Skills Summits
DAYS
Assessment 1 June each year after agreed personal development plan starting 12 months previous.
High knowledge, skill and practice to be demonstrated over the following categories:
Financials
Relationships
Knowledge
Information Systems
Presence
Training and Leadership
Role in Internal Initiatives
Apex 1
Salary - £75,000 per annum
Pre-requisites
Achieved all Apex 2 categories with documented examples.
Financials
Billing 1,000 hours per year (annualised basis). No padding or slow-pedaling.
Relationships
First contact point for 4 retainer clients and at least 5 corporate clients. Well known by other contact points and clients.
Strong (weekly comms) contact points in 3 professional organisations, reasonable contact points in 4 others.
Networking channels (e.g. membership and attendance at events) established.
Obtained at least one new client from own networking activity.
Knowledge
Has comprehensive knowledge of fundamentals of corporate law together with comprehensive knowledge of one specialist area of law.
Recognizes where changes in law may require amendments to precedents and/or updates to clients and takes appropriate action.
Actively seeks to publish ideas via Linked In and other professional forums.
Demonstrates the ability to communicate complex ideas.
Information Systems
(Power user (clip training level)) in all O365 apps plus firm leader in one application
Understanding of horizon tech such as blockchain.
Presence
Demonstrate sufficient “presence” (further detail to be discussed but focused on authority, weight, gravitas)
Actively sought out by senior colleagues for advice and assistance.
Training and Leadership
Delegates work to more junior colleagues and supervises and manages their performance.
Successfully implements knowledge sharing initiatives with the team (and client base where appropriate).
Prepared and delivered training seminars for team and clients.
Completed Management Course Stage 1 (or equivalent that satisfies requirements under rule 12 SRA Practice Framework Rules 2011 (qualified to supervise)).
Attended one other external training event in area of specialism.
Role in Internal Initiatives
Owner of one major initiative
Apex 2
Salary - £55,000 per annum
Category
Indicative skill level.
Pre-requisites
Achieved all Apex 3 categories with documented examples.
Financials
Billing 1,000 hours per year (annualised basis). No padding or slow-pedaling.
Effectively managing billing process for at least 2 clients.
Sets a good example of time recording.
Relationships
First contact point for 2 retainer clients and at least 2 corporate clients. Well known by other contact points and clients.
Strong (weekly comms) contact points in 2 professional organisations, reasonable contact points in 2 others.
Networking channels (e.g. membership and attendance at events) becoming established.
Knowledge
Participates in the preparation of knowledge updates and seminars for clients.
Use client relationships to spot new opportunities.
Seeks feedback from senior team members and reflects on feedback to further improve performance.
Starts to develop a specialism based on acquiring more detailed knowledge.
Taken ownership of at least 6 precedents in the Almond+Co databank from creation to updating/reviewing.
Information Systems
(Power user (clip training level)) in all O365 apps plus identification and early stages of which application to be firm leader.
Presence
Demonstrate sufficient “presence” (further detail to be discussed but focused on authority, weight, gravitas).
Training and Leadership
Can identify major sources of legal precedents for practice area.
Understands the context of the advice being given.
Applies legal precedents to specific client situations without needing guidance.
Identified and attended at least one relevant external training course and disseminated knowledge to the team.
Role in Internal Initiatives
Sufficient support role in initiatives.
Apex 3
Salary - £40,000 per annum
Category
Apex 3 will be awarded when the candidate demonstrates sufficient abilities, calm and focus to plan towards achieving the other Apex levels.
Pre-requisites
Achieved all White Belt categories (with documented examples)
Agreed a plan to achieve Brown Belt within 18 months
Financials
Consistently meets hours/billing targets.
Proactively seeks out work to ensure they are fully utilised and meeting targets.
Relationships
Builds knowledge of key clients and their business sectors.
Seeks to build and develop rapport with clients.
Investigates client issues around current issues/relevant matters.
Further develops Linked In profile/beginning to build an appropriate network.
Shows awareness of how to develop new business opportunities.
Knowledge
Applies legal precedents to specific client situations.
Ability to interpret and solve client problems using research and reviewing primary legislation (such as CA 2006, SBEEA etc.)
Expand knowledge of company types, structures and main characteristics and become familiar with standard form articles of association and standard form shareholders agreement.
Training and Leadership
Delivered training to the team on a current issue (and developed appropriate/relevant client facing outcome after training).
Develop precedents for Almond +Co precedent bank.
Analysed main legal and commercial issues in an Almond + Co document.
Demonstrates good organisation of workload/systematic approach to working (e.g. use of day book) and proactively managing workload.
Researching a new topic and disseminate new knowledge to the team.
Apex 4 - Newly Qualified
Salary - £35,000 per annum
Category
Newly Qualified
Financials
Records time and billing narratives in an appropriate manner
Demonstrates good understanding of chargeable time and the importance of closing-down time promptly and billing on time.
Relationships
Attends client meetings, takes notes and assists on work as allocated by the team.
Create and develop Linked In network (and other networking where applicable).
Knowledge
Demonstrates attention to detail and accuracy in all work.
Drafts and prepares simple documents based on precedents.
Presents work in most appropriate format.
Training and Leadership
Asks for advice from team as to how to develop role.
Contributes to L&D meetings/attends all training available.
Supports team projects including taking ownership of precedents as allocated.
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