Information & Research Advisor (1 year contract)

• Information is one of Linklaters’ key assets and, as such, needs to be developed and exploited in order to generate further value for the firm.
• The Information & Research team are key in ensuring that this value is realised through the effective collection, collation and exploitation of both internal knowhow and external materials.
• The role of the Information & Research Advisor is to ensure the efficient and effective provision of Information & Research services to both the Practice and Business Teams, as part of Linklaters’ global information team (part of the Knowledge & Learning function) and aligned to business plans and the firmwide strategy.
• The information provision includes researching legal topics and commercial, sector and client-related research, particularly for Marketing and Business Development activities.

• Research and Enquiry Service (on legal topics and also including the ability to locate, interpret, summarise and package up information about clients, markets, industries and sectors)
• Library and resource management, including procurement
• Maintain and develop a comprehensive current awareness service to support practice needs and business development activities
• Knowledge management
• Provision of training, promotion of products and sharing of best practice for the tools available
• Professional development of self and others

• To provide high quality, value-add and cost-effective information services to support legal and business research needs in home office or practice group, and across the firm
• To work closely with the Head of Information & Research, Asia and/or assigned members of the Information & Research Leadership Team to ensure activities and improvements to service are in line with the strategic direction for Information & Research
• To sell and promote the I&R offering to members of the practice / office
• To contribute to, and participate in, global networks, in order to share best practice and implement agreed policies and practices

• Act as point of contact for fee earner and Business Teams research queries
• Direct people to intranet pages, online sources, guide them to books, journals, looseleafs and reference materials through use of the library online catalogue
• Research and exploit internal and external information resources to answer legal and business information enquires
• Record all queries received (via enquiry management system) to ensure consistency of response and to leverage best practice

• Keep abreast of current developments in practice / sector / jurisdiction to inform users
• Support the timely delivery of tailored legal and business news, using Newsdesk and other current awareness tools
• Highlight items for sharing in wider Information & Research and Knowledge & Learning team forums

• Collection management (books, journals and materials) utilising online catalogue system and managing physical library space
• Manage local budget for information resources (for practice groups and library); ensure all invoices are received, recorded and settled promptly against the relevant cost centre code
• Source, develop and manage a collection of information resources that effectively meets the needs of the relevant practice / office
• Manage joiner / leaver processes in relation to provision of information materials and services.
• Ensure the practice / office derives full value from the resources available elsewhere in the firm and all entitlements under global contracts
• Ensure the firm obtains the best quality of information resources for the most competitive price
• Promote services to members of the practice / office to ensure effective use of new and existing services

• Liaise with members of K&L teams to encourage and influence fee-earner participation in knowledge-related activities
• Develop and maintain knowledge content to reflect the practice area needs in conjunction with Knowledge Lawyers
• Provide guidance on the development of internal intranet sites (e.g. how information should be stored and presented)

• Participate in delivery of training and ongoing promotion to new joiners and others on information services and systems
• Train fee earners and other interested parties in the use of information tools and other available resources
• Provide guidance and share skills on how to conduct research to ensure best use of information sources available (to both immediate team and wider networks)

• Develop subject matter and technical expertise in all aspects of business and legal research
• Promote work of Information & Research teams locally through attendance at relevant practice/office meetings
• Contribute to learning and development of self and for Information & Research teams globally and locally
• Share best practice and skills with other members of Information & Research teams locally and globally
• Network with other Information professionals and represent the firm at appropriate events
• Provide feedback for other members of Information & Research services teams as appropriate (e.g. as part of Performance Management)

• Enthusiastic, resilient and can-do attitude
• Good interpersonal and influencing skills
• Good communication skills – written and verbal
• Creative, collaborative and open to new ideas and problem-solving
• Multi-tasker with pragmatic approach
• Team player

• Graduate
• Information Qualification
• Broad understanding of legal issues (desirable)

• Experience of providing a variety of information and research services in a professional services organisation

• Microsoft Office skills
• Numeracy skills
• Highly computer literate

• Ability to prioritise in a dynamic and fast-moving environment
• Ability to think and operate with a global mindset
• Understanding of how a business operates to align with strategies and business plans

Linklaters