Legal Specialist

**Legal Specialist**

Are you looking for a career move that will put you at the heart of a global financial institution? This role will give you the opportunity to grow within the Legal Operations department of Citi, focused on law firm and external vendor management of a global financial institution. You will help drive innovative solutions on how Citi engages law firms, manages compliance, identifies cost-saving opportunities, and mitigates risk.

By joining Citi, you will become part of a global organisation whose mission is to serve as a trusted partner to our clients by responsibly providing financial services that enable growth and economic progress.

**Team/Role Overview**

The Legal Specialist sits in the Outside Counsel Management Team within Citi’s Global Legal Solutions (GLS) organization and will be based in Belfast. Primarily, this role will focus on Legal Operations and managing multi-party (e.g., outside counsel, alternative legal service providers) compliance with both internal and external legal policies and procedures, including Citi’s Outside Terms of Engagement.

**What you’ll do**

Primarily, this role will support various initiatives being driven by the Outside Counsel Management Team, such as (i) expanding Citi’s competitive tendering / RFP program for outside counsel engagements, (ii) negotiating and developing solutions for hourly billing rates and cost-saving, (iii) managing multi-party compliance with both internal and external legal policies and procedures, (iv) reviewing, advising on and coordinating legal conflict waiver processing and approvals, and (v) developing and delivering strategic reporting and other key correspondence to senior members of Citi’s legal organization, GLS, and members of the external legal community in all regions.

The Legal Specialist will work in close daily collaboration with other GLS teammates at all levels across functions including Finance, Technology, Project Management and Operations while adhering to GLS program goals and priorities, evaluating complex legal and operational issues and impact to Citi businesses and Citi’s broader legal organization.
- Review and process internal stakeholder requests to engage outside counsel, identifying legal risks and cost-saving opportunities.
- Coordinate and assist Citi lawyers in the negotiation of engagement letters with law firms.
- Work directly with the SVP of Outside Counsel Management to manage and expand the competitive tender / Request for Proposal (RFP) process by identifying high value matters or groups of matters suitable for competitive tender, developing RFP invitation letters (including relevant matter-specific questions), coordinating law firm responses, and assisting in the selection process.
- Negotiate rates and fee structures with outside counsel to ensure competitive and cost-effective arrangements. Create formal confirmations of rate deals with law firms.
- Develop and implement solutions for issues (or potential issues) involving external law firm compliance with Citi’s Terms. Identify and mitigate legal and financial risks associated with outside counsel engagements, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and company policies.
- Coordinate the creation of presentations and other communications materials for Legal organization executive audiences.

**What we’ll need from you**
- Law degree preferred. Bachelor’s Degree is required.
- Practical knowledge of common legal matter progression (e.g., course of litigation, basic procedure, basic corporate or financial transactions).
- An ability to lead and influence people across cultures at a senior level using sound judgment, successful execution of strategies, and an understanding of how to operate effectively across diverse businesses.
- Exceptional data analysis skills, including advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
- Exceptional written communication skills, including advanced proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Word.

**What we can offer you**

We work hard to have a positive financial and social impact on the communities we serve. In turn, we put our employees first and provide the best-in-class benefits they need to be well, live well and save well.

By joining Citi Belfast, you will not only be part of a business casual workplace with a hybrid working model (up to 2 days working at home per week), but also receive a competitive base salary (which is annually reviewed), and enjoy a whole host of additional benefits such as:

- Generous holiday allowance starting at 27 days plus bank holidays; increasing with tenure.
- A discretional annual performance related bonus
- Private medical insurance packages to suit your personal circumstances.
- Employee Assistance Program
- Pension Plan
- Paid Parental Leave
- Special discounts for employees, family, and friends
- Access to an array of learning and development resources

Alongside these benefits Citi is committed to ensuring our workplace i