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

Key Internal Relationships:

• Members of the global Knowledge and Research team
• Partners, lawyers, Business Development, Professional Support Lawyers, Procurement. Learning and Organizational Development, Business Finance

Key External Relationships:

• Key vendors and suppliers
• External information professionals

Role / Primary Responsibilities:

• 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 Research Manager, West and currently has 11 members of staff based in London.
• 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 strategies
• The standard hours for this role will be 9.30am - 5.30 pm, but some flexibility may be required.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Reference and research requests are completed on time and to the satisfaction of the user
• Positive feedback from key stakeholders and other members of the Knowledge and Research team
• 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:

Research Services

Supporting the firm to realise its strategy by delivering high quality business and legal research using a wide range of online and hardcopy resources
Supporting panel pitches process by providing research on clients

Current awareness

• Use legal and business information resources to provide a current awareness service to the business
• Produce and collate newsletters on sectors, clients or key topics

Training

• Design and deliver training on online information products and research techniques
• Assist end users to develop their own research skills and strategies

Procurement and collection development

• Management of complete lifecycle of hardcopy material
• Selection, procurement and cataloguing of hardcopy resources across the global network
• Updating and amending catalogue records, processing and distributing new books
• Arranging for the disposal or withdrawal of stock
• Liaise with stakeholders to evaluate requirements
• Use infrastructure products (Library Management System, Resource Management System) to track, analyse and review database usage
• Liaise with external suppliers to resolve technical, content or access issues with resources
• Process payment of invoices

Additional duties

• Be a collaborative and active member of the Research team supporting in all projects as and when they arise
• Some administrative duties such as managing the research rota and organising the weekly new joiner induction

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Postgraduate/graduate qualification in Library/Information Studies (or equivalent)
• Demonstrate an interest in the Library/Information profession
• Demonstrated attention to detail
• Willingness to learn and adapt to new challenges
• Proficiency in basic technical skills using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Familiarity with Microsoft SharePoint (preferred)
• Basic understanding of data analysis and reporting techniques
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team
• Effective problem-solving skills and a proactive attitude
• Excellent time management and organizational skills

Team

Knowledge, Learning and Research, London KL&R Helen McQuillin Level 2

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

London

Contract type

Permanent Contract

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.