An exciting opportunity to support the Head of Pro Bono with the development and management of the firm’s global pro bono practice, an important aspect of the firm’s Responsible Business programme. This role will be part of the global pro bono team and is based in London and will be offered as a 12 month fixed-term contract.
Pro Bono Practice
Freshfields provide free legal services in the public interest (pro bono) to a wide range of clients, from individual asylum seekers to some of the world’s biggest charities. The firm believe everyone should have effective access to their legal rights, and focus the firm’s effort on promoting access to the rights of our target groups, including women, children, LGBT+ people, trafficking survivors and refugees.
The firm’s aim is to have the greatest possible impact on access to justice and access to opportunity, through deep relationships with ongoing pro bono clients and by proactively supporting them in addressing systemic issues. The firm’s pro bono clients are clients of the firm: it don’t distinguish internally between paid work and pro bono, and often bring together cross-border, cross-practice teams as needed.
Key Responsibilities and Deliverables
Reporting to the Head of Pro Bono, and working closely with the Senior Pro Bono Lawyer, this role will involve:
- dealing directly with existing and prospective pro bono clients to scope and develop potential pro bono mandates, with a focus on transactional mandates
- maintaining and developing strategic pro bono client relationships
- providing pro bono client advice, supervision and internal knowledge support in key legal areas relating to the firm’s pro bono practice (both local and international, with a focus on transactional areas)
- development and management of pro bono collaborations with fee-paying clients
- internal scoping of new pro bono mandates including ensuring appropriate risk and regulatory checks are carried out and considering regulatory and liability issues as well as the scope and terms of new matters
- liaising with each of the firm’s practice groups and offices to place new pro bono matters with a particular focus on our transactional teams - supporting their areas of pro bono expertise (eg. social impact bonds) and exploring further opportunities for pro bono work
- advising and supporting lawyers on their legal pro bono work including dealing with technical queries from fee earners globally on ongoing pro bono mandates
- assisting with the co-ordination of the firm’s global pro bono practice in all regions
- providing creative input on improving and shaping the firm’s pro bono practice
- delivering internal and external presentations on the firm’s pro bono practice
- oversee the collection and review of global pro bono data, and the production of effective management information
- assisting with the internal management of the practice, including internal and external communications, award submissions and tracking the progress and impact of pro bono matters globally
Key Requirements
- Qualified transactional lawyer (guideline 3+ years PQE)
- Substantial prior experience of pro bono work in a law firm context, ideally as a pro bono professional
- Solid legal research skills and appetite to develop existing and new areas of legal expertise
- Able to interact with clients, fee earners and other colleagues at a senior level – understands how to influence and operate across a global organisation
- Strong written and communication skills; quickly gains the confidence of those they advise
- Able to prioritise and act on own initiative
- Thinks strategically; able to relate individual initiatives to the big picture
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail
- Resilient and able to cope under pressure
- Strong project management skills
Freshfields Overview
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. Freshfields wants to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.
Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.
More information here