Overview

With 250 staff and lawyers working across five offices nationwide, Hempsons is a leading law firm for the health and social care, charity, and social enterprise sectors. We help our clients tackle a constantly changing array of opportunities and challenges - never more so than now. Our aim is to provide outstanding legal services that deliver the best possible client outcomes whilst nurturing a culture that makes us a "great place to work".

The role

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Senior Applications Analyst to support the management, development, and optimisation of our core legal applications and data systems. The successful candidate will join the Applications and Data team who are responsible for ensuring business-critical applications are maintained, upgraded, and integrated effectively. Working alongside the other Applications Analysts in the team, reporting to the Applications and Data Manager, you will contribute to the day-to-day support of Legal applications and be involved in key projects to deliver new applications to the business. You will have the opportunity to work with innovative technologies, including Generative AI and Data Analytics, that support the firm\'s wider business strategy. This is a wide-ranging role including project work that will drive innovation and change within the firm, with lasting impact on how the firm provides legal services. This is a Hybrid working role that requires attendance in the office at least 2 days a week; additional days may be required for specific tasks and projects. Please note that the job description is not exhaustive and may vary in line with changes in the team\'s objectives and firm\'s policy.

Core duties and responsibilities

In partnership with the wider Applications and Data Team, the Senior Applications Analyst is responsible for maintaining and developing the firm\'s core legal application systems. You will have hands-on expertise in Aderant Expert, Visual Files, and Microsoft 365, including workflow optimisation, system integrations, and low-code development using the Power Platform. You will also have experience with SQL Server administration and reporting and be comfortable designing secure data integrations across business platforms. You will act as a point of technical escalation for the IT Service Desk Team and other Applications Analysts.

Key responsibilities

• Technical Responsibilities: The Senior Applications Analyst and the Applications and Data Team are responsible for the following legal application systems:
• Aderant Expert – Technical ownership of the firm\'s practice management system (PMS), including Expert Time; create, maintain, and optimise workflows; manage upgrades, patches, and system maintenance; provide advanced troubleshooting; deliver and oversee integrations with other legal systems.
• Visual Files – Oversee configuration, maintenance, and development of Visual Files; Database Administration (SQL); maintain and support SQL Server databases; ensure data integrity, security, and performance optimisation.
• Reporting – Write, maintain, and optimise SQL queries and reports; build, manage, and maintain Power BI dashboards and data flows; provide accurate data and reporting solutions to stakeholders across the firm.
• Artificial intelligence – Developing capabilities using the firm\'s Generative AI platform; collaborate with AI working group; create playbooks; develop Prompt Engineering capabilities; knowledge transfer to IT training team and AI champions.
• Microsoft 365 – Maintain and support the firm\'s SharePoint intranet; develop the Client Portals solution built on SharePoint and Aderant Drive; low-code development using Power Platform (Power Apps / Power Automate / Power BI).
• Application Development – Maintain and support bespoke applications, services and background processes using C#, PowerShell, Python, ASP, VBScript; develop bespoke solutions where out-of-the-box options are not available; work within Visual Studio or similar IDEs.
• Cyber Security – Ensure cyber security best practices in configuration and development; adhere to the firm\'s cyber security standards; understand ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus; contribute to maintaining standards across the IT team.

Essential Skillset

• Proven administration of Aderant Expert including workflow optimisation and system integrations.
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft 365, SharePoint Online, and Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI).
• Experience in Public Cloud environments (Microsoft Azure, AWS).
• Strong SQL Server management and SQL reporting (SSRS); data and MI delivery.
• Knowledge of designing and supporting data integrations across legal and business systems.
• Familiarity with IT change, release, and service management frameworks; reliable operations.
• Adherence to access, security, and data protection policies; documentation and knowledge sharing.
• Familiarity with ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus.

Core Technical Skills

• Aderant Expert PMS
• Aderant Expert Time
• Microsoft 365 - SharePoint Online and Power Platform
• Microsoft Azure – Server management and fundamentals
• Microsoft SQL Server and SSRS
• Microsoft Desktop and Server Operating Systems
• Basic Application Development
• Scripting / Programming (C# & PowerShell)

Desirable

• Visual Files CMS
• Experience enabling generative AI use cases, creating playbooks, and prompt engineering

Key relationships

• Reports to the Applications and Data Manager
• Works with the Applications and Data team and the IT Training Team
• Provides technical escalation for the IT Service Desk

What can we offer you?

Our benefits package is designed to enable all colleagues to thrive in an inclusive and supportive environment. These benefits include: holiday purchase scheme, private health insurance, life assurance & critical illness cover, season ticket loans, cycle-to-work scheme and more.

Equal opportunities

Hempsons is an equal opportunities employer. Hempsons is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and to encouraging diversity through recruitment. Applications are welcome from all sections of the community and decisions to progress will be made with reference to objective criteria only.