Knowledge Lawyer - Contentious Trusts and Estates

Farrer & Co is an independent law firm, with a rich history. A centuries-long tradition of advising private families, individuals and charitable institutions is today complemented by our work with businesses and entrepreneurs, from asset managers and sports bodies to international media groups.

We look to be the market leader in our chosen areas of expertise, advising clients on the contentious and non-contentious legal, business and personal issues they face.

Our reputation and success is based on the goodwill of numerous close client relationships. We are trusted advisers, acting in our clients' long-term interests and paying careful attention to quality and personal service.

Our clients tell us they value us for our integrity, good judgement and professional excellence, as well as our broad perspective, practical solutions and value for money. They describe us as 'a likeable bunch' too.

Our dispute resolution team handles a full range of litigation matters, from contract claims to large scale, complex multi-jurisdictional disputes and judicial review.  We regularly appear in the High Court and the Court of Protection as well as courts in the Channel Islands and overseas.  We also have significant experience of alternative dispute resolution and, in particular, arbitration and mediation.  We act for a broad array of clients including individuals, businesses ranging from small family businesses to significant corporates, banks, trustees and trust companies as well as schools, higher education institutions and not-for-profit organisations.  Our experience across this range of sectors ensures that our litigators understand the impact which a dispute can have on both an individual and at an organisational level.  Each dispute requires a tailored solution, and we are committed to working quickly with you to identify and understand the issues you are facing in order to achieve the best possible result.

The team is looking for a part-time Knowledge Lawyer, providing professional and technical legal support to fee-earners and clients. The role will include:

• To provide the Contentious Trusts and Estates team fee earners with professional and technical legal support, working alongside and with the Knowledge Lawyer for the Commercial Litigation and Private Client Departments as required.
• To lead on the professional development activity within the Contentious Trusts and Estates team ensuring fee earners’ knowledge of the KM content and systems is up to date and to manage those systems accordingly.
• To support KM at firm level working in conjunction with Marketing and BD to enhance our client service.
• To help improve the cost effectiveness of the Contentious Trusts and Estates team by improving processes and sharing knowledge.
• To assist the Contentious Trusts and Estates team to deliver a high-quality service to internal and external clients.

Strategy

• Take stock and analyse the team’s knowledge and training requirements, with support from fee earners and KL&D, focusing on the team priority areas for knowledge/skills gaps within the team, precedents and business development (to include article writing and the delivery of training talks and seminars).
• Draft training plan which fits in with and works alongside the team’s business development plan, consider any resource requirements for implementation, and start to roll out.

Standard Forms and Precedents

• Review team's use of Knowledge Centre/K&L resources.  Draw up proposals for discussion with partners/team with a view to improving the team’s use of Knowledge Centre.
• Consider, with input from fee-earner colleagues, whether or not there are precedents which would be of benefit to the team. Develop and maintain specialist precedents and example documents as required and agreed.
• Develop related guidance notes.
• Keep precedents, example and standard form documents and guidance notes up to date, including ensuring that the relevant section of the intranet is set up, maintained and kept up to date.

 Training and Seminars

• Co-ordinate, design and deliver training for team members;
• Provide input and leadership to the induction training of trainees and other new joiners to the Contentious Trusts and Estates team;
• Play an active part in the relevant Knowledge Lawyer network, liaising with key Knowledge Lawyers in the field and assessing viability of relevant developments;
• Liaise with other KL practitioners within the firm to ensure the team shares and gains best practice, and in particular operates effectively on a departmental level;
• Attend KL monthly meetings;
• Support the team in complying with the CPD regime; and
• Retain overall responsibility for the team resources (both hardcopy and online) from a budgetary and curating perspective.  Liaise with KL&D and Integreon on both aspects.

Business Development

• Become fully conversant with the team’s (and firm’s) BD strategy and business plan and actively work towards meeting the objectives and development of the plans.
• Work with team members to plan and (where appropriate) deliver seminars to clients and contacts, assessed against the team strategic priorities and working alongside other teams as required.
• Assist in the preparation of talks (to include research and drafting) being given at external conferences and events and consider how these might then be repurposed into shorter briefing notes and articles.
• Keep the team up to date with the latest developments in the world of contentious trusts and estates (both in the UK and offshore) to include legislative and case law developments. Be alert to how these developments could affect clients and potential clients.
• Work proactively with team members to write articles on relevant topics for publication and liaise with and build contacts with the editorial teams of relevant publications where possible. Help the Knowledge Partner to implement the team’s article writing policy with a view to ensuring consistent and high-quality briefings, articles and talks are prepared and circulated by fee earners of all levels in the team.
• As appropriate, actively to examine and promote the use of technology to improve the team’s client service and business development.
• Support Toby Graham in his role as the editor of Trusts and Trustees.
• Liaise with the KL&D team and other knowledge lawyers in the firm where appropriate and develop good relationships with the partners and fee earners within the team.
• Provide a support base for the fee earners and encourage the sharing of knowledge within the group and firm, including the mentoring of more junior fee earners where required and to deal with specific queries if and when they arise.
• Work with partners and BD and be responsible for the annual submissions to legal directories and for the STEP awards.

Technical Skills

• Legal Drafting.
• Word.
• Internet/Intranet.
• Precedent management system.
• Presentation package, e.g. PowerPoint (preferable but training can be provided).
• Online research resources.

• Strong academic background.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• To be pro-active in seeking out thought-leadership ideas, whether to improve ways of working or as regards to business development initiatives.
• Self-starting approach to tasks and projects and ability to work on own initiative.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills – an ability to interact with people at all levels.
• Good communication and project management skills, including an ability to persuade, present, write and précis.
• Research skills (using hard and soft source materials).

• Sound relevant experience gained within a respected Contentious Trusts and Estates team.
• It is likely that the successful candidate will have at least five years PQE as a Contentious Trusts and Estates lawyer.