Specialist: Information Governance

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do.

We are a collegial, collaborative firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realize their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

The Specialist: Information Governance (IG) actively contributes to the strategy, planning and execution of the firm’s IG Program, helping ensure compliance with privacy, confidentiality, and information security laws and regulations, client requirements, and firm policies.

This role requires strong knowledge of electronic legal records, document management systems, legal technology solutions and project coordination. The individual in this position plays an important role in supporting and advancing IG initiatives while collaborating cross-functionally with teams across Information Security, Legal Risk Management, and Business Services.

The Specialist provides expertise in managing electronic data throughout its lifecycle, including data remediation, migration, storage, retention, and disposition. This individual also assists in identifying, prioritizing, and addressing IG risks and contributes to both regional and global initiatives.

In addition, the Specialist advises lawyers, paralegals, IT, and Business Services staff on IG best practices, data privacy considerations, security, and risk management related to firm information assets.

Essential Functions:

• Performs electronic matter mobility and client file transfer activities, including coordinating with lawyers, IG leads, IT staff, and external parties to securely transfer files related to lateral arrivals, departures, and client requests, as assigned
• Supports the implementation of records retention and disposition activities in accordance with the Global Records Management Policy for legal and business services matters
• Advises on aspects of the departure process, including task assignment, quality control, records maintenance and risk mitigation
• Conducts data analysis, proposes solutions for remediating unstructured data by client matter and migrates data as needed
• Provides guidance and support for data retention projects relating to client and firm data
• Audits IG and records management processes and procedures, including the use of Firm Approved Records Repositories, for accuracy and compliance with firm policies
• Works collaboratively with leadership and partners with firm stakeholders to support the program globally, assess needs, identify gaps or areas of improvement, and recommend changes
• Advises firm personnel on appropriate locations where client and firm data should be stored.
• Educates lawyers and staff about effective IG practices, including organization, storage and security of client and firm data
• Identifies opportunities to promote and increase DMS usage, security and compliance across the firm
• Drives improvements in working practices and law Firm culture to accelerate the adoption of electronic recordkeeping practices.
• Often serves as project lead, allocating work to and monitoring the quality of work performed by others
• Exercises good judgment in ensuring firm policies and procedures are followed and understands how ethical, legal and client obligations impact the storage, organization, and transfer of data in a global environment
• Stays current with industry best practices and new developments in IG and records management
• Performs other duties as assigned or required to meet firm goals and objectives

Education/Training/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Educational background from a wide variety of disciplines will be considered including information technology, legal, risk management, library sciences, compliance, information management, and records management
• Professional certification in areas related to IG, including Information Governance Professional (IGP), Certified Records Manager (CRM), Enterprise Content Manager (ECM), Project Management Professional (PMP) is desirable
• Data privacy qualification such as CIPM, CIPP/E and/or CIPP/US is desirable

Professional Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience required, preferably at a law firm
• Experience in IG related systems, including business and workflow analysis and functionality testing
• Functional expertise in IG principles relating to managing, protecting and securing client matter information, and educating end users on ways to manage information in compliance with those principles
• Demonstrated experience in execution and accountability for project coordination

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word, Excel, Visio, Teams, SharePoint) required
• Experience with Microsoft SQL reporting services and Power BI a plus
• Experience with enterprise technology solutions used for the management of both physical and electronic information, such as iManage, LegalKEY and LegalRM
• Experience conducting large scale reviews of complex data sets
• Ability to analyze data using a variety of reporting and data analysis tools

Performance Traits: 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner with all levels of the firm and outside vendors
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the firm
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines with shifting priorities
• Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative
• Strong customer service skills, able to anticipate needs and exercise independent judgment
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion
• Exercises solid strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to effectively prioritize tasks, manage time and resources
• Willingness to understand and work with changing priorities and take on new projects

The typical pay scale for this position in Chicago is between $87,700 and $116,000, for New York, between $95,000 and $125,700, and for Washington D.C, between $91,700 and $121,200, although the actual wage or salary could be lower or higher if the candidate’s education, experience, skills and internal pay alignment are different from those specified. 

The above is a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

The Firm may modify and amend this job description at any time at its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan, back-up childcare and eldercare, generous paid time off (PTO), as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

Thank you for your interest in Mayer Brown. We are committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and disabled veterans. To request a reasonable accommodation related to the application process and/or job interview, please email uslateralrecruiting@mayerbrown.com. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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