Learning and Development Manager

EMG Solicitors is an award winning Legal 500 law firm with offices across the North but acting nationally, specialising in Court of Protection, Deputyships, Mental Health Law, Family Law and Mediation, Residential Conveyancing, Dispute Resolution, Employment Law, Education Law and Wills, Trusts & Probate services.

Our mission is to provide the legal support our clients require in order to achieve anything from their basic needs to their wildest dreams and everything in between.

We are currently looking to recruit a Learning & Development Manager, who ideally will have at least five years’ experience operating at a senior level within a professional services or legal environment, leading learning strategy, supporting managers, and driving regulatory and career development initiatives across an organisation.

This role can be based from either our Gosforth or Durham office but we would expect you to travel and work from other offices from time to time.

This is a full-time role which is 35 hours per week, however at EMG Solicitor we work flexibly, it’s not a 9 to 5 role, but we do expect the work to be done, when you do it can be largely up to yourself, your Team Leader and the requirements of your clients.

This role works within the People and Culture team. You will lead the design and delivery of a strategic L&D framework that strengthens legal excellence, enhances leadership capability, and supports career progression for both lawyers and business services colleagues.

This is a hands‑on, strategic role suited to a proactive, innovative L&D professional who can combine modern learning methodologies with a deep understanding of legal sector expectations, regulatory requirements, and professional development pathways.

Your work will shape the development of our people across the firm - from trainee solicitors and apprentices through to associates, senior leaders and support staff who enable us to live our mission of Supporting Clients. Protecting Assets. Changing Lives.

You will identify capability needs, anticipate future skills requirements, and design learning strategies that strengthen legal excellence, leadership capability, and long-term career progression.

You should be passionate about:

• Designing and delivering a firmwide learning and development strategy aligned to business priorities.
• Creating clear career pathways and development frameworks across legal and support teams.
• Coaching and supporting managers to build high‑performing, capable teams.
• Ensuring regulatory compliance and professional development requirements are met.
• Using data and modern learning approaches to drive continuous improvement and measurable impact.

• Develop and deliver a firmwide L&D strategy aligned to business goals and workforce planning.
• Partner with senior leadership and heads of to identify current and future capability needs.
• Build a culture of continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and high performance across the firm.
• Develop competency frameworks, ensuring they support career pathways for fee‑earners and business services teams.

• Conduct annual and mid‑year training needs analyses across all teams.
• Use data, feedback, and performance insights to identify skill gaps, compliance requirements, and opportunities for capability enhancement.
• Recommend evidence‑based solutions using blended learning approaches.

• Create and deliver engaging, modern learning interventions including workshops, coaching, e‑learning, and knowledge sessions.
• Engage with high‑quality external training providers, including specialist legal training and personal development.
• Oversee the design and rollout of leadership and management development programmes for new and experienced leaders.
• Manage the recruitment and training of trainees across all teams
• Develop development pathways for trainees, NQs, associates, and legal support functions.

• Ensure all colleagues meet regulatory learning…