Professional Skills Development Lawyer

• This role represents an exciting opportunity for the right person to make their mark in a new role for the firm. We recognise that going forward all lawyers will require an increasingly broad set of skills in a rapidly changing legal, technological and regulatory environment legal training is managed and delivered by the Knowledge team, primarily by the Knowledge Development Lawyers (KDLs) within the various practice areas of the firm and by the Research and Information Services team. In a rapidly changing legal environment we recognise that there is a need for more specific legal skills to support the future of the firm. In particular we are keen to develop in our lawyers' skills in using innovative technology alongside the analytical and legal skills they need to succeed in practice.This role will play a key part in realising that ambition.
• You will report into the Director of Organisational Learning & Development and have oversight over all Professional Skills training to ensure that every lawyer has the opportunity to develop the right legal skills and in order to reach their full potential. You will also provide important input into firm wide programmes and initiatives such as AI training. It is important that you are able to demonstrate an understanding of the risks and opportunities of a rapidly changing environment and have experience in working in such a context.
• The Firm has its own Business School providing core business, management and leadership development to support every individual within the Firm. The Risk and Compliance Team delivers and manages training on risk and compliance issues such as Data Protection, Anti-Money Laundering etc. You will work collaboratively with these teams to ensure that all of these development needs, are met and that the lawyers have the tools and resources available to ensure compliance with the SRA's CPD requirements.
• Our lawyers are practical and solution-focused.You will ensure that lawyers have the skills, awareness and confidence to access and participate actively and independently in all training offered by the Firm.
• You will have an understanding of topics and issues relevant to clients and will work alongside the Director of Organisational Learning & Development to further develop our standard offering and may, from time to time, deliver elements of this to a core group of clients.
• Key relationships for this role will be: Associate Director, Knowledge, the Head of Organisational Learning and Development, General Counsel (as Compliance Officer for Legal Practice), the Director of Advanced Client Solutions and the Knowledge team.

Roles and responsibilities

• Support the delivery of both the Organisational Learning & Development and the Knowledge strategies, embedding a culture of knowledge sharing, technical excellence, innovation, and exceptional client service
• Work collaboratively with the KDLs and key stakeholders to identify the current and future legal training needs of lawyers
• Create development programmes for all UK- qualified lawyers
• Work collaboratively with HR to ensure programmes are aligned to the career development framework
• Deliver core professional legal skills including topics such as:
  • Drafting skills,legal writing - these are a critical area of engagement, and the candidate should have a keen interest in rapidly evolving tech software
  • Client Relationship Management, pitch presentations, business development
  • Negotiation skills - in transactional and contentious contexts
  • The evolving use of emerging technologies and, in particular, the use of generative AI by lawyers
  • Commercial and business acumen, critical thinking, project management, networking and resilience
• Support the Early Talent population, working with the O, L&D and Early Talent teams to enable high performance across our trainee and apprenticeship cohorts.
• Develop and deliver legal skills and skills training offering to clients, supporting with developing BD materials
• Work collaboratively with key stakeholders, to provide advice and ad hoc support to lawyers in offices outside of the UK
• Work closely with the Knowledge Development Lawyers and the Senior Programme Manager to identify and liaise with external providers for legal training content, and negotiate cost-effective services and fees
• Work closely with the Professional Standards & Quality Specialist to support the Firm's CPD policy and to have oversight over matters related to continuing competence and regulatory compliance and study support
• Work collaboratively with the Business School and other key stakeholders to identify opportunities to use new technology or processes to improve the delivery of legal training
• Work with the Senior Programme Manger regarding training budgets, ensuring that any spend is within thebudget, consistent across the practice areas and regularly assessing and reviewing resourcing needs
• Act as a sounding board for the KDLs for ideas relating to the delivery of training within the practice areas.
• Such other Organisational Learning & Development or training-related activities that the Director of Organisational Learning & Development requires.
• Comply with all relevant legal and regulatory obligations including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations, and Principles.

Skills and experience

• An experienced lawyer qualified in England and Wales with sound legal knowledge
• Experience of delivery of training in a range of formats (including face to face, virtual classroom and recorded training), and experience of Learning Management Systems
• Experience in the whole learning life cycle of business and management learning including programme design, facilitation with strong evaluation and reporting capability to demonstrate ROI & ROE
• A qualification in organisational development, learning and development, or coaching is desirable but not essential.

Person specification

• A credible self-starter who is able to implement a vision and a demonstrate a track record of delivering operational success in this area
• Passionate about helping others achieve their full potential
• Proven organisational ability within a commercial and pressurised environment
• Ability to anticipate change in the legal market and to identify the changing development needs of lawyers
• A highly collaborative worker with the ability to work across multiple teams
• Capable and pro-active with a growth mindset and the ability to view challenges as opportunities
• Displays, and encourages in others, pro-activity and a solutions-focused approach
• Commercial awareness, financial acumen and a business-like approach to legal practice
• Ability to use technology to improve processes, bring efficiency and to improve the learning experience

Working together Integrity and respect Inclusive Personal impact and growth Driving high standards Commercial mindset Client - centric Responsible Business

For a detailed specification please download the job description in the documents section of this page.