Job description

We are currently recruiting for an HR Specialist to join our Early Careers HR team based in London.  The team and this role provide a high level of both HR operational support and HR advice to trainee solicitors, future trainees, solicitor apprentices and trainers. The Early Careers HR team sits within the global HR function.

Role and responsibilities
Secondment Process:

• Managing the trainee secondment process (where trainees have an opportunity to apply for international and client secondments). Responsibilities include: resource planning, analysing and monitoring trainee busyness levels, delivering a secondment briefing to trainees, advertising secondments, reviewing applications, managing the secondment allocation process and liaising with Global Mobility and the wider business to facilitate a successful process.  
• Overseeing the trainee client secondment on-boarding process.
• Managing any incoming trainee secondments (and the associated induction process, for example). 
• Support with the secondment programme for solicitor apprentices.

Seat Plan:

• Manage the Early Careers London seat plan (which includes trainees and solicitor apprentices). Responsibilities include: analysing seat preferences and preparing the seat plan, ensuring that trainees meet the necessary Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), and firm, requirements throughout their training contract.
• Liaising with the business - including trainee supervising partners - regarding allocations, to ensure a smooth seat rotation every six months.
• Arrange training for any new trainers, in each rotation.

Performance Development:

• Co-ordinate the performance review process: involves the communication of key deadlines to trainees, solicitor apprentices and trainers, monitoring completion of performance reviews and analysing performance rating allocations across the trainee population.
• Co-ordinate, organise and lead the trainee moderation process for each seat, in line with policy.
• Work with trainers to identify individuals who may benefit from further support and mentoring.
• Provide training to first seat trainees on the performance review process at A&O.
• Provide training to new trainers on the role of a trainer and best practice.

Sickness Absence:

• Responsibility for managing and/or supporting the HR Manager for Trainees with sickness absence matters - responsibilities include: (i) the proactive management of trainee sickness absence; (ii) conducting return to work or absence review meetings; and (iii) making Occupational Health referrals (where applicable).

Future Trainees & Trainee induction:

• Plan and work with the Early Careers HR Assistant and Senior Assistant to co-ordinate trainee inductions. Connect with the HR Manager for apprentices to ensure alignment between the trainee and apprentice inductions each September.
• Proactively manage and support future and current trainees with reasonable adjustments to be made during their training contract.
• Oversee the co-ordination of various events for future trainees/current trainees, including those taking place: (i) while future trainees are at law school; and (ii) when trainees are in the business (including in relation to seat planning, for example).

Qualification:

• Oversee the SRA admissions process to ensure that all trainees are admitted on time.
• Assist with exit interviews with trainees who are leaving the firm at the end of their training contract.

General:

• Work with the training team to ensure that all trainees, undertaking an England & Wales training contract globally, complete the required Professional Skills Course modules prior to qualification.
• Deliver presentations and training on key processes including the secondment process, seat planning and trainer training.
• Advising trainees and trainers on best practice, policies and procedures.
• Providing confidential guidance to trainees. 
• Providing HR operational service to trainees and trainers.
• Answering ad-hoc internal/external HR queries.
• Providing guidance to the Early Careers HR Assistant and Senior Assistant in Belfast.
• Liaising with a range of internal and external contacts e.g. Training Principal, Global Mobility team, international and London HR teams, trainers, Supervising Partners, the SRA (where applicable).
• Assisting the HR Managers with ad-hoc projects and tasks.
• Ensure that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, together with Mental Health & Wellbeing, are imbedded into the teams working practices and trainees are involved in shaping trainee related initiatives.

Key requirements

• Proven HR experience in a professional services organisation with experience of working with a graduate population, ideally within the legal sector
• Graduate calibre, ideally CIPD qualified or similar certification
• Can demonstrate strong relationship building and influencing skills
• Some experience of presenting to large groups and running events
• Good knowledge of current employment law particularly in relation to performance management and absence management
• Ability to be flexible and work across a wide range of client groups
• Excellent attention to detail, prioritisation and organisational skills
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills
• Proven ability to combine excellent technical knowledge with sound commercial judgement and to influence decisions
• Resilient; able to understand that credibility has to be earned in this environment and may take time
• Collaborative team player with the ability to work in a fast paced, intellectually rigorous environment
• Ability to work with diplomacy and tenacity and able to take the lead to conclude decisions
• Demonstrates a positive, pro-active attitude and proven ability to work well under pressure

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

We recognise the value of flexible working and embraces hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We do however remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together.

Additional information - External

A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 29 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world’s leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.