What is events roles in a law firm?

Events within any organisation play an important role and the planning and organisation which goes into each one – big or small – is key to its success. Whether it is an intimate dinner for a few partners with their clients or running larger networking events, seminars and conferences for hundreds of delegates – the impact these events have are pivotal to the firm’s exposure and relationships - not only with their clients and potential clients but also with colleagues and peers.

Firms host a broad range of events, both virtual and in-person. Some of which you may not know exist (see below to learn what a Town Hall is!). These are all designed to educate, celebrate, build relationships, and enhance the firm's reputation and credibility. Professionally, events help to bolster the presence of a firm and gives an opportunity to enhance their position in the market through demonstrating their expertise. This helps to build confidence in a firm’s reputation as market-leading and a trustworthy source of knowledge. Beyond this, events play a key role in enhancing the culture and community of a firm internally - helping to build a sense of togetherness among teams.

Types of Events

Before we get into the skills and specifics of the role, you may want to learn what type of events you will be helping to plan and execute. Listed below are just a few common types of events which firms may host: 

• Cultural and Social – Collaborating closely with HR to develop a programme celebrating key dates. Raising awareness and celebrating through various means, such as inviting speakers to a presentation, arranging a themed lunch or arranging workshops help foster a sense of community and appreciation within the wider firm.
• Internal Meetings, Town halls and Roundtables – Firms regularly host gatherings where all members of the firm are invited to come together to discuss important issues and share updates. This opens the channels of communication and creates transparency.
• Awards Ceremonies, Networking Events and Conferences - These events are significant for celebrating accomplishments, promoting knowledge share among colleagues, facilitating Partners and Associates to deliver educational presentations on relevant topics or industry updates, and fostering connections with clients and potential clients. These are great opportunities for firms to promote their services and highlight their credentials in their field of specialism.
• Virtual – Many firms have found great value and are still utilising the virtual events platforms which became vital in 2020. They can offer more accessible information-sharing – enabling them to reach a wider audience. Webinars, virtual seminars, conferences and meetings are now available to those who are otherwise unable to attend in person and can be recorded for future use.
• Retreats – Some firms offer retreats for their lawyers and staff which can be a day event or an entire weekend or week. There are usually a range of activities, workshops, presentations and meals which you will schedule to encourage team building, information sharing and strategy development. Retreats tend to be held off-site and may include wellness activities such as golf, yoga and mindfulness sessions to encourage a healthy work/life balance.
• Client Meetings and dinners – As part of building key relationships, Partners and Associates regularly meet with clients in formal and informal settings. Having an encyclopaedic knowledge of well-suited restaurants and contacts at venues for hosting meetings will help to seamlessly plan key meetings and dinners.
• Charity Events – Supporting charities and causes can come in many ways and initiatives. You may host a dinner gala to promote a cause or hold in-house events to fundraise. This helps to build relationships with local communities and promotes the firm.
• Recruitment Events – Working closely with the HR or Recruitment team, you may be hosting or attending job fairs or attending universities to promote the firm and attract new talent.
• Staff parties - Planning a memorable summer or Christmas party to recognise the hard work of employees is always important and rewarding. You may also host smaller-scale celebrations to recognise special occasions.

Key Responsibilities

Starting at Assistant-level you may be involved with elements within the planning process, but as your career and skills grow, you will be responsible for managing large- and small-scale in-person and virtual events from start to finish. This includes attending planning meetings, curating mailing/invite lists, designing and sending invitations, liaising with external providers (venue, AV, catering, entertainment etc…), sourcing venues, arranging speakers and entertainment, collating marketing materials, ordering gifts or merchandise and analysing post-event feedback – amongst many other tasks in-between! Along with these skills, you will track budgets, build lasting relationships with internal and external vendors and develop exciting events programmes. You will need to be flexible with working patterns as you may be attending or hosting events out of usual working hours.

Events teams consist of highly organised and friendly personalities who have a real desire to provide a great service. You must be able to communicate effectively, think on your feet, be methodical and above all else remain calm under pressure! Events have many moving parts and managing all these elements requires a logical mind with excellent problem-solving capabilities. Being creative and always thinking of new ways of presenting an event is a great talent to possess within this type of role. Thinking of new ways to entertain and being market-leading is a highly desirable skill which cannot be taught! Having an appreciation and awareness of different cultures, religions, dietary requirements/allergies and keeping abreast of industry developments will make you a well-rounded events professional who is able to approach any task skilfully.

Events is a great career choice which offers exposure to working with different teams and nourishes creative minds. No two days are the same and there are always new and interesting things to learn.

If this has left you interested in considering a career in Events, or if you have any follow-up questions, please contact me to discuss further!