(This position is not available to be performed in Colorado) A Knowledge Management (KM) attorney supports the creation and management of practice resources and tools that enable lawyers in the Firm to work more efficiently; collaborate; develop and share expertise; provide excellent, quality client service; and engage in marketing, branding and client development activities. KM Attorneys may be expected to have or develop specific substantive areas of legal expertise in order to support and work with practice groups and subject matters experts (SMEs). KM Attorneys support the publishing (print and online), conference attendance and social media efforts of attorneys seeking to enhance the Firm’s and their own individual marketing and client development efforts. KM Attorneys may also be expected to have or develop proficiency in technologies, software and online services that can be used to advance knowledge management practices and services within the Firm, for its attorneys, and outside the Firm, for its clients. KM Attorneys are responsible for encouraging the adoption and use of knowledge management products and services. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES - Depending on the needs and priorities of the KM Department, the areas of focus for a KM Attorney may include:
- Curating Firm Intellectual Resources (Model Precedents/ Know How/Reusable Work Product)
- Work with practice groups, SMEs and individual attorneys to create, organize and manage the Firm’s collection of model precedents or best practices documents and checklists.
- Proactively identify, collect, review and manage contributions to a practice group’s collection of reusable work product including sample documents, research memos, external seminar materials and other publications prepared by lawyers in the group.
- Determine what Firm intellectual resources should be available on practice group pages and working with the KM tech team to make sure resources are user-friendly, timely posted, and maintained (i.e., up-to-date).
- Proactively find, and suppor, ways and means to distribute the Firm’s intellectual resources (1) internally to our attorneys – e.g., through the Firm’s intranet, internal webinars, professional development programs, “all-practice-group emails or memos;” (2) externally to our clients – e.g., through client alerts, toolkits or similar service solutions, webinars; and (3) to the public – e.g. through Littler.com, publications, social media, etc.
- Conduct or oversee legal research projects necessary to create new Firm intellectual resources.
- Work with and support the Library staff to ensure that changes in law are quickly and accurately reflected in the Firm’s intellectual resources.
PRACTICE INNOVATION - Support the KM Department’s initiatives and implementation of new tools relating to matter management, process improvement, and innovation in the delivery of legal services. This could include identifying opportunities to assist practice groups, case teams or individual attorneys in developing new client-facing service solutions utilizing existing KM-related software applications (Neota Logic, KMStandards, Courtroom Insight, SharePoint, working with the Apps/Dev department to develop new applications, or identifying and acquiring new software applications.
- Support the implementation of new collaboration tools to encourage and enable the sharing of information and knowledge among attorneys in the firm. This could include identifying opportunities to assist practice groups, case teams or individual attorneys in developing new internal applications to help attorneys collaborate, share information and work more efficiently.
- Develop appropriate business plans detailing the business case (ROI), market opportunity, resource requirements and initial project plans for new service solutions, application development, or other client-facing or internal initiatives.
- Conduct or oversee legal research projects necessary for the creation of new software applications and collaboration tools.
- Once such client-facing or internal applications or tools have been deployed, serving as a “product line” leader to advance adoption. This could include working with Client Relations/Marketing to develop and implement marketing initiatives, providing training to end-users, conducting internal webinars, conducting office visits or preparing written communications and training manuals.
CURRENT AWARENESS & PUBLICATIONS - Ensure that the publications, software applications or service solutions that the KM Attorney supports are regularly updated as necessitated by changes in the law.
- Identify recent legal or industry practice developments that would be of interest to clients and drafting or editing client alerts, updates or other communications relating to such developments.
- Assist in drafting guides for clients on relevant topics.
- Assisting with content development for the firm’s annual Executive Employer Conference
TECHNICAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES REQUIRED - Excellent writing skills, including the ability to gather due diligence, perform research and document conclusions and recommendations.
- Outstanding verbal and presentation skills, including the ability to address large groups.
- Understanding of and familiarity with legal technology, such as computer-assisted legal research, search tools and the demonstrated ability to quickly learn new applications. Experience with document automation is a positive.
- Ability to take an assignment from inception to completion with minimal supervision or by following broad guidelines.
- Ability to assess information, anticipate issues and outcomes, and make effective decisions.
- Creative problem-solving skills and the ability to think beyond the task or project at hand.
- Content management experience preferred, including experience working with taxonomies, library research principles.
- Strong understanding of knowledge management, trends in the industry as they pertain to law firms; understanding of the range of technologies available to effectively deliver information and knowledge services.
- Ability to present ideas in business-friendly and user-friendly language.
- Highly self-motivated and self-directed, with keen attention to detail.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE J.D. degree required - Background in knowledge management, legal process improvement, or legal technology software/application development preferred.
- Solid legal background in the area of labor and employment law through 4–5 years of practice with a large law firm preferred.
- This position will be responsible for conducting legal research including the analysis of issues and determination of proper legal authority and preparing summary responses for review by supervising attorneys. Must be able to comply with the Firm’s quality, objectivity, and style standards, for a highly educated audience.
- Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
SCOPE OF JOB DESCRIPTION AND MODIFICATIONS This job description does not limit the tasks that an employee may reasonably be requested to perform. Substantive changes to this job description may be necessary to meet the changing business needs of the Firm. Any substantive revisions to this job description require the approval of the Chief Knowledge Officer. Notwithstanding this Position Description, all Littler Mendelson employees are at-will employees – each may resign at any time and for any reason, and the Firm is free to terminate the employee at any time, with or without cause and with or without notice. |