Kennedys is looking for a Legal Competence Adviser to join our Knowledge Management Team. The successful person shall support the Senior Legal Competence Manager in facilitating the creation and delivery of effective, innovative training solutions to meet the needs of Kennedys UK based lawyers. As a core component of the role you will have the opportunity to work across all of Kennedys practice area teams and act as a project manager supporting legal competence stakeholders (partners, lawyers, and other legal competence advisers) playing an instrumental part (and possible take the lead) on the creation and implementation of training and competency programmes in a timely fashion (often to short timescales). The role will involve working closely with and alongside the Senior Legal Competence Manager and the Legal Competence Advisers who are responsible for identifying and understanding legal technical training needs both in terms of continuing competency (as prescribed by professional regulatory bodies) and those unique to Kennedys business needs (such as regulatory/legislative changes and case law development). 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). T
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.
The team is based in London.
Key responsibilities
* Support the Senior Legal Competence Manager and work alongside other Legal Competence Advisers assisting lawyers at all levels within Kennedys UK offices to manage the creation and delivery of training programmes.
* Act as a project manager overseeing the creation and delivery of training programmes to firm deadlines. This will involve liaising closely with key stakeholders and those performing tasks within a project in a sensitive and appropriate manner to ensure efficient delivery.
* Acting as a co-ordinator for stakeholders and chairing meetings to ensure that projects are on course for delivery by the required deadline
* Reporting on development and progress of projects and looking at ways to mitigate risks of late delivery where delays occur.
* Develop an awareness of and monitor significant legal, procedural and industry/sector developments impacting Kennedys England & Wales qualified lawyers in order to facilitate the delivery a continuous and consistent programme training for divisions and specific practice area teams as required.
* Building lasting relationships and liaising with external training providers such as barristers chambers and commercial providers from whom the firm has procured subscription services.
* 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 lawyers 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
* Project management experience and the ability to demonstrate providing deliverables within strict timeframes.
* Ability to ensure progress and development of projects in a reasonable and appropriate manner.
* Experience of reporting on progress and developments to senior managers.
* 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.