scope

The Team is looking to increase the knowledge and learning support. The support is currently provided by a part-time Knowledge Lawyer and the intention is to recruit a senior specialist Knowledge Lawyer to enhance support for the Team and work with the existing KL.

We are looking for an experienced charity knowledge lawyer or a senior charity lawyer who is keen to move into a knowledge role, to provide professional and technical legal support to fee-earners and clients.

The role will include:

• Working with the the Knowledge Partner in the team to prepare and implement an ongoing  Knowledge Plan that is aligned to the team’s business plan.
• Leading on the  professional development activity within the team.
• Supporting  KM at firm level working closely with the Head of Knowledge Management and KL&D and Marketing & BD teams to enhance our  client service.
• Assisting the team and wider department to deliver a high quality and cost-effective service to internal and external clients team by  improving processes, sharing knowledge.

The role will involve working with the Charities Knowledge Partner, other Partners in the Team and the other Knowledge Lawyers as necessary.

We are looking for someone who will be able to work dynamically to provide tailored knowledge support in line with the changing needs of the team and market. The role would include the following responsibilities:

Know How and Marketing

• Provide a support base for the fee earners and encourage the sharing of knowledge within the group and firm, including the mentoring of more junior fee earners where required and to deal with specific queries if and when they arise.
• Keep the team up to date with the latest developments (including legislative and case law developments and the progress of draft legislation).
• To keep up to date on financial, economic and market forces which might apply and have relevance to the work and business of the Charities team and wider department.
• Write periodic bulletins for circulation to intermediaries and clients.
• Where required, provide ad hoc advice to and/or present to clients.
• To be fully conversant with the department’s (and firm’s) BD strategy and business plan and actively work with the relevant BD Managers in meeting the objectives of the plans, including where appropriate contributions to proposals for new work.
• Work with team members to write articles for publication and liaise with and build contacts with the editorial teams of relevant publications where possible.
• Coordinate matter debriefs within the team where appropriate.
• As appropriate, actively examine and promote the use of technology to improve the team’s client service and business development.
• Play an active part in the relevant Knowledge Lawyer network (APSL), liaising with key Knowledge Lawyers in the field and assessing viability of relevant developments.

Training and Seminars

• Design, organise (and where necessary deliver) internal training programmes (including trainee training and specialist Charities training as well as training for the whole commercial department), including organising external speakers where appropriate.
• Work with team members to plan and deliver seminars to intermediaries/clients and/or similar events.
• Liaise with the Knowledge Partner to prepare and manage the team training budget in conjunction with KL&D.
• Provide input and leadership to the induction training of trainees and other new joiners to the team.
• Liaise with other Knowledge Lawyers and wider knowledge community within the firm to ensure the team shares and gains best practice and operates effectively on a departmental level. Attend internal monthly Knowledge Forum meetings.

Standard Forms and Precedents

• Improve and maintain (and, where relevant, develop) the specialist precedents, standard form documents and example documents relevant to the Charities team.
• Work alongside the other Knowledge Lawyers in the department where precedents and guidance etc might be of wider relevance and application.
• Develop and maintain related guidance notes.
• Keep precedents, example and standard form documents and guidance notes up to date, including ensuring that the relevant section of the intranet and knowledge database is maintained and kept up to date.
• Consider, and if advised, lead on and assist with the implementation of any document automation of precedents or standard form documents.
• To assist with and, where required, undertake compliance related work liaising with the firm’s Risk & Compliance department as necessary.

Resources, tools and systems

• Ensure fee earners’ knowledge of the KM content and systems is up to date and manage and promote the use of those systems accordingly.
• Consider, and if appropriate, assist to implement any additional tools, technology solutions or platforms which might assist the fee earners.
• Work with the Library to ensure that the Charities team has access to the legal information resources it needs, inputting into the Research Resources budgeting process as required.
• Update and expand the Commercial department’s information and specialist Charities know how material available on the intranet and the firm’s know how database.
• Maintain and develop client know how extranets for existing and, where appropriate, new clients.

• Legal Drafting
• Word and PowerPoint.
• Intranet/extranet content management and editing.
• KM systems/knowledge databases.
• Laserform/electronic forms software.
• DocuSign/e-signing software.

• Excellent organisational skills.
• Strong academic background.
• Proactive in seeking out thought-leadership ideas, whether to improve ways of working or as regards to business development initiatives.
• Self-starting approach to tasks and projects and ability to work on own initiative.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills – an ability to interact with people at all levels.
• Good communication and project management skills, including an ability to persuade, present and write precisely.
• Research skills (using hard and online source materials).

• Sound relevant experience gained within a respected specialist charity team.
• The successful candidate is likely to have at least 5 years PQE experience.
• Knowledge Lawyer experience helpful but not essential.

Open to talking flexibly. This role is suitable for flexible working and applications will be accepted from individuals looking to work 0.4 to 0.6 FTE across any working pattern. Flexible working patterns will be considered within the firm’s agile working framework.

Farrer & Co is an equal opportunity employer who 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.