Paralegal

Job description

Role Title: Paralegal

Business: Legal & Compliance

New or Existing Role? Existing

Grade: 6

Role Purpose

· The Monitor Liaison Office (MLO) has a high profile and important role within the Group – namely, to provide an efficient and effective interface between HSBC and the Skilled Person appointed by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and the Independent Consultant (‘IC') appointed by US Federal Reserve Board to evaluate the Group's compliance with relevant 2012 settlement agreements. ,The role holder will:

· Provide legal assistance and support to help facilitate MLO activities; including assisting with responses to the Skilled Person documents, interviews, and other requests, This may include coordinating the Legal documents for review for proposed responses to the Skilled Person.

· The role holder will also provide a balance of administrative and legal support to IC to assist with activities which respond to requests from the Skilled Person.

· Some of these tasks will involve more lawyer supervision than others, and the job holder will be expected to use his / her initiative, as appropriate, to identify the more effective and efficient way to complete tasks that are set.

· The paralegal may be requested to assist with preparation of legal documents, perform legal research, prepare documents under the supervision of the lawyers in the MLO. Due to the nature of the work, the role holder must have the ability to work in an efficient, informed, accurate and confidential manner.

· The ability to analyse large amounts of data, have good organisational skills and excellent communication skills will be required. Strong computer skills are essential.

Principal Accountabilities: Key activities and decision making areas

Impact on the Business

· Provide high quality paralegal support. Responsibilities may also include preparation of documents and materials for presentations.

· Continually evaluate and understand the type of Skilled Person requests and advise relevant stakeholders on likely future requests in order to be as pro-active and prepared as possible.

Customers / Stakeholders

· Support the work of the MLO in regards to responding to requests from the Skilled Person and IC.

· Provide proactive legal assistance to the MLO.

Leadership & Teamwork

· Maintain and develop positive and professional working relationships with all team members within the legal function as appropriate, and business departments.

· Participate effectively as part of the Group Legal Department.

Operational Effectiveness & Control

· The jobholder will adhere to and be able to demonstrate adherence to internal controls. This will be achieved by adherence to all relevant procedures, keeping appropriate records and, where appropriate, by the timely implementation of internal and external audit points when requested, including issues raised by external regulators.

· The jobholder will respect Group compliance policy. The term ‘compliance' embraces all relevant financial services laws, rules and codes with which the business has to comply.

· This will be achieved by adhering to all relevant processes/procedures and by liaising with colleagues in the MLO office and colleagues in the Legal Function and escalating any potential issues to the COO Legal.

Major Challenges (The challenges inherent in the role that require a continual test of the role holder's abilities)

· To assist the MLO office on matters as required;

· To manage individual issues to a conclusion as appropriate;

· To provide consistent, high quality paralegal support;

· To ensure that all work is undertaken in a professional manner;

· To work independently and manage competing priorities appropriately.

Role Context (The environment and operating conditions of the role including the extent of guidance and authority)

· The diversity of HSBC's business, its geographic spread and the constant changes internally and externally means the diversity of matters which the jobholder is required to manage and advise on is very wide.

· The role requires an understanding of the structure of the HSBC Group and its culture.

· The jobholder must also establish close mutually supportive working relationships with other members of the Group Legal Department and the wider Global Legal Function.

Management of Risk (Operational Risk / FIM requirements)

· The jobholder will ensure the fair treatment of our customers is at the heart of everything we do, both personally and as an organisation. This will be achieved by consistently displaying the behaviours required to support the Best Place to Bank principles of Make Better Products, Sell Them Properly and Keep Them Sold.

· The jobholder will also continually reassess the operational risks associated with the role and inherent in the business, taking account of changing economic or market conditions, legal and regulatory requirements, operating procedures and practices, management restructurings, and the impact of new technology.

· This will be achieved by ensuring all actions take account of the likelihood of operational risk occurring.

· Also by addressing any areas of concern in conjunction with line management and/or the appropriate department.

Observation of Internal Controls (Compliance Policy / FIM requirements)

· The jobholder will also adhere to and be able to demonstrate adherence to internal controls. This will be achieved by adherence to all relevant procedures, keeping appropriate records and, where appropriate, by the timely implementation of internal and external audit points, including issues raised by external regulators.

· The jobholder will implement the Group compliance policy by containing compliance risk in liaison with Global Head of Compliance, Global Compliance Officer, Area Compliance Officer or Local Compliance Officer. The term ‘compliance' embraces all relevant financial services laws, rules and codes with which the business has to comply.

· This will be achieved by adhering to all relevant processes/procedures and by liaising with Compliance department about new business initiatives at the earliest opportunity. Also and when applicable, by ensuring adequate resources are in place and training is provided, fostering a compliance culture and optimising relations with regulators.

Role Dimensions (e.g. balance sheet size, lending/expenditure limits, size/volume of transactions, budget)

· The jobholder will not have any direct reports, nor will they have any budget or financial signing authority.

Desired profile

Qualifications :

Knowledge & Experience / Qualifications

Knowledge

· A good knowledge of HSBC's policies and procedures and knowing where to find them. A good knowledge of IT and proficient use of the system.

Experience

· Some experience of working in a legal department would be useful, although not essential. Experience of working as part of a team, and occasionally under time pressure, would be a benefit. A general understanding of the Bank's corporate structure would be very useful.

Skills

· Strong organisational skills are a must, as is close attention to detail. Good communication skills are essential, as is the ability to work on confidential matters and keep them confidential. High level of IT literacy would be valued. A willingness to learn and a determination to develop a better understanding of the legal function are important. Must be able to work well under pressure.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating a diverse environment.