Overview

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do.

We are a collegial, collaborative, and diverse firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realize their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

If you enjoy working with team members whose defining characteristics are exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, you may be the person we are seeking to join our Knowledge Management department in our Chicago office as a Knowledge Management Specialist 

The Knowledge Management Specialist oversees various Knowledge Management tools and processes, and serves as a key point of coordination with practice leaders and others in connection with the development, implementation and maintenance of Knowledge Management initiatives. These initiatives may include: The implementation and ongoing oversight of document automation for the streamlining of drafting, analysis, review and management of legal contracts and documents; improving and scaling Mayer Brown’s electronic production, distribution and storage of transactional closing document sets; supporting quality maintenance and improvement processes related to the Firm’s Global Knowledge Bank (GKB), and contributing to the design and maintenance of the Firm’s Practice Pages on the intranet.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions: 

• Utilizes legal knowledge in order to work closely with the practices to promote automation solutions both within Mayer Brown and as a potential client-facing solution
• Supports practices to help them automate their standard documents and to keep their respective collections accurate and up to date
• Coordinates with practice members to understand the relevance of component parts of the document and apply logic to those relevancies in order to create optimal automation
• Researches and instigates new procedures/services that can improve efficiency and document quality
• Provides training to lawyers on how to mark-up a document for automation and provide advice on the best practice for document automation
• Provides training to lawyers and other staff on how to use the Firm’s document automation tool to automate a document
• Finds creative methods of resourcing projects so that document automation capabilities may be scaled throughout the firm
• Project manages each document automation project
• Tests the document automation, records and resolves errors in automation
• Applies their legal knowledge in order to deconstruct a document into its component parts and applying logic to the underlying structure to assess the level of automation required and to create the automation design
• Coordinates with vendors and Mayer Brown’s IT team on back-end configuration and process for new tools and improvements to existing tools
• Provides primary oversight of a global system to for the production, distribution and storage of transactional closing document sets, including quality checks and periodic system enhancements and process improvements
• Works with practices to help ensure that relevant Practice-specific resources are available on the Practice pages on Mayer Brown’s intranet
• Promotes knowledge sharing through Mayer Brown’s Knowledge processes and systems in order to facilitate seamless exchange of information across systems
• Oversees quality processes relating to the Firm’s Global Knowledge Bank (GKB)
• Supports the Knowledge Department with appropriate analysis and reporting materials
• Assists with developing, analyzing and reporting of usage and other metrics associated with Knowledge Management tools
• Assists other Knowledge projects as the need arises, with potential focus on standard forms, filed litigation documents, matter profiling, current awareness, process mapping, search, external legal practice resources, local counsel referrals, document automation, cognitive technologies, and other tools and resources
• Drafts training materials, policy documents, presentations, and other key documentation and materials
• Assists in the preparation of quarterly Knowledge status reports to the Chief Operating Officer and the Management Committee
• Participates in regular meetings of the Knowledge Department and the Professional Support team
• Provides other knowledge support and handle other tasks as may be assigned by the Knowledge Department leadership team.
• Stays up to date on new developments and principles within the Knowledge Management community
• Performs other duties as assigned or required to meet Firm goals and objectives

Qualifications

Education/Training/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s or equivalent undergraduate college degree, required
• Juris Doctor degree, required

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of two years of experience in a large law firm or corporate/financial institution legal department with Knowledge Management experience, preferred
• Prior experience with Contract Express document automation, strongly preferred

Technical Skills: 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products and particularly Excel and Word, required
• Strong drafting and research skills, required
• Understanding of learning processes and different methods of training, required
• Experience with document automation tools (e.g. Contract Express) and related technologies and transactional document deconstruction and analysis tools, strongly preferred
• Experience with Power BI and SQL reporting, preferred
• Understanding of project management principles, preferred
• Familiarity and comfort with technology tools of the types typically used in law firms and notably document management systems, preferred

Performance Traits: 

• High professional standards with a high attention to detail
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with firm practice leaders and firm management
• Well-developed organizational skills and the ability to lead projects
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with people at all levels and in multiple global locations and cultures
• Pragmatic, self-motivated, flexible and good team worker
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner with all levels of the Firm and outside vendors
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the Firm
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines with shifting priorities
• Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative
• Strong customer service skills, able to anticipate needs and exercise independent judgment
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion
• Exercises solid strategic thinking and problem-solving skills

Physical Requirements:

• May require occasional lifting of up to 20 lbs.
• May require travel to other offices as needed

The above is a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

The Firm may modify and amend this job description at any time at its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401 (k) savings plan, back-up childcare and eldercare, generous paid time off (PTO), as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

Thank you for your interest in Mayer Brown. We are committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and disabled veterans. To request a reasonable accommodation related to the application process and/or job interview, please email uslateralrecruiting@mayerbrown.com. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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