At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the expertise function, driving innovation and excellence in legal services across EMEA.
- Company: Join Ashurst Perkins Coie, a global leader in legal services with a focus on technology and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work options, health benefits, and career advancement opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative team driving change and excellence in the legal industry.
- Why this job: Shape the future of legal learning and expertise in a dynamic, inclusive environment.
- Qualifications: Senior lawyer with 10+ years' experience and proven leadership in legal expertise roles.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
At Ashurst Perkins Coie, we're helping shape the future economy. With a global team of more than 3,500 legal professionals across 52 offices, we partner with leading organisations to solve complex challenges across a diverse range of industries, with a distinct strength in technology, energy & infrastructure, and financial services. Our people work on market-leading matters that drive innovation, growth, and transformation around the world. For Ashurst Perkins Coie, innovation is our tradition.
What makes Ashurst Perkins Coie a great place to work?
- Flexible work options
- Health and wellbeing benefits, gym membership, and discounted corporate health plans
- Career advancement - client secondment opportunities, global opportunities, and award-winning Learning & Development programs
The Opportunity:
Knowledge & Expertise (K&E) is a highly regarded global function encompassing expertise & legal learning, research & business intelligence, and knowledge management. Our K&E specialists empower our legal teams with insights, skills and tools so that they can deliver exceptional client service across the globe. They:
- Equip our practices with high quality research and thought leadership and maintain our legal knowledge and information resources;
- Enable our lawyers to achieve practice excellence through legal learning programs and mentoring;
- Enhance our legal teams' work and client delivery by implementing next-generation tools and technologies, and by driving consistency in our legal documents and processes.
The creation of Ashurst Perkins Coie provides the springboard for us to develop a truly advanced global and AI-enabled expertise offering for our lawyers and clients, with consistency in quality our 'North Star'.
This newly uplifted EMEA Regional Director role offers the opportunity for the successful candidate to join our expertise function and our ambitious and inclusive K&E senior leadership team (SLT) as we start this exciting next growth phase. We welcome applications from candidates across the EMEA region.
The expertise function drives quality, efficiency and profitability through the development of expertise resources, the capture of practice experience and partner knowledge and through the delivery of quality initiatives and legal learning programs. It also supports the firm to win work through thought leadership and enables Ashurst Perkins Coie to anticipate and react to change as 'one firm' through its coordinated network of expertise partners and expertise lawyers.
The expertise function has a hybrid structure, with staff based in practices and centrally. This model recognises that an effective expertise function at a firm of Ashurst Perkins Coie's scale requires expertise partners and expertise lawyers who are embedded in practice groups, close to the work and deeply connected to their teams, together with central leadership, coordination and support, to ensure strategic alignment, quality and consistency across the firm.
About you:
The Regional Director will lead the elevation of the firm's expertise function, in close collaboration with their APAC counterpart, building on recent work which has strengthened the expertise lawyer role and improved expertise coverage across priority jurisdictions and practices.
Key objectives of the role include:
- Establishing a global, integrated approach to expertise for our newly combined firm;
- Ensuring the expertise function evolves to respond to emerging areas of law and practice and to address the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, automation and changing business needs;
- Embedding the Ashurst Perkins Coie combination by driving consistency and excellence in legal services firmwide, leveraging the full breadth of the firm's expertise to support our combined firm ambitions;
- Leading the central regional expertise team (currently four direct reports), inspiring and overseeing their performance and deliverables.
The Regional Director will join the K&E SLT, reporting to the Executive Director for Knowledge & Expertise and working closely with the other K&E Directors and the K&E Steerco to lead, shape and deliver the firm's global Knowledge & Expertise strategy.
The successful candidate will:
- A senior lawyer with deep technical expertise, practice experience and at least 10 years' post-qualification experience in a legal role.
- At least 5 years' experience as an expertise lawyer (or equivalent PSL role) and further experience in a leadership role within a Knowledge & Expertise (or equivalent) function in a leading international law firm, professional services firm or legal department OR equivalent partner-level experience.
- Proven leadership capability, with a track record of inspiring, motivating and developing high-performing teams in a professional services environment.
- Sufficient standing and experience to lead and line manage senior expertise employees and to advise and collaborate with senior management, expertise partners and other senior stakeholders.
- Ability to manage networks, influence senior stakeholders and bring a reflective, strategic, global perspective to planning and discussions.
More information can be found in the job description attached to the role on our careers site.
Director of Expertise and Legal Learning, EMEA in London employer: Ashurst
At Ashurst Perkins Coie, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our London office provides flexible working options, comprehensive health and wellbeing benefits, and numerous opportunities for career advancement through global exposure and award-winning learning programmes. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team that is shaping the future economy with cutting-edge technology solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Expertise and Legal Learning, EMEA in London
✨Get Involved in Law Societies
Join local law societies and attend their events – they're often a goldmine for networking and job opportunities in the legal field. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other budding lawyers and experienced solicitors who could provide vital insights and connections.
✨Tap into Online Legal Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online platforms like LinkedIn and specific legal forums. Get active in discussions or share your thoughts on recent legal developments – this not only builds your visibility but also showcases your passion and knowledge in law.
✨Attend Career Fairs and Workshops
Look out for career fairs and workshops specifically focused on law. Many law firms, including Ashurst, will be scouting for fresh talent, so bring your A-game and don’t shy away from making a memorable impression.
✨Leverage Your University’s Career Services
If you’re still in university or have recently graduated, latch onto your career services! They often have connections with law firms looking for graduates and can guide you through the application process tailored for the legal sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Expertise and Legal Learning, EMEA in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Legal Knowledge:When applying for a full-time role in legal services at Ashurst, make sure to demonstrate your understanding of key legal principles and areas of law relevant to the position. Include any specific coursework, modules, or certifications, like LPC or BPTC qualifications, that showcase your legal expertise directly on your CV.
Showcase Your Research Skills:In the legal field, strong research skills are crucial. Use your application to illustrate how you've utilised these skills in past studies or work experiences – whether that's through past internships or significant projects. Mention any legal databases or tools you’re proficient in, as this can give you an edge.
Tailor That Cover Letter!:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Make it personal by expressing your genuine interest in Ashurst and the specific role of Director of Expertise and Legal Learning, EMEA. Talk about why you want to be part of their team, how your unique experiences align with their values, and why you’re passionate about the legal sector.
Stay Formal but Friendly:While we all know the legal world can be pretty formal, don’t be afraid to let a bit of personality shine through in your written application. Use a respectful tone, but feel free to inject a little warmth; this approach can help you stand out and show you're a great fit for Ashurst’s culture!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ashurst
✨Know Your Legal Principles
Brush up on foundational legal principles relevant to the specific area of law you’re applying for, whether it’s corporate, criminal, or family law. We might get asked situational questions to test your knowledge, so being articulate about key concepts will make you stand out.
✨Be Ready for Case Studies
Full-time legal roles often involve case studies during interviews. Prepare to analyse a hypothetical case and discuss your approach to it. Practising this with a peer or mentor can help us refine our reasoning and articulate a solid legal argument.
✨Show Off Your Research Skills
As legal professionals, strong research skills are a must. Have examples ready of how you've effectively used legal databases or conducted thorough legal research in your past experiences. It's a great way to demonstrate your readiness for the role at Ashurst.
✨Exude Professionalism and Confidence
In the legal field, professionalism is key. During the interview, we should maintain good eye contact and communicate clearly to show that we’re not just knowledgeable, but also confident. This can make a positive impression on your potential colleagues at Ashurst.
