Development

• Oversee the planning and execution of the six-monthly seat allocation process, including conducting one-to-one meetings with trainees and apprentice solicitors.
• Manage the trainee solicitor qualification process to meet business needs and trainee aspirations, including dealing with all SRA paperwork and checks.
• Support and advise trainee and apprentice supervisors on best practice in their roles, including conducting meetings at the midpoint of each seat to discuss trainee performance and development.
• Run trainee and apprentice discussion forums and committee meetings.
• Monitor current and future trainee performance through to qualification, and proactively deal with any performance, disciplinary, or pastoral issues alongside the firm’s Training Principal.
• Ensure the mid and end of seat appraisal process for trainee solicitors and apprentice solicitors is completed in a timely manner. Provide training and administrative support as appropriate.
• In conjunction with the Learning & Development team, manage the ongoing development of the Trainees and Apprentice Solicitors, assisting with planning the six-monthly induction process as required.
• Conduct exit interviews with trainees and apprentices where applicable.

Future Trainees

• Organise payment of course tuition, exam fees, maintenance grants, and interest-free loans.
• Organise and attend future trainee engagement events.
• Participate in the wider future trainee contact program.

Additional Administrative And Management Responsibilities

• Keep the HR system (Peoplesoft) up to date at all times.
• Review and update trainee and future trainee personnel files.
• Keep up to date with SRA regulations and developments governing trainee solicitors (including SQE) and propose changes to current HR policies and practices as appropriate.
• Keep other members of the HR Department up to date with developments in the client groups. Share knowledge and ideas and provide assistance to other members of the team to ensure the spread of good practice and development of precedents.

Other

• Work with the Global Chief HR Officer and HR Projects team on global graduate recruitment initiatives where applicable.
• Work closely with the Senior HR Manager - Compensation & Benefits to input into the compensation strategy, advising on issues relating to trainee solicitors and apprentice solicitors including salary, university fees, and maintenance payments.
• Prepare the graduate recruitment budget and monitor costs throughout the year.
• Provide reports and statistical analysis on graduate recruitment activities as required.
• Liaise with the SRA to ensure that Mayer Brown is compliant with regulatory requirements. Register all trainee solicitors on commencement of employment and upon qualification.
• Undertake projects and ad hoc responsibilities as required.
• Assume responsibility for own personal development.

Qualifications

• Educated to a degree level or equivalent.

Experience, Skills, And Personal Attributes

• Experience working in a Graduate Recruitment function at Manager level in a law firm, with a full understanding of the processes involved in trainee solicitor recruitment and development.
• A proven track record of developing and implementing initiatives which have contributed to achieving business objectives.
• A high level of oral and written communication, presentation and influencing skills with the ability to quickly establish credible relationships at all levels.
• The ability to engage and gain support throughout the organization.
• Persuasive with the ability to gain consensus and collaboration across teams.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities.
• Resilient with the ability to deliver difficult messages.
• Creative thinker who will come forward with new ideas and approaches.
• Self-starter with enthusiasm and energy.
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral).
• Delivery/solution focused.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure.
• Analytical.
• Tenacious.
• A team player with a commitment to developing junior members of staff.

At Mayer Brown, we are committed to creating an inclusive work environment that offers our people the opportunity and support they need to succeed.

Our culture promotes mutual respect, acceptance, cooperation, and productivity among people from varying backgrounds and values different perspectives and ideas.

One of our core values at Mayer Brown is to promote inclusion at all levels within the business which is actively supported by our diversity networks - LGBT+, Fusion (Race & Ethnicity), Multi-faith, Women, Social Inclusion and Opportunities, Enable (Disability) and Work and Me (Family).

We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that individuals may require throughout the recruitment process and once they have joined the Firm.