Knowledge Development Lawyer - Private Client

Join to apply for the Knowledge Development Lawyer – Private Client role at Ampa – Legal & Professional Services

Knowledge Management is one of the main pillars of our Ampa Group Services offering. The Knowledge Management team facilitates collaboration, sharing and networking across the Group to improve the flow of knowledge, whether that is technical legal information about cases, legislation and regulation; client information for cross-selling; or experiences and top tips.

Our Private Client teams across multiple brands have well-established reputations for their work on wealth, tax and succession planning matters for families, landed estates, entrepreneurs and business owners. The teams act for high-net-worth individuals in all aspects of private client work, whether resident in the UK or overseas. They also provide elderly client advice and assist with personal injury trusts.

Our Shakespeare Martineau private client team has been ranked as a top-tier firm in this year’s Legal 500 and awarded the STEP Platinum Employer Partner accreditation. Our Mayo Wynne Baxter private client team is an award-winning, Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 ranked team with lead-ranked individuals.

We are seeking a professional to join our established Knowledge function within the Knowledge Management team, where you will work closely with stakeholders across Private Client to progress an effective knowledge-sharing culture.

This opportunity can be considered on either a full-time or part-time basis (4 days a week).

What you will be doing

The Private Client Knowledge Development Lawyer will provide support to the team in these key areas:

Know-How Support And Development

• Working closely with and providing guidance to the Private Client senior leadership team to develop practice and sector-specific knowledge.
• Keeping on top of all changes to legislation, procedure and case law that might affect the teams work for clients and disseminating these to the team through updates and training.
• Supporting the fee earners’ client work across the brands with technical legal knowhow, tactical advice and practical application of the law to their matter.
• Developing and keeping updated team know-how resources such as precedents and checklists (in respect of best practice and changes of law).

Business Development & Client Services

• Supporting and driving business development initiatives including the launch of products to market for clients across the brands.
• Liaising with fee earners and contributing to the production of articles, case studies, briefings, newsletters or other materials for circulation to clients or to be published.
• Collaborating with intermediaries (private banks, asset managers, etc.) to leverage knowledge across a wider constituency.
• Keeping the team up to date on competitors’ offerings and assisting in research required by the team for client delivery and new client opportunities.
• Assisting with legal directories submissions.

Internal Training

• Identifying training priorities and undertaking relevant training sessions with the team on changes to law, practice and precedents.
• Working with the Private Client teams on continual investment in employees\’ professional development and the provision of a nurturing work environment as recognised by the STEP Platinum Employer Partner accreditation.
• Identifying and arranging internal and external speakers to deliver specialist training topics.
• Designing and implementing specific content for all levels including juniors, trainees and paralegals.

Innovation/Business Efficiency

• Identify business and client needs for legal technology or other tools to provide cost-effective solutions.
• Supporting standardisation of documents via precedents and clause banks, playing a key role in the document automation of chosen precedents or tasks.

What you will need

• Ideally, you would currently be a fee earner with at least 8+ years PQE at an equally reputable firm with a keen interest in transitioning into a Knowledge Lawyer/PSL role. Previous Knowledge Lawyer/PSL experience would be an advantage but not strictly necessary.
• Technical experience handling high quality private client work including trusts is essential, as is a solid understanding of and interest in knowledge management.
• It is desirable if the candidate is a full member of STEP or working towards full membership.
• The ability to digest, analyse and succinctly communicate complex issues with clarity to both internal and external clients.
• Commercial awareness and enthusiasm about business development.
• First class drafting and communication skills.
• Experience developing and delivering client and/or in-house training.
• Highly IT literate, confident user of MS Office and legal and business information systems with experience of SharePoint or similar platforms.
• Interest in or experience of legal technology, including document automation, AI based tools (e.g. Luminance), e-signatures (e.g. Docusign) and extranet sites (e.g. HighQ Collaborate).

Note: where a level of preferred experience is indicated, this is a guideline and does not preclude applications from candidates with less or more experience.

• The ability to respond promptly to requests for work including research, expertise, training materials and other information.
• To be highly organised, with sound judgment and attention to detail.
• To be self-initiating and take a proactive approach towards projects; seek direction and advice as needed but also prepared to take ownership and progress tasks independently.
• The ability to communicate effectively and clearly in a multi-cultural environment.
• Credibility, and the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Confidence to work within a virtual team setting.
• A strong understanding and ability to promote connections between other business units.

Benefits, Agile Working And Additional Information

We embrace agile working and offer a blended approach to where and how we work. We value flexibility and recognise accomplishments over location. Our hubs across the UK include Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln, London, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Sheffield, Solihull, Stratford-upon-Avon and Tunbridge Wells. This role can be based from any UK hub, with occasional travel to midlands and southern hubs.

Additional information: Please note that for some vacancies, when we receive high numbers of applications, the close date may be brought forward. Employment is subject to various checks which will be carried out once an offer is accepted.

Equal opportunities

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. Everyone who applies to or works for the firm is treated equally.

About Ampa Group

Welcome to Ampa – a leading group of legal and professional services brands, home to Shakespeare Martineau, Lime Solicitors, Mayo Wynne Baxter, Marrons and others. Our House of Brands enables collaboration and growth across HR, IT, finance, marketing and other disciplines, supporting each brand with shared infrastructure and central services.

If you are passionate about driving positive change and joining an inclusive, diverse and supportive culture, we invite you to apply for this role within Ampa Group.