Research & Knowledge Executive

Withers KhattarWong LLP 

Job title:     Research & Knowledge Executive

Reports to: Library and Knowledge Manager (APAC)

Division:     Library & Knowledge Services/ Business Services

Location:    Singapore

About Withersworldwide

A law firm focused on people and collaboration

For the past 125 years, Withers has supported some of the world's most remarkable people and organisations at defining moments in their lives.

We are the only international law firm focused on successful individuals and private capital, working closely with founders, investors and family offices. We also advise governments, charities, global brands and start-ups of all shapes and sizes.

Many of our clients are shaping the future and creating solutions to tackle many of the world's problems.  It makes for a fascinating and challenging practice. Our role is to get to know each individual client, find out where they want to be, and help them to get there – whether they are building a business, looking after their family, involved in a complex dispute or protecting their finances for the future. 

To meet their unique needs we are exceptionally collaborative, working together across teams and time zones. 

We are agile, focusing on strategy rather than rigid ideas and traditional hierarchy. It is a truly flexible working culture that puts people first.

Join us to be part of a team that is always looking to the future. Where initiative, big ideas and bold moves are always encouraged. Where you can truly be yourself.

The Department

The Library Assistant is an important role within Withers' global Library and Knowledge Services team. A collaborative and high-performing team, our goal is to ensure that everyone in the firm is equipped with the knowledge and resources required to deliver a top-class service to our clients. 

The role

The Research & Knowledge Executive provides invaluable support to the Library and Knowledge Manager (APAC). A key responsibility of the role is to ensure the timely provision and accurate management of essential resources for the Hong Kong and Singapore offices. This requires excellent attention to detail and communication skills. Other essential tasks include assisting lawyers with their research and helping them to stay up to date through the provision of timely and accurate current awareness services. 

There will also be opportunities to work with the London and US LKS teams and to provide research for strategic and Business Development initiatives, as required. The role requires a strong team player who can work independently but also has the interpersonal skills to build relationships with people in different roles across the global firm. 

The role is based in Singapore with the expectation of occasional travel to our Hong Kong office. The role will report to the Library and Knowledge Manager (APAC). 

This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive.  It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for the performance of this position and as such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.

 Areas of focus and responsibilities

Current awareness 

• Monitoring cases / legislations in different practice areas and sending out weekly updates 
• Monitoring general legal and client updates 
• Setting up news trackers for lawyers 

 Research 

• Assisting lawyers with their legal research requests; undertaking legal research and guiding lawyers to the best resources for their need
• Assisting Business Development with their marketing research requests
• Monitoring our APAC / SG library mailbox and ensuring that we respond to requests in a timely manner

New joiner logins / trainings

• Conduct new joiner induction for lawyers, trainees and interns
• Send out welcome emails to new joiners in HK / SG offices 
• Liaise with UK / US libraries to set up necessary logins 
• Set up all logins for new joiners 
• Deactivate leavers logins 

Managing resources 

• Assisting with book purchases
• Liaising with lawyers and/or other offices to determine which resources are required
• Negotiating subscriptions and managing renewals
• Providing information to assist with setting the annual library budget for the Singapore and Hong Kong offices and monitoring monthly spend
• Creating usage reports for online subscriptions
• Attending team meetings to promote library services
• Updating and maintaining the library catalogue for the Hong Kong and Singapore offices, ensuring that all records are correct and removing unnecessary records 
• Creating, maintaining and promoting the use of library and knowledge content on the firm's intranet
• Overseeing the upkeep of the physical library collections in the Hong Kong and Singapore offices
• Assisting with trials and evaluations of new tech tools 

Key Skills and Experience 

• Educated to diploma level and above (or equivalent)
• Experience of contributing to knowledge sharing initiatives within the legal or commercial sectors
• Able to communicate with people at all levels of seniority
• Self-sufficient; able to work independently locally but as part of a wider team delivering a consistent global service
• Pro-active, customer-focused attitude to knowledge sharing 
• Excellent IT skills, ideally with experience of maintaining and curating intranet content
• Experienced at using own initiative to find solutions to questions or problems and committed to seeing new projects through to completion
• Able to work to deadlines, manage multiple projects and deliver under pressure

About Withersworldwide

Withersworldwide has been acting for successful individuals, families and institutions for 125 years.  We advise clients on the full range of their business, personal and philanthropic legal needs, both at home and abroad. With offices in the key financial centres of Europe, Asia-Pacific, the United States and the Caribbean, we provide coverage and services that other law firms focussed on the needs of the individual cannot.  We have represented 66% of the Top 100 in The Sunday Times Rich List, 25% of the Forbes 400 List, 35% of the Hong Kong Forbes Rich List and 35% of Forbes Asia's Richest Families list.

Information for Recruitment Agencies

WithersWorldwide endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, WithersWorldwide operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement 

It is the policy of WithersWorldwide to provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion. Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.

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