As part of its continued expansion an opportunity has arisen for a Senior Associate, or Associate designate, to become part of the well-established and highly-successful Corporate Team of Morgan Cole.

You must have ambition, drive and an ability to win work. An existing following is NOT a pre-condition but an ability to fit into the existing team and the attributes to build fruitful relationships with clients and intermediaries is.

Please contact the Recruitment Manager in writing via the recruiment mailbox: recruitment@morgan-cole.com expressing your interest in this opportunity.

Applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

JOB PURPOSE

To provide clients of the firm with high-quality legal expertise and advice in non-contentious banking.

To participate in developing client relationships and in business development.

To promote and encourage the development of less experienced lawyers within the team to ensure high standards and quality work.

KEY DUTIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS (COMPETENCIES)

• Undertake work for a range of lenders (including banks, building societies and housing associations) and borrowers (including public and private sector organisations). This work is primarily transaction based.
• To handle all aspects of secured lending, including drafting and negotiation of facility letters, standard and bespoke security documents, ranking documents and loan notes. Monitor conditions precedent to lending (including where relevant financial assistance documentation) and attend to registration of security.
• Undertake security reviews for lenders and advise on and undertake reorganisation of borrowings.
• Maintain precedent banking documents.
• Run own files beginning to end, with supervision from a more senior fee earner if necessary – files to be Lexcel compliant.
• Participate in marketing activities as requested, including attending seminars, client training or events, writing articles for publication, etc.
• Develop own network of clients and contacts and build relationships internally and externally.
• Contribute to tenders for new work in conjunction with other fee earners and BD team.
• Provide fee estimates for jobs.
• Ensure accurate time recording
• Ensure that bills are raised promptly and in accordance with fee estimates and arrangements agreed with the client.
• Guide or supervise work done by support staff, trainee solicitors and less experienced lawyers.
• Provide input into performance appraisals for secretaries, trainee solicitors and less experienced lawyers in the team as appropriate.
• Actively monitor and review own development needs to ensure that professional skills are developed, up to date and comply with Solicitors Regulation Authority CPD requirements.
• Propose improvements to work methods. Raises ideas for new approaches / procedures / research.

KEY MEASURES

Client meetings and negotiations are conducted appropriately

Files are Lexcel compliant

Feedback on performance received from clients and colleagues

Produces articles and attends events as requested

Attends and contributes actively to meetings.

Feedback received from seminars,  training events.

Time recording up to date

Fee estimates produces, write offs minimised, debts chased in conjunction with credit control.

Clients billed in accordance with arrangements

Conducts, or provides feedback for, appraisal carried out by others.

Up to date on latest legislation/case studies and annual CPD requirements met

DIMENSIONS

Required to act autonomously, as well as part of a team in larger, multi-disciplined transactions. Where we are acting for a funder, the job holder must be able to lead a team consisting of other specialist lawyers (e.g. property, construction and corporate).

Need to work to tight deadlines.

Required to achieve an annual fees target for solicitors as laid down by the Practice Area Leaders ("PALs") annually.

Required to undertake an annual number of chargeable hours for solicitors as laid down by the PALs annually.

Performance Assessment is carried out annually by the Supervising Partners.

Required to act as mentor for less experienced fee earners of the team as and when appropriate.

To strengthen and develop relationships between the firm and relevant clients.

To promote the practice by taking on a marketing role within the group.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Qualified Solicitor with at least 5 years PQE in handling secured lending transactions.

Candidate needs to be established / known  in the Bristol / South West of England market place.

Member of the Law Society.

Time management skills to work to and meet deadlines, and to prioritise work loads and re-schedule to accommodate new work.

Proven planning and organising skills and an ability to work under pressure.

Strong communication skills both interpersonal and written.

A team player ready to help others, willing to perform any required role within a team (i.e. leader / support role as relevant), develop positive relationships, work well with others and contribute to the overall success.

Proven project management and supervisory skills.

Commercially aware and client focussed to understand, anticipate and fulfil the needs and expectations of clients.

Excellent document drafting skills.

Well developed marketing skills with the ability to develop excellent relationships with existing and potential clients.

A sense of humour is essential.

CONTACTS

Internal Contacts                                                     External Contacts

Partners                                                                     Clients           

Team members                                                          Solicitors

Support Staff                                                              Counsel

                                                                                 Accountants

CHALLENGES

Spearheading the growth of Morgan Cole's Banking practice in Bristol and the South West.

Professional decisions on cases are taken by the post holder, although the Supervising Banking Partner is available for advice.

Project managing a multi disciplinary team.

Intellectual challenge - mastering client requirements, technically challenging work, and producing quality results.

To be able to work within strict time limits to a consistently high professional standard, with the minimum supervision.

Providing coaching to others in the team.

Achieving financial targets.

Keep up to date on case law  in relevant area.

Strengthen cross selling between the team and other practice areas across the firm.

OTHER INFORMATION

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Position: Banking Lawyer                Team: Corporate Bristol                   

	Essential	Desirable	How can we test
IMPACT ON OTHERS Appearance, manners, speech etc. (remember to take account of  the disability Discrimination  Act)	-   Ability to represent Morgan Cole in a positive manner   -   Good speech / dictation   -   Able to attend work regularly		Interview   Reference checks
ACQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS TRAINING MEMBERSHIPS	-   Qualified solicitor with at least 5 years PQE in handling secured lending transactions   -   Member of the Law Society	Has undertaken development of less experienced lawyers.	Examination of Certificates   Interview
GENERAL INTELLIGENCE   eg. preferred degree results etc.	Degree	Law Degree	Examination of certificates
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE   (specific events / activities - do not include reference to time eg length of time in post / 5 yrs experience)	-   Experienced in handling secured lending transactions   -   Project managed transactions (if Senior Associate)   -   Experience of working as a team member   -   Proven planning and organising experience   -   Proven ability to work under pressure and to deadlines   -   Supervisory experience   -   Proven ability to increase client base  (if Senior Associate)	-      Project managed transactions (if Associate)   -      Participated in developing client relationships and in business development (if Associate)	Interview   Reference checks
SPECIAL SKILLS OR KNOWLEDGE	-   Good knowledge of secured lending transaction   -   Good drafting skills   -   Good time management skills   -   Ability to motivate and develop others within the team   -   Strong communication skills both interpersonal and written   -   Commercially aware and client focused   -   Well developed marketing skills with the ability to develop excellent relationships with existing and potential clients (if Senior Associate)   ­-   Has the ability to develop excellent relationships with existing and potential clients (if an Associate)		Interview   Reference checks
DISPOSITION (including personality and motivation)	-   Open personality with a sense of humour   -   Flexible   -   Able to relate to others		Interview
INTERESTS	Have interests outside work		Interview
CIRCUMSTANCES (location etc. do not include reservations about women/men, married or single with or without children)	Established / know in Bristol / the South West of England business community.		Check with Morgan Cole contacts in Bristol/South West.

-------------------------------------END--------------------------------------------------