Job description

We are recruiting for a Early Careers HR Specialist to join our Human Resources team in London. This opportunity is available on a 12-month fixed term contract.

Human Resource team - London

The HR team at A&O Shearman provides a first class service to the business, offering strategic HR business advice at the business partner level and quality support services in the full range of HR functions through specialist teams such as, learning & development, resourcing, reward, employee relations advice, payroll, systems and HR administration.

What you will do

Work within the Early Careers HR team to 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.

The Early Careers HR Specialist will support with work across various processes in the Early Careers HR team, including:

Secondment Process:

• Trainee and solicitor apprentice secondment process (where trainees have an opportunity to apply for international and client secondments).
• Overseeing the trainee client secondment on-boarding process.

Seat Plan:

• Early Careers London seat plan (which includes trainees and solicitor apprentices). Responsibilities may 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:

• 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 assist running 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 Shearman.
• Provide training to new trainers on the role of a trainer and best practice.

Sickness Absence:

• Responsibility for managing and/or supporting the Early Careers HR Managers with sickness absence matters - responsibilities may 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).

Qualification:

• 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 relevant training prior to qualification.
• Deliver presentations and training on key processes.
• 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.

What you will have

• 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