Early Careers Advisor

The Department

The People team play a key role in enabling the firm to attract, develop and retain great people, and giving them the tools and support needed to develop and fulfil their potential, and that of the firm. The team is welcoming, inclusive, driven by providing a 'high touch' level of service, and collaborative in terms of how we work. The team consists of c.40 people in both business-facing, generalist roles (Advisory) alongside specialist teams (Reward; Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing; Employment, Policy & Engagement; Talent Acquisition; Early Careers, as well as our Academy, which consists of Academy Learning and Academy Tech).

The Role

The Early Careers Advisor plays a key role in the day-to-day delivery of the firm's Early Careers programmes, supporting the attraction, recruitment and development of graduate trainees, apprentices, interns and work experience students.

Working closely with the Early Careers team and the wider People team, the role is responsible for running much of the operational activity across the full early careers lifecycle, from candidate attraction and recruitment through to joining, development and qualification. The Advisor will coordinate key processes, build strong relationships with candidates and stakeholders, and ensure Early Careers programmes are delivered consistently and to a high standard.

Duties and Responsibilities

The role will include the following:

Attraction & Recruitment

• Deliver attraction activity across the firm's early careers programmes, including law fairs, open days, work experience, school outreach, external partnerships and other recruitment and marketing activity.
• Promote the firm's employer brand across events, online platforms, social media and other channels, working with Communications, Digital Marketing and external suppliers as appropriate.
• Run the day-to-day recruitment process, including application screening, interviews, assessment centres, selection discussions, offers and candidate acceptance, ensuring a positive and inclusive candidate experience.
• Work with Training Principals, Partners and other stakeholders to understand recruitment requirements and support the delivery of the firm's early careers recruitment plans.
• Oversee recruitment systems and supplier relationships, using data and candidate feedback to identify improvements to attraction, assessment and selection processes.
• Work with the firm's EDI Committees and external partners to deliver attraction and recruitment initiatives aligned with our Core Values and EDI Strategy.

Future Joiner Programme and Induction

• Run the Future Joiner Programme, providing ongoing engagement, communication and support from offer acceptance through to joining the firm.
• Coordinate the onboarding and induction of trainees and apprentices, working with the Academy and other stakeholders to deliver a positive joining experience.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of induction programmes and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Development

• Coordinate the day-to-day delivery of trainee and apprenticeship programmes, from joining through to qualification, working with the wider Early Careers team to ensure programmes run effectively.
• Build strong relationships with Training Principals, Supervisors, Partners and other key stakeholders, delivering Supervisor Training and providing ongoing guidance and support.
• Coordinate feedback and review processes across the Early Careers cohorts, collating input from Supervisors and the People Advisory team to maintain an overview of individual and cohort performance, identify those requiring additional support, and track trainee progression towards qualification and potential NQ opportunities.
• Coordinate trainee and apprenticeship seat moves and NQ qualification processes, including business requirements, role availability, allocations and selection outcomes, and stakeholder communications.
• Act as a key contact for graduate and apprenticeship training providers, working with providers, line managers and apprentices to support effective programme delivery.
• Support the People Advisory team with people-related matters across the Early Careers cohorts, including performance, health, wellbeing and personal issues.
• Oversee the administration and payment of relevant educational fees and maintained grants.

Reporting & Analysis

• Monitor and analyse Early Careers attraction, recruitment and development activity, providing reports, insights and recommendations to senior members of the People team.
• Use data, feedback and insight to identify opportunities to improve candidate and employee experience and operational effectiveness.

General

• Line manage the Early Careers Assistant, providing day-to-day direction, coaching and support for their development.
• Work with line manager on budget planning and monitoring.
• Contribute to and, where appropriate, lead Early Careers and wider People projects and initiatives.
• Take responsibility for own continuous professional development, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of Early Careers and People best practice.

Skills/Experience

• Experience working in Early Careers, HR or recruitment, ideally within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Experience of coordinating or delivering graduate and/or apprenticeship programmes.
• Experience of attraction, recruitment and assessment processes.
• Experience of supporting people-related matters, including performance, health and wellbeing.
• Experience of managing or contributing to EDI initiatives.
• Strong project management, organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple processes and competing priorities effectively.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to build effective relationships and communicate confidently with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to solve problems quickly and creatively.
• Confidence using AI tools, particularly Microsoft Copilot, to support efficient and effective ways of working.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Resilient and calm under pressure.
• Adaptable and proactive, with a willingness to take initiative.
• Previous line management or coaching experience is desirable.

Please note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.

About Mishcon de Reya Group

The Mishcon de Reya Group is an independent, international professional services business with law at its heart, employing over 1400 people with over 650 lawyers. It includes the law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP and a collection of leading consultancy businesses that complement the firm's legal services.

Mishcon de Reya LLP is based in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Hong Kong and UAE. The firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply.The work the firm undertakes is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, centred around three increasingly entwined and connected sectors: the Innovation Economy, Private Wealth and Capital, and Real Estate. The firm is known as a disputes powerhouse with a formidable capacity firmwide for dispute resolution.

The Mishcon de Reya Group includes consultancy businesses MDR Discover,MDR Mayfair(in London, Singapore and Dubai), MDR ONE, and MDRi(in Hong Kong). The Group also includesMDR Lab, which invests in the most promising early stage legaltech companies as well as the Mishcon Academy, its in-house place of learning and platform for thought leadership.

In 2024, the Group announced its first strategic acquisition in the alternative legal services market, flexible legal resourcing business Flex Legal. It also acquired a majority stake in Somos, a global group actions management business.

We strive to create a fully diverse and inclusive workplace where all our people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We are proud of our agile working culture and are always happy to talk flexible working.

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-Hybrid