At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive innovation and support legal excellence in a dynamic corporate environment.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking law firm committed to diversity and wellbeing.
- Benefits: Flexible working, health initiatives, and a culture that values your voice.
- Other info: Inclusive recruitment process and opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of legal technology and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Qualified lawyer with 5+ years PQE and a passion for innovation.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
The Business Group Knowledge Lawyer (BGKL) is a senior lawyer role who will report directly into the Business Group Head (BGH) for our Corporate and Commercial Services Business Group (CCS). You will be part of a team of two knowledge lawyers and a knowledge paralegal who will work with the BGH.
In this role you will work strategically with the BGH to help deliver key knowledge and innovation priorities for the Business Group. This will include:
- Supporting the lawyers in the Business Group responsible for technical excellence in their area of expertise, including supporting on training and promoting a culture of excellence.
- Playing a leading role in developing and promoting innovation in the Business Group, including developing and promoting the use of our self-service legal technology toolkit and acting as the subject matter expert for legal technology tools that are specific to the Business Group.
- Supporting on the preparation and, where appropriate, delivery of client facing knowledge-led content.
The Business Group covers a broad range of specialist corporate and commercial legal areas, carried on through a number of teams. There is no expectation that this role requires you to be a subject matter expert for every specialism within the Business Group, although a strong grounding in Digital and Technology law and practice will be particularly advantageous, both in terms of supporting the specialist lawyers in that area but also holding a strong interest and understanding in the opportunities that technology presents for the Business Group and its clients.
You will work with the BGH, team leaders and the wider Business Group Knowledge Team to:
- Drive a culture of excellence and continuous development of the Business Group's legal knowledge.
- Facilitate an environment where teams and individual lawyers feel empowered to play a key role in developing their own knowledge and can see the value in doing so.
- Ensure the adoption of processes to support early-stage talent development and that the wider Business Group is kept up to date with new legal developments, risk and best practice updates and new ways of working.
- Support in the preparation and, where appropriate, delivery of knowledge-led value add training for the Business Group's clients.
In addition, you will work with the Chief Innovation Officer (and the wider Innovation & Legal Technology Team) to support the adoption of legal technology, drive innovation, and identify more effective ways of delivering legal services.
Core responsibilities and deliverables include:
- Continuous improvement of each team's processes for developing legal knowledge ensuring consistency and best practice across all teams.
- Supporting the lawyers in the Business Group responsible for technical excellence in their area of expertise, with a particular focus on Digital and Technology law and practice.
- Manage training and development of legal knowledge for early-stage talent, along with wider current awareness in respect of risk, working practices and legal updates for the broader Business Group.
- Promote development across the teams through our third-party content and related tools.
- Play a key role in promoting the use of AI and our self-service legal technology toolkit acting as the subject matter expert for legal technology tools that are specific to the Business Group.
- Work closely with the wider Business Group Knowledge Team, particularly ensuring that the Knowledge Team's paralegal support is effectively supervised and developed.
- Support in responding to tender questions relating specifically to knowledge management and innovation in the Business Group.
- Work with our business development teams in terms of horizon scanning and innovation developments to help identify opportunities for us to provide training, thought leadership and proactive solutions for our clients.
- Support on the preparation and, where appropriate, delivery of client facing knowledge-led content.
The ideal candidate will need to have strong experience of working within the commercial/corporate team of a large UK law practice. As well as this background you should be able to demonstrate an interest in innovation and AI and want this change of direction in your legal career. You will need to be a self-starter taking the initiative to work with a variety of people both across our firm and externally to bring expertise back to the group. Communication skills are key as well as the ability to interpret new content and drive new ways of working. You'll be influencing change, introducing new concepts/processes and championing innovation.
To be successful in this role you'll need as a minimum:
- A qualified lawyer with at least 5 years + PQE.
- Strong knowledge of UK commercial contracting law.
- A strong interest in innovation, the adoption of legal technology and embedding AI into ways of working to drive continuous improvement across the Business Group.
- Previous experience of coaching, training or mentoring.
- Experience of working and driving change within a large law practice.
- Previous experience in a legal technology and AI role is not required although we are looking for a strong interest in this space.
We continually work hard to create an open culture that sets us apart from other firms. As signatories to the Mindful Business Charter, it's important to us that our people are able to maintain healthy and happy lives, both in and out of work. We have a number of resources and initiatives designed to support health and wellbeing and we're very happy to talk flexible working.
Through our DEI initiatives we create an environment in which difference is valued. We have a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group, led by our Board Sponsor, which works with our colleague networks (we currently have firm supported networks for race, ethnicity, and cultural heritage, LGBTQ+, disabilities, neurodiversity, families, and women's career development and we're in constant dialogue with our people about how we expand our networks to better support everybody).
We encourage applicants from all social backgrounds, ethnicities, disabilities, gender identities and sexual orientations. We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long term condition and need us to make any adjustments to give you the best possible recruitment process, please let us know by contacting the recruiter on the right hand side of this page.
We will offer an interview to candidates with a disability or long-term condition who meet the minimum criteria for this role. You can opt into this scheme within the application form. Your response to this question is only used for this purpose, is only visible to the recruitment team and is not used for data monitoring.
We are an in-house recruitment team and will always aim to fill our roles directly in the first instance.
Location: Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, Newcastle, Plymouth, Remote, Southampton
Contract Type: Permanent
Work location: Hybrid
Business Group Knowledge Lawyer - Corporate and Commercial in Leeds employer: Womble Bond Dickinson
As a leading corporate tax advisory firm, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to thrive. With a strong focus on professional development, our team members benefit from direct mentorship by industry leaders and access to a wealth of resources aimed at enhancing their technical expertise. Located in vibrant cities like Bristol, Leeds, London, Newcastle, and Southampton, we offer flexible working arrangements and a commitment to diversity, ensuring that every employee feels valued and supported in their career journey.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Group Knowledge Lawyer - Corporate and Commercial in Leeds
✨Get Involved in Law Societies
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✨Attend Career Fairs and Workshops
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✨Leverage Your University’s Career Services
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We think you need these skills to ace Business Group Knowledge Lawyer - Corporate and Commercial in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Legal Knowledge:When applying for a full-time role in legal services at Womble Bond Dickinson, 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 Womble Bond Dickinson and the specific role of Business Group Knowledge Lawyer - Corporate and Commercial. 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 Womble Bond Dickinson’s culture!
How to prepare for a job interview at Womble Bond Dickinson
✨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 Womble Bond Dickinson.
✨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 Womble Bond Dickinson.
