Legal Manager, Global (interim) at Thomson Reuters

The Foundation is recruiting a Legal Manager, Global (interim) to work with the TrustLaw team to manage, co-ordinate and implement global initiatives for our legal network.

This is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of the TrustLaw service and play a pivotal role in delivering our core service and supporting our global legal research. The Legal Manager, Global will report to the Head of Legal. This is an 8 month (maternity leave) contract based in Nairobi commencing in March/early April 2022.

The person in this role will: 

• Work with the Head of Legal and Programme Officer, Global Initiatives to drive and support (as applicable) a range of strategic initiatives, from planning, kick-off, to supporting project management and successful delivery including:
• the TrustLaw Index of Pro Bono, Thomson Reuters Foundation's global benchmark of the scale and trends of the pro bono legal sector
• Training: development and delivery of legal-focused training courses (e.g. SEII training, trainings aimed at upskilling lawyers on pro bono, engaging with the non-profit sector, and/or on substantive legal issues in the focus areas)
• Pro bono thought leadership: development of resources and thought leadership on pro bono (e.g. Legal Health Check resources; Championing Pro Bono Guide and legal roundtables; Global Corporate Pro Bono resources, etc.)
• Annual Fees & Hours survey of TrustLaw members’ participation in TrustLaw projects
• Pro Bono Consultancy, advising clients on their pro bono practice and programs 
• Other global initiatives, as identified from time to time
• Support core project flow and connections and, in particular:
• Monitor key metrics and flag up concerns (together with Programme Coordinator) regarding project supply and demand, scoping distribution and other relevant matters.
• Troubleshoot for Programme Coordinator on new project, offer and connection queries, escalating to Head of Legal where appropriate.
• Review the weekly email to the legal network with pro bono opportunities.
• Scope and review legal pro bono requests from our community of NGOs and social enterprises so that the requests clearly explain the legal needs.
• Work with Head of Legal in oversight of strategic legal research, including reviewing smaller research projects, tracking and helping ensure sensible allocation of Leads and Supports for research projects, and initiatives to refine our approach to the strategic research lifecycle (from generation to management to publication and beyond).
• Support Head of Legal and Head of Programmes and the Programme Manager, Global on M&E relating to research and advisory projects, legal membership, flow of projects, offers and connections, and other relevant matters, including pulling reports and analysing trends, and working with Head of Legal and Head of Programmes to develop results/impact approaches, where appropriate.
• Work closely with Head of Legal to drive TrustLaw’s engagement with its legal members, including through outreach initiatives, relationship stewardship strategies and related resources, etc.
• Manage the Programme Officer, Global Initiatives.
• Please note that the person in this role will need to work hours that overlap significantly with core team availability, which may require at least two early or late shifts each week.

Key Skills And Experience

• A highly qualified lawyer (at least 5+ years of experience as a practising lawyer in any jurisdiction) with significant experience in a legal environment (law firm or in-house at a corporation).
• Experience in working with the non-profit or development sector
• Strong experience and interest in project planning and management and proven ability to deliver projects and work on time and to the brief
• Aptitude for and extensive experience with devising, driving, and assessing internal processes, workflows, and guidance
• A “do-er” who is willing to roll up their sleeves to dive into processes, systems, and projects and deliver detailed pieces of work
• Experience working with global, cross-functional teams
• Experience with line management
• Experience working with a diverse range of stakeholders, from leaders in the international development sector to senior corporate executives and partners of top law firms, as well as social entrepreneurs, NGOs and other beneficiaries of our services
• Solutions-focused outlook
• Strong affinity for detail-oriented work
• Is ambitious, dynamic, and creative
• Experience in Salesforce would be favourable. Strong understanding and ability to use a range of software tools, including Microsoft Office, CMS, Eventbrite, etc.
• An excellent communicator, fluent in English, with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness to travel internationally.