Professional support lawyer

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The professional support lawyer (PSL) position, also known as knowledge lawyer (KL), has its origins in the United Kingdom and is essentially a central resource for research within a given practice area.

Background

The role of the PSL in law firms is similar to analyst who advises lawyers, trains others, communicates with clients and runs seminars. The idea of professional support lawyers began in the 1990s in english law offices. The PSLs were tasked with activities which can be compared to that of a paralegal: drafting statements and determining precedents. One aspect of employment as a PSL is that they can work from home, and they can work regular business hours. One requirement of a PSL is that they must have a wide range of skills.

Specific roles

The PSL role may also include new firm-wide role elements such as:

• Know-how, precedents and standard forms: drafting, updating, managing and disseminating documents, setting up or dealing with online document systems.
• Research: analysing new law and practice, researching points of law or directing fee earners to appropriate sources.
• Training: organising internal lectures or seminars for trainees, solicitors groups or firm-wide. Dealing with external training, building up relationships with speakers and event-support.
• Marketing and business development: producing newsletters for clients, arranging or assisting in marketing events, arranging client seminars.
• Information technology: working on IT-specific projects such as setting up Internet dealrooms, creating and updating websites, and developing a firm's information/knowledge base and/or Intranet.
• Dealing with fee earner enquiries: answering queries relating to maintained information, new areas of law, and complex areas of law or specialisms.