Knowledge Lawyer

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Farrer & Co