Knowledge Lawyer

Farrer & Co is synonymous with the highest quality legal advice and service.

We advise individuals, families, businesses, financial services, educational and not-for-profit organisations on every aspect of the law, wherever the need arises. From our offices in London we work with trusted professionals around the world to deliver a seamless international service.

Our clients present us with complex and varied challenges. Whether that's a complicated family trust issue, a multinational corporate transaction, or an emerging threat to their reputation, they need clear thinkers who can advise on the best solutions, fast thinkers when speed is of the essence and agile thinkers who can produce a fresh approach to get the job done. That's why they choose us.

Our clients value our in-depth knowledge, technical excellence and diversity of disciplines. But what really binds our long-standing relationships with them is our approach: pragmatic, plain speaking and always steadfast in our values, which we hold dear. Values which mean we gain our clients' trust, always strive to do the right thing, and aim for the best results for them.

Superb client service sits at the heart of everything we do. We are modern lawyers with timeless values.

With specialists in all areas of property law, the Property department provides complex multi- faceted advice in relation to commercial, residential, and rural property matters. We also advise on the full range of construction, planning and environmental law, including risk management and environmental permissions, working with a client base that includes landowners, investors and institutions.

The department’s Residential Property and Secured Lending team is one of the largest teams of dedicated residential property lawyers in the sector. We act on prime and super prime residential property transactions and advise on all aspects of residential property ownership and management including enfranchisement. We also act for a large number of private banks on the grant of security over residential property including advising on the structure of the security as well as the property due diligence.

The Property department is looking to increase the knowledge and learning support provided across each of its three practice areas: Commercial; Residential and Rural. The support is currently provided by two Knowledge Lawyers and the intention is to have one specialist Knowledge Lawyer for each practice area. The three Knowledge Lawyers will provide specialist support for their respective practice area whilst collaborating closely with each other to ensure that all knowledge and learning requirements are covered and that there is consistency across the department.

We are looking for an experienced residential property knowledge lawyer or a senior residential property lawyer who is keen to move into a knowledge role, to provide professional and technical legal support to fee-earners and clients.

The role will involve working with the Residential Property and Secured Lending Knowledge Partner, and the other Property Knowledge Lawyers as necessary.

We are looking for someone who will be able to work dynamically to provide tailored knowledge support in line with the changing needs of the team and market. The role would include the following responsibilities.

Standard Forms and Precedents

• Improve and maintain (and, where relevant, develop) the specialist precedents, standard form documents and example documents relevant to the Residential Property and Secured Lending team.
• Work alongside the other Knowledge Lawyers in the department where precedents and guidance etc might be of wider relevance and application.
• Develop and maintain 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 and knowledge database is maintained and kept up to date.
• To assist with and, where required, undertake compliance related work liaising with the firm’s Risk & Compliance department as necessary.

Resources, tools and systems

• Ensure fee earners’ knowledge of the KM content and systems is up to date and manage and promote the use of those systems accordingly.
• Consider, and if advised, assist to implement any additional tools, technology solutions or platforms which might assist the fee earners.
• Work with the Library to ensure that the Property department has access to the legal information resources it needs, inputting into the Research Resources budgeting process as required.
• Update and expand the Property department’s information and specialist Residential Property and Secured Lending know how material available on the intranet and the firm’s know how database.

Know How and Marketing

• 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.
• Keep the team up to date with the latest developments (including legislative and case law developments and the progress of draft legislation).
• To keep up to date on financial, economic and market forces which might apply and have relevance to the work and business of the Residential Property and Secured Lending team and wider department.
• Write periodic bulletins for circulation to intermediaries and clients.
• Where required, provide ad hoc advice to and/or present to clients.
• To be fully conversant with the department’s (and firm’s) BD strategy and business plan and actively work with the relevant BD Managers in meeting the objectives of the plans.
• Work with team members to write articles for publication and liaise with and build contacts with the editorial teams of relevant publications where possible.
• Coordinate matter debriefs within the team where appropriate.
• As appropriate, actively examine and promote the use of technology to improve the team’s client service and business development.
• Play an active part in the relevant Knowledge Lawyer network (APSL), liaising with key Knowledge Lawyers in the field and assessing viability of relevant developments.

Training and Seminars

• Liaise with KL&D in connection with the firm-wide provision of training to ensure the needs of the Residential Property team and department are met.
• Design, organise (and where necessary deliver) internal training programmes (including trainee training, specialist residential property training as well as training for the whole property department), including organising external speakers where appropriate.
• Work with team members to plan and deliver seminars to intermediaries/clients and/or similar events.
• Liaise with the Knowledge Partners to prepare and manage the team training budget in conjunction with KL&D.
• Provide input and leadership to the induction training of trainees and other new joiners to the team.
• Liaise with other Knowledge Lawyers and wider knowledge community within the firm to ensure the team shares and gains best practice, and in particular, operates effectively on a departmental level. Attends internal monthly Knowledge Forum meetings.

• Legal Drafting
• Word and PowerPoint.
• Intranet/extranet content management and editing.
• KM systems/knowledge databases.
• Online research resources.
• Laserform/electronic forms software.
• Experience of Land Registry and SearchFlow.

• Excellent organisational skills.
• Strong academic background.
• To be proactive 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 precisely.
• Research skills (using hard and online source materials).

• Sound relevant experience gained within a respected residential property team (secured lending expertise preferred but not essential).
• The successful candidate is likely to have at least 7 years PQE experience.
• PSL experience helpful but not essential.

Happy to talk flexible working. This role is suitable for individuals looking to work 0.6 to 0.8 FTE across any working pattern. Flexible working patterns will be considered within the firm’s agile working framework.

Farrer & Co is an equals opportunity employer who welcomes applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We look to employ the best candidates regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or any other protected characteristic.

We are keen to ensure candidates have the best interview experience possible, if you require any adjustments during the interview or application process please let the recruitment team know.

Farrer & Co conducts a pre-employment screening which consists of a Criminal History Background and Credit Check for successful candidates.