Job Description
Part time! A leading, prestigious law firm requires a Knowledge Lawyer (Residential Property) to join their property department. The Property department is looking to increase the knowledge and learning support provided across each of its three practice areas: Commercial; Residential and Rural. The support is currently provided by two Knowledge Lawyers and the intention is to have one specialist Knowledge Lawyer for each practice area. The three Knowledge Lawyers will provide specialist support for their respective practice area whilst collaborating closely with each other to ensure that all knowledge and learning requirements are covered and that there is consistency across the department. This role will suit an experienced or a senior residential property 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 involve working with the Residential Property and Secured Lending Knowledge Partner, and the other Property Knowledge Lawyers. This role is suitable for individuals looking to work 0.6 to 0.8 FTE across any working pattern. Flexible working patterns will be considered within the firm’s agile working framework.
Main Responsibilities include:
- Improve and maintain the specialist precedents, standard form documents, and example documents relevant to the Residential Property and Secured Lending 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
- To assist with and, where required, undertake compliance related work liaising with the firm’s Risk & Compliance department as necessary
- Ensure fee earners’ knowledge of the KM content and systems is up to date and manage and promote the use of those systems accordingly
- Assist to implement any additional tools, technology solutions, or platforms which might assist the fee earners
- Work with the Library to ensure that the Property department has access to the legal information resources it needs
- Update and expand the Property department’s information and specialist Residential Property and Secured Lending know how material available on the intranet and the firm’s know how database
- Provide a support base for the fee earners and encourage the sharing of knowledge within the group and firm
- 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 Residential Property and Secured Lending team
- Write periodic bulletins for circulation to intermediaries and 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
- 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, liaising with key Knowledge Lawyers in the field and assessing viability of relevant developments
- Liaise with KL&D in connection with the firm-wide provision of training to ensure the needs of the Residential Property team and department are met
- Design, organise (and where necessary deliver) internal training programmes
- Liaise with the Knowledge Partners 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 attend internal monthly Knowledge Forum meetings
To be considered for this role you will need the following skills and experience:
- Have at least 7 years PQE experience
- PSL experience helpful but not essential
- Sound relevant experience gained within a respected residential property team
- Legal Drafting
- Intranet/extranet content management and editing
- KM systems/knowledge databases, Word and PowerPoint
- Laserform/electronic forms software
- Experience of Land Registry and SearchFlow
- Excellent organisational skills
- Strong academic background
- Well-developed interpersonal skills
- Good communication and project management skills, including an ability to persuade, present, write, and precisely
- Research skills (using hard and online source materials)