The Department

The People team play a key role in enabling the firm to attract, develop and retain great people, and giving them the tools and support needed to develop and fulfil their potential, and that of the firm. The team is welcoming, inclusive, driven by providing a 'high touch' level of service, and collaborative in terms of how we work. The team consists of c.40 people in both business-facing, generalist roles (Advisory) alongside specialist teams (Data & Systems; Reward; Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing; Employment, Policy & Engagement; Talent Acquisition, as well as our Academy, which consists of Academy Learning, Academy Tech and Early Careers).

Early Careers Team

The team of five look after the attraction, recruitment, development and support of our Graduate Trainees and Apprentices, as well as regular cohorts of work experience, internships, and outreach programmes including their transition into the firm upon qualification.

Reporting to the Early Careers Manager, the Advisor will focus on the support, development and performance management of all the Graduates and Apprentices for the duration of their programmes.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone in a similar role or someone with generalist people experience who is looking to develop their experience within Early Careers. The ideal candidate will have employee relations and programme management experience, line management experience, a proactive attitude and strong organisational skills. This role will involve working under pressure and dealing with stakeholders at all levels of the firm. The ability for local travel and to work from our offices on a regular basis will be required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Overall responsible for the day-to-day running of the Early Careers processes, including:

• Managing the Early Careers processes across each entry channel into the key areas of the business (legal, legal operations and business operations).
• Responsible for feeding into the Early Careers budget.
• Build strong working relationships and collaborate with key stakeholders within the business and People team.
• Working with the Early Careers Manager to review and update the existing development processes in line with the firm's D&I/EDI Strategy.
• Management and coaching of an Early Careers Assistant.
• Taking responsibility for your own continuous professional development, ensuring up to date knowledge of best practice.

Onboarding & induction

Responsible for the day-to-day running of the induction programmes for apprentices and interns, including:

• Onboarding.
• Contributing and delivering sessions during their inductions.
• Making recommendations and implement process improvements.

Development

Responsible for the delivery of development programmes across all three entry channels and business areas, including:

• Maintaining strong relationships with the Graduate and Apprenticeship Training Principals.
• Designing and managing the delivery of the Graduate and Apprenticeship development programmes.
• Delivering supervisor training and supporting supervisors in their role.
• Managing the Graduate and Apprenticeship and intern/work experience feedback process and providing additional support where needed. Meeting with apprentices/interns to discuss development more generally.
• Managing the Graduate and Apprenticeship seat move process, liaising with key stakeholders regarding seat availability, allocation of seats, communication with supervisors and apprentices.
• Managing relationships with Graduate and Apprenticeship (legal and non-legal) training providers. Facilitating the relationship between providers, line managers and Apprentices.
• Providing people support to apprentices on employee relations issues, such as performance, health and wellbeing or personal issues, working with the People Advisory team.
• Overseeing the payment of educational fees and maintained grants.
• Making recommendations and implement process improvements.

Other responsibilities

Work collaboratively with the other Early Careers Advisor on the attraction and recruitment process across all entry channels where needed, including:

• Organisation and participation in the candidate attraction process including law fairs, open days, work experience, school outreach and other marketing events.
• Screening applications, video interviews, attend and present at assessment centres, facilitate wash-up sessions, make offers and manage acceptance.
• Running assessment days and other recruitment events to ensure a positive candidate experience.
• Collating feedback, reflecting on the recruitment process and statistics, consideration of alternative/improved methods of filtering for different entry routes.
• Working with recruitment software providers and addressing and escalating issues.
• Making recommendations and implement process improvements.
• Support with school outreach programmes, including events, webinars, work experience days/weeks.
• Liaising with the Firm's EDI Committees (Race Equity, Social Mobility, Gender, LGBTQ+, Disability) to develop initiatives in line with our Core Values and EDI Strategy.

Experience

• Worked in a similar role and/or function within a law firm.
• Experience dealing with complex employee relation issues, such as performance, conduct, conflict, discrimination and mental/physical health concerns.
• Experience setting up and managing graduate and/or apprenticeship programmes.
• Experience managing D&I/EDI initiatives.

Skills

• Ability to build a network with key stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to manage projects and initiatives with minimal guidance.
• Ability to solve problems quickly and creatively.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Ability to effectively manage own workload.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Personable and confident, able to build relationships with partners/ key stakeholders.
• Resilient and calm under pressure.
• Adaptable and flexible approach.
• Proactive and takes initiative.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

About The Mishcon de Reya Group

TheMishcon de ReyaGroup is an independent, international professional services business with law at its heart, employing over 1450 people with over 650 lawyers. It includes the law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP and a collection of leading consultancy businesses that complement the firm's legal services.

Mishcon de Reya LLP is based in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore and Hong Kong (through its association withKaras So LLP). The firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply. Its work is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, spanning six core practice areas:Corporate;Dispute Resolution; Employment;Innovation;Private; andReal Estate.

TheMishcon de Reya Groupincludes consultancy businessesMDR Cyber,MDR Discover,MDR Mayfair(in London, Singapore and Dubai),MDR One,MDRiand MDRx. The Group also includesMDR Lab, which invests in the most promising early stage legaltech companies as well as the Mishcon Academy, its in-house place of learning and platform for thought leadership.

Earlier this year, the Group announced its first strategic acquisition in the alternative legal services market, flexible legal resourcing business Flex Legal. It also acquired a majority stake in Somos, a global group actions management business.

We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.

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