Risk and Compliance Paralegal

Overview of the firm and function
Freshfields is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,700 lawyers in 27 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.

Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams.

We think and work globally - we don’t just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work isn’t just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgments and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference in the communities in which we operate.

The Freshfields Global Centre provides both business and legal services to the firm. Our services are delivered in a way which supports the global nature of our firm and our clients, enables our fee earners to deliver exceptional service to our clients and to do that in a way which is efficient and effective.

Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognizing that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.

Department and Role Summary
The Legal Department, made up of both qualified lawyers and non-lawyers, exists to manage the firm’s risk exposure and to provide advice to the firm on a range of legal and compliance issues.

The role of the Legal Department is to support the firm in pursing the effective management of regulatory, legal, operational, and information security risk to preserve and maximize the value of the firm over the long term.

Our vision is for our department to be recognized as a leader amongst comparable, elite law firms. That means being acknowledged internally as providing an excellent service in a commercial and empathetic manner. It means adequately meeting the needs of the firm while remaining agile and cost effective; constantly refining our techniques, objectives and ways of working to respond to changes in the business and the threats we face.

The role of the firm’s regional Legal Department team is to provide advice to the firm on a range of legal and compliance issues, including conflicts, confidentiality, client due diligence, sanctions, reputational and commercial risk. The role requires a skilled paralegal who will work autonomously as part of a global team to assess straightforward business acceptance requests and ad hoc Legal Department queries.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables:
With supervision and guidance, to the extent required, from the Business Acceptance team, the key responsibilities include:

• Playing a key role in supporting the firm’s risk management program.
• Handling securities dealing requests, under the firm’s securities dealing policy to help manage the risk of insider trading.
• Supporting efforts to ensure client and matter data are accurate and up to date, taking a lead role in processing client and matter maintenance requests, and matter transfer requests.
• Helping to ensure compliance with global AML laws and regulation, by liaising with the business on updating due diligence records to meet enhanced requirements in different jurisdictions, through country clearance requests (where appropriate).
• Acting as a key point of contact to the business in assisting with requests for information on internal policies.
• Supporting the firm’s anti-bribery policies by taking the lead role in clearing sponsorship, donation, and gifts and hospitality requests.
• Assisting with ad hoc research and other queries, particularly with respect to InTapp (our conflicts database) and other system-related questions from the wider business.
• Assisting with knowledge management, which includes but is not limited to maintaining outside counsel guidelines on InTapp Terms, as well as reviewing and tagging outside counsel guidelines for significant provisions.

Key Requirements:
General

• Strong web-based and general research skills
• Diligent with a strong work ethic
• Resilient and able to perform under pressure
• Has initiative and is self-motivated
• Able to prioritize and multitask, and works in an organized manner
• Recognizes need for clear, concise and accurate communication
• An enthusiastic team member, readily assisting on tasks that may be repetitive/administrative where necessary
• Accountable to others and takes pride in team success
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment requiring an efficient but accurate turnover of tasks

Professional Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree required, preferably in law or business
• At least two years of relevant work experience
• Previous paralegal experience is desirable

Technical Experience:

• Competence with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Familiar with Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome
• Competent keyboard skills
• Ability to obtain competence with database programs, including but not limited to World-Check, Orbis, and CapitalIQ
• Experience with InTapp Open preferred.
• Experience with SharePoint preferred.

For individuals assigned and/or hired to work in New York and California, Freshfields is required by law to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This compensation range is specific to the States of New York and California and takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $60,000 to $70,000.

EEO Statement
Freshfields US LLP is proud to be an equal employment employer. Our policies and practices will be free from unlawful discrimination based upon race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), national origin, citizenship, immigration status, ancestry, age, marital status, protected veteran status, military service, disability, medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law. We strive to promote an atmosphere that encourages equal opportunities and prohibits discriminatory practices, including sexual harassment.

Disability Accommodation for Applicants to Freshfields US LLP
Freshfields US LLP is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in job application procedures. If you have any difficulty using our online system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, you may use the alternative email address below to contact us about your interest in employment at BusinessServicesRecruitment@Freshfields.com , or you can send your resume to BusinessServicesRecruitment@Freshfields.com , or you can call us at +1-212-277-4000.