Kennedys is looking for a Legal Competence Advisor to join our Knowledge Management Team. The successful person will support the Senior Legal Competence Manager in being responsible for the Firm’s mandatory compliance training both in the UK and abroad. The role will involve creating, developing and delivering effective, innovative training solutions to meet the regulatory requirements of Kennedys UK based lawyers and staff. The role will involve working closely with and alongside the Senior Legal Competence Manager and the Legal Competence Advisors together with the Chief Risk Officer and colleagues in the Risk & Compliance Team. In doing so the successful person shall be required to identify and build successful business relationships both internally (across all levels of the business) and externally (commercial training and educational providers). The role shall also involve being proactive in promoting the Legal Competence Team (and wider Knowledge Management Team) across the firm which shall involve direct contact with and presentations to stakeholders (legal and business services). Whilst the main focus of the role is on provision of training within the UK, the successful person shall also play a strategic role in ensuring the effective delivery of mandatory training across all Kennedys offices internationally.
Team
This role sits within Kennedys Knowledge Management team which collaboratively work together to ensure that Kennedys lawyers have access to the knowledge, information and training they need in order to be able to deliver an excellent service to clients.
Key responsibilities
* Support the Senior Legal Competence Manager and take responsibility for ensuring timely provision of mandatory training (both annual training and that prescribed on an ad hoc basis)
* Monitoring completion and compliance with mandatory training, reporting on non-compliance
* Reporting on and providing analysis of data arising out of training
* Developing and utilising an escalation procedure for non-compliance
* Communicating to stakeholders the importance of and necessity for mandatory training
* Improving existing methods and platforms for the development and delivery of mandatory training
* Understanding the mandatory training needs of jurisdictions outside of the UK
* Reporting to and advising senior management such as the Chief Risk Officer
* Develop an awareness of and monitor significant regulatory and legislative changes impacting Kennedys staff in order to deliver a continuous and consistent programme of mandatory training, thus maintaining standards and client confidence
* Liaising with appropriate regulatory bodies both in the UK and globally.
* Building lasting relationships and liaising with external training and education providers
* Overseeing and taking responsibility, when required, for hosting training sessions both online and in person, with internal and/or external speakers/panellists.
* Work collaboratively with Kennedys business services teams (Risk & Compliance, Business Development, Corporate Affairs, Learning & Development and IT teams) to understand and facilitate the development of appropriate training for all Kennedys staff with different levels of experience.
* Positively contribute to the development of Kennedys UK Legal Competence service as centre of best practice, providing models/guidance for how legal training can be best delivered in our international offices, with consideration given to the differing regulatory requirements for training in the various jurisdictions in which Kennedys operates.
* Contributing to wider Knowledge Management projects as required.
* Have an understanding and awareness of Continuing Competence requirements for England & Wales legally qualified professionals (not limited to Solicitors) and increasing this scope to include the wider international jurisdictions in which Kennedys operates, in order that relevant guidance can be provided on regulatory obligations around Continuing Competence
Required experience
* Experience of having worked within a regulated industry/profession or within a Compliance department
* Excellent attention to detail and an ability to work to strict deadlines
* An ability for meticulous record keeping, excellent organisational and administrative skills
* Experience of reporting on progress and developments to senior managers.
* An understanding of escalation procedures and how to manage the same effectively
* Demonstrable data analytical skills and reporting
* Understanding of risk and mitigation through mandatory training
* Enthusiasm for technology and innovative methods of delivering training for an entire organisation
* Demonstrable knowledge of the legal services industry.
* Demonstrable experience of being a strong team player.
* Experience of working with external providers/suppliers and managing commercial relationships.
* Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with people at all levels throughout the firm, including across geographical boundaries.
* Excellent and concise oral and written communication skills with the ability to build credibility and relationships quickly.
* Excellent listening skills and a strong ability to show empathy, compassion and patience.
* Proven ability to work co-operatively, collaboratively, flexibly and a willingness to prioritise and deliver to team as well as individual objectives.
* Ability to influence senior and key stakeholders.
* Good IT skills - strong command of the MS Office suite.
* Experience of working within Learning & Development (or similar) at a law firm or other regulated professional services provider.
Please let us know if you require any additional support or adjustments to be made in order to submit your application to Kennedys.
*where a level of experience is indicated, this is a guideline only and represents the amount of time we would usually expect a candidate to accumulate the requisite level of experience. This does not preclude applications from candidates with more or less experience.