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1. Knowledge Gathering and Processing: The KM team is responsible for sourcing the latest legal and regulatory updates and processing them in a way that can be shared with all firm members. The purpose here is to ensure that practicing lawyers remain updated on developments. This also builds the firm’s KM repository over time and makes research and drafting efficient in the longer run.
2. Designing courses for firm members: Almost all law firms of a certain size (and disposable resources) have internal courses for their lawyers, which sometimes also form a part of the lawyers’ KPIs. The KM team develops these courses and handles the actual training/ course delivery aspects also. This can also include sessions with external speakers.
3. Maintaining repository of firm drafts and docs: It is also common for the KM team to keep a record of all the drafts and documents prepared in the firm across all matters. This is done to ensure that the drafts and documents are available to other lawyers as reference, if and when needed in the future for other matters.
4. Cross functionality with BD and HR teams: KM and BD teams often work together on digital marketing initiatives (think knowledge focused posts, 3rd party publications, media quotes etc.) and other related aspects. KM also works with HR on preparing firm wide policies at times (though less often) and also has a role to play in appraisals (if your firm mandates KM contributions in your KPIs).
KM teams typically do not work on any transactions. Even if there are lawyers in the team, they do not practice and instead work on the things I mentioned above.
The role is a mix of research and administrative work - typically a 80:20 split between the two.
The pay is decent. KM associates usually get paid 20-30% less of what practicing associates make at the firm at the same PQE. Not a bad deal, specially considering the working hours are typically lesser (meaning overtime is usually not required on a daily basis).
As I said, the exact role differs from firm to firm. But if you’re someone who enjoys research/ want a role that is a mix of corporate and academia, this can be good opportunity for you.
Hope this helps!