JOB DESCRIPTION
About Herbert Smith Freehills
As one of the world’s leading law firms, we advise many of the largest and most ambitious organisations across all major regions of the globe. With over 5,000 people, including 3,100 lawyers and over 2,000 business services professionals, operating from our global network of offices across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and North America, Herbert Smith Freehills is at the heart of the new global business landscape providing premium quality, full-service legal advice.
We recognise that the success of our business and our clients relies on the skills, knowledge and ideas of all our people. Our environment is one in which high performance is expected, in return, we will provide you with rewards and opportunities tailored to your personal and professional goals.
The Opportunity
Primary Responsibilities:
1. The primary function of the Research department is to support the legal and business information needs of partners, lawyers and Business service professionals. This team of highly experienced information professionals is led by the Senior Research Manager, UK, US & EMEA and currently has 11 members of staff.
2. The Research team manages an extensive range of online and hard copy legal and business information resources, underpinning the firm’s wide-ranging expertise and business development strategies. Besides providing research services, Research has a proactive role in the promotion of new technologies, with a particular emphasis on supporting an increasingly agile firm. Research pro-actively supports the firm's Ambition strategy.
3. The standard hours for this role will be 9.30am – 5.30 pm, but some flexibility may be required.
Key Performance Indicators:
4. Enquiries and complex research requests are completed on time and to the satisfaction of the user
5. Positive feedback from key stakeholders and other members of the Knowledge Learning and Research team
6. Demonstrated ability to work within policies and guidelines and to contribute to the attainment of department goals as set by the Research Manager
Key Responsibilities:
7. Supporting the firm to realise its strategy by delivering high quality business and legal research using a wide range of online and hardcopy resources
8. Supporting the Client, sector and market initiative by acting as a liaison to a sector lead. Proactively collaborate to understand their information needs and make recommendations based on existing resources available and deliver bespoke research
9. Providing insightful analysis on sectors, markets and companies and the firms strategic priorities
10. Supporting panel pitches process by providing research on clients
11. Use legal and business information resources to provide a current awareness service to the business
12. Produce and collate newsletters on sectors, clients or key topics
13. Contribute to horizon scanning and thought leadership initiatives
14. Training
15. Identify, design and deliver training on online information products and research techniques
16. Assist end users to develop their own research skills and strategies
17. Assist with the day-to-day maintenance of online resources and identify strategies to assist with promotion of existing and new resources
18. Liaise with external vendors and IT to manage and test infrastructure system upgrades
19. Liaise with external suppliers to resolve technical, content or access issues with resource
20. Assist with developing processes and procedures using key infrastructure tools (Library Management System, Intranet) to support all aspects of workflow to ensure efficiencies
21. Be a collaborative and active member of the Research team and provide support in all projects as and when they arise
22. Represent Research at appropriate meetings and supporting firm initiatives such as innovation, technology and digital
Key Internal Relationships:
23. Members of the global Knowledge, Learning and Research team
24. Partners, lawyers, Business Development, Professional Support Lawyers, Procurement
Key External Relationships:
25. Key vendors and suppliers
26. External information professionals
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
27. Postgraduate/graduate qualification in Library/Information Studies (or equivalent)
28. A minimum of 3 years' experience in a professional services library/research environment
29. Extensive knowledge of key information and research databases
30. Demonstrate a competent level of ability in the delivery of training
31. Experience of using SharePoint and automated library management systems
32. Basic financial management experience desirable
Team
Knowledge, Learning and Research
Working Pattern
Full time
Location
London
Contract type
Permanent Contract
Diversity & Inclusion
At Herbert Smith Freehills you will be part of a diverse, innovative culture where high performance, client focus and highly engaged people are our differentiator. People at our firm come from a range of backgrounds and bring a wide variety of experiences and perspectives to their work with us. We strive to ensure that our inclusive environment means you feel valued and able to perform at your best by being your authentic self at work. We know that our future success not only depends on being innovative and progressive in the changing legal market but, most importantly, on our people feeling highly engaged in meaningful work.
We understand that you have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to create a working environment based on mutual trust and respect, in which you can perform at your best whilst maintaining sustainable balance across your life.