Job Description

Company Description

Clifford Chance is one of the world's leading law firms, helping clients achieve their goals by combining the highest global standards with local expertise. The firm has unrivalled scale and depth of legal resources across the three key markets of the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe and focuses on the core areas of commercial activity: capital markets; corporate and M&A; finance and banking; real estate; tax; pensions and employment; litigation and dispute resolution.

Clifford Chance has 35 offices in 25 countries, and the Perth and Sydney offices form part of the broader Asia Pacific region. This is an opportunity to join the Sydney office as a member of the existing global Knowledge & Training and Thought Leadership team, consisting of experienced Knowledge Lawyers and information specialists globally.

Our Australian business works across several Global Product Groups in transactional and contentious practices. This role would see you flex across these areas, with an initial focus in Corporate and provide support nationwide.

Job Description

This is an opportunity to remain at the forefront of legal and regulatory developments, work alongside some of the world's leading lawyers, and enjoy a more flexible and sustainable career path.

We are looking for a senior lawyer who enjoys analysing complex legal issues, developing best practice, sharing knowledge and helping others succeed. Whether you are returning to the profession, seeking greater flexibility, balancing family commitments, or looking to apply your expertise in a different way, we'd love to hear from you.

As a Knowledge Lawyer, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring our lawyers have access to the insights, resources and knowhow they need to deliver exceptional client service. Rather than focusing on billable hours and transaction management, you will use your experience to shape legal thinking, support the development of market-leading precedents, monitor legal developments, and contribute to training and thought leadership across the firm.

This is a role where your expertise will have a broad and lasting impact across our practices.

About the Role

Our Knowledge & Training team is focused on delivering practical, commercial and insightful legal knowhow to our lawyers and clients.

A key part of this role is staying abreast of legal, regulatory and market developments and working closely with lawyers across the practice to ensure our collective knowledge and experience is captured, analysed and shared.

You will help ensure that lawyers have essential legal knowledge and knowhow at their fingertips, whether through internal resources, templates, training, thought leadership or updates on legal and regulatory developments.

You will become a trusted adviser and "go-to" resource within the practice, helping to drive excellence, consistency and innovation in the way legal services are delivered.

Why This Role May Be Right for You

• Continue working on sophisticated legal matters without the pressures of billing targets or managing transactions.
• Enjoy greater flexibility and a more predictable workload.
• Stay connected to market-leading legal practice and legal developments.
• Work closely with highly regarded partners and lawyers across the firm.
• Use your expertise to coach, mentor and support others.
• Help shape the future of legal service delivery, including the use of AI and legal technology.
• Join a collaborative, supportive and intellectually stimulating environment that values diverse career paths.

Who You Will Work With

You will work closely with our market-leading partners and lawyers, becoming a trusted adviser and valued resource across the practice.

You will also be supported by colleagues within the Knowledge & Training and Thought Leadership teams and will collaborate with our Business Development and Transformation teams.

Our Knowledge Lawyers work alongside innovative legal, technology and business services professionals to help deliver exceptional client service and ensure the firm's expertise is accessible, current and relevant.

What You Will Be Responsible For

Templates and Precedents

• Review and assess existing templates and precedents, identifying opportunities to improve quality, consistency and accessibility.
• Develop and maintain a best-in-class suite of templates, precedents and clause banks.
• Ensure templates remain legally and commercially relevant, accurate and up to date.
• Work with lawyers and transformation specialists to improve accessibility, usability and automation of precedents and templates.
• Support the development of practical resources that help lawyers work more efficiently and consistently.

Knowledge Management and Sharing

• Encourage the sharing of knowhow and lessons learned across the practice.
• Facilitate post-deal reviews, knowledge capture and consolidation of key insights.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of knowledge databases and other internal resources.
• Identify innovative ways to capture and share legal knowledge across teams.
• Develop and maintain topic guides, legal resources and practical knowhow materials.

Training and Capability Development

• Assist with the preparation and delivery of legal training programmes.
• Present and coordinate knowhow and legal developments updates.
• Support lawyers in the effective use of AI and legal technology tools in collaboration with our Transformation team.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of lawyer capability and technical excellence.

Legal and Regulatory Developments

• Monitor and analyse legal and regulatory developments relevant to the practice.
• Prepare practical guidance, briefings and presentations for lawyers and clients.
• Respond to lawyer queries regarding legal developments and regulatory issues.
• Contribute to consultation responses and thought leadership initiatives where appropriate.
• Update internal resources, templates and guidance materials to reflect legislative and regulatory change.
• Help identify emerging trends and opportunities that may impact clients and the practice.

Qualifications

• Experience as a mid- to senior-level lawyer or an existing Knowledge Lawyer (PSL), ideally gained within a leading commercial law firm.
• Strong experience in M&A matters, including:
• Private M&A transactions
• Joint ventures
• Corporate reorganisations
• Company and corporate law advisory work
• Exposure to finance transactions would be beneficial, although candidates with experience across other relevant commercial practice areas are also encouraged to apply.
• Strong technical legal skills, sound commercial judgement and excellent analytical abilities.
• Excellent drafting, legal writing and communication skills, with a strong attention to detail.
• The ability to monitor and analyse legal and regulatory developments and translate complex issues into practical, business-focused guidance.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively and engage effectively with partners, lawyers and other stakeholders.
• A highly organised, proactive and service-oriented approach.
• A genuine interest in knowledge management, training, legal innovation and the evolving use of legal technology and AI.
• A commitment to helping others learn, develop and succeed through the sharing of knowledge and expertise.
• A strong academic background.

Previous experience in a Knowledge Lawyer, Professional Support Lawyer (PSL) or training role would be welcomed but is not essential. We are equally interested in experienced practitioners who are looking to transition into a knowledge-focused career.

This role may particularly appeal to lawyers who are:

• Seeking an alternative to a traditional fee-earning career path while remaining connected to sophisticated legal work.
• Existing Knowledge Lawyers looking for a new challenge within a leading global law firm.
• Returning to the profession following a career break.
• Looking for greater flexibility and a more sustainable long-term career while continuing to work on high-quality legal matters.

We welcome applications from candidates seeking flexible or part-time working arrangements, including 3 to 4 days per week.

Additional Information

At Clifford Chance we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. Find out more here.