Senior Executive, eDiscovery (Legal Technology), 6 month fixed term contract

The Opportunity

The role:

We are have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Executive to join our eDiscovery team on a 6 month fixed term contract basis. This role can be based in either our Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth office.

In this role, you will be responsible for managing the eDiscovery and client technology elements of various client matters. You will engage with instructing teams, including partners and associates, to ensure the best practice execution of eDiscovery aspects of matters.

As a Senior Executive, you will manage more complex aspects of cases, while also guiding and mentoring junior team members, such as Executives and Legal Analysts. Your expertise will be a valuable resource in pitches and presentations to potential and existing clients.

This role ensures the provision of high-quality services and plays a key part in building the reputation of the eDiscovery function both internally and externally.

Day-to-day, you'll be responsible for:

• Working with the Managers/Senior Managers, to identify and understand client needs, executing the recommended technical solutions and delivering an effective solution throughout the life of a matter

• Working directly with clients (internally and externally) to ensure a high level of excellent client service is provided.

• Consulting with the Managers/Senior Managers to help set accurate budgets for costs and timescales for cases, subsequently ensuring that such work is completed within budget and to agreed standards and deadlines

• Working with the Managers/Senior Managers to develop project management plans for each matter, which includes evidence tracking, resource management, preparing and reporting on cost proposals, risk management, risk mitigation and status reporting

• Maintaining project files including preparing file notes, memoranda, minutes of meetings, instructions and communications with the legal teams and clients

• Maintaining the integrity of client and firm data, including evidence handling, processing and data tracking

• Liaising with other team members as well as external vendors to ensure that correct solutions and processes are implemented at a cost effective level and work is delivered on time

• Working collaboratively with team members, including supervising as appropriate any tasks delegated to Analysts

• Executing tasks on cases, as assigned, with a high level of attention to detail, and to be proactive about consistency and quality control throughout

• Taking the lead on individual cases, reporting to and updating Manager/Senior Manager, eDiscovery on a regular basis

• Assisting in the preparation of presentations to internal and external audiences, conducting presentations when required

• Participating in post case reviews

System implementation and support:

• Participating in the team's activity, workflow and processes in support of the necessary document review software solutions and, as part of their role, to provide support to technical and other changes in the use of technology over time

• Assisting and enabling internal stakeholders to work effectively with document review software, and with other relevant IT systems for handling case-related information

Document review software expertise:

• Senior Executives will possess a sound understanding of the functionality of document review software and be regarded by others in the firm as experts.

• To the extent that problems arise, in consultation with the Manager and Senior Manager, to trouble-shoot problems and to liaise with the software providers to resolve any issues

Working with Third-Party Partners:

• Supporting and managing third party partner’s activities to support project deliverables

• Liaising with third-party partners, HSF legal teams, business services and external clients where necessary to support effective communication between the parties

• Providing constructive and timely feedback about the services of our third party partners to Managers as and when necessary

eDiscovery:

• Working with the Managers / Senior Managers to develop, maintain and continuously improve best practice eDiscovery processes

Protocols:

• Advising on eDiscovery processes and protocols, including communicating with Client Technology/Litigation Support representatives of clients and/or opposing law firms on disputes when applicable

Knowledge capture and process improvement:

• Actively contributing appropriately to the continuous improvement of relevant business processes and protocols including case specific process manuals

Training:

• To identify and to share their own training needs as appropriate

Other:

• Assisting the Senior Manager and Managers to build a cohesive, high performing team

• Supervising Executives and Analysts responsible for carrying out projects

• Contributing to the professional development and unity of the team through knowledge sharing

• Assisting to profile the eDiscovery both internally and externally and to raise the understanding and recognition of its role

• Assisting with the reporting, billing and other team administration tasks

• Maintaining effective and productive working relationships with Digital Legal Delivery colleagues and HSF legal teams

• Providing any other assistance to the business and related tasks as required

To be successful in this position you will have:

Essential

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a similar industry.

• Expertise in Case Management Software such as Nuix, Relativity or similar.

• Good verbal and written communication skills

• Experience working within a similar team at the required level

• Expertise in document management/reviews and/or case work at required level

• Proficiency in MS Windows and MS Office Applications

• Advanced understanding of the eDiscovery workflow and processors

Desirable

• Excellent understanding of the legal framework of eDiscovery, existing protocols, practices and relevant legal standards. Academic legal training (law at degree level or postgraduate) and experience as a legal practitioner or academic IT training and experience in a related field desirable

• Experience related to eDiscovery and other Litigation Support processes

• Sound knowledge of eDiscovery software market

• Industry knowledge or law firm experience, or of working in a professional services environment (e.g. consulting or accounting) would be a distinct advantage, although not essential

• Financial management skills. Experience in the preparation and monitoring of cost estimates for case reviews

The team:

Our Digital Legal Delivery combines the best analytical legal minds backed by investments in cutting-edge tools and technologists.

Continuing to support our clients, we deliver a holistic response to clients and our problem solvers support businesses needing invention and fresh thinking from their legal advisers alongside the technical excellence you expect from a leading global law firm.

Leveraging experience to map the intersections where people and tech deliver results, our group supports businesses undergoing their own digitisation projects and those who seek freedom from the manual and inefficient processes of traditional legal services delivery.

Experienced at delivering large and complex legal services, we are experts in the delivery of data-intensive mandates.

Imagining possibilities, our Digital Legal Delivery group is implementing the best solutions today, while experimenting with emerging tools to understand their practical applications for tomorrow.

Evolving through design thinking, legal project management, advisory and new law frameworks, generative AI came as no surprise to HSF’s digital team, neither will the next big digital transformation.

Herbert Smith Freehills is proud to be awarded Number 1 ‘Attraction Firm’ (Lawyers Weekly Legal Firm of Choice 2022-23), Law Firm of the Year (Australasian Law Awards, 2021) and Most Innovative International Law Firm, Asia Pacific (Financial Times Awards 2020).

What you can expect from us:

• We’re a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 5,000 professionals. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client-centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution-focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.

• We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.

• We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.

• We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you’ll have it and we’ll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.

• For more benefits on offer such as our 26 weeks paid parental leave, holistic wellbeing fund or home office allowance please click/ copy this link into your browser - https://marketing.hsf.com/20/29354/landing-pages/hsf-benefits.pdf

• Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia’s market leading law firm.

We encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to First Nations, LGBTIQA+ and neurodivergent individuals, as well as individuals of all ages, cultures, genders, and abilities. We’re a safe, inclusive, and equitable workplace and celebrate the diversity of our people.

For any questions or a confidential discussion, please contact Lindsay Kay, Senior Recruitment Adviser on Lindsay.Kay@hsf.com.

This vacancy is being managed directly by Herbert Smith Freehills Recruitment team. We will contact our preferred agency partners should we require additional assistance. Thank you.

Team

Location

Contract type

Diversity & Inclusion

At Herbert Smith Freehills you will be part of a diverse, innovative culture where high performance, client focus and highly engaged people are our differentiator. People at our firm come from a range of backgrounds and bring a wide variety of experiences and perspectives to their work with us. We strive to ensure that our inclusive environment means you feel valued and able to perform at your best by being your authentic self at work. We know that our future success not only depends on being innovative and progressive in the changing legal market but, most importantly, on our people feeling highly engaged in meaningful work.

We understand that you have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to create a working environment based on mutual trust and respect, in which you can perform at your best whilst maintaining sustainable balance across your life.