The Firmwide Director or Senior Manager of Practice Management serves as a strategic advisor and business partner to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), practice leaders, and firm leadership. This role is responsible for driving effective practice management across the firm by optimizing attorney staffing and utilization, supporting matter and financial management, implementing practice initiatives, and facilitating collaboration across practice groups and professional staff departments.
The position will provide data-driven insights and practical solutions to help practice leaders achieve business objectives, enhance operational efficiency, support client and carrier expectations, and proactively address staffing, workload, and resource needs. The ideal candidate combines strong legal industry knowledge with exceptional analytical, project management, communication, and relationship-building skills, as well as the ability to operate effectively in a complex, matrixed organization.
Duties and Responsibilities- Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic liaison to the COO, practice leaders, and other firm leaders on practice management, operational, staffing, and resource matters.
- Partner with practice leaders to develop, execute, and monitor practice goals, strategic initiatives, and operational priorities.
- Review matters and consult with practice leaders regarding staffing, team composition, and attorney assignments throughout the lifecycle of a matter and an attorney's experience with the firm.
- Monitor partner-to-associate ratios, attorney capacity, client needs, and firm business requirements to proactively identify practice areas and offices requiring additional attorney resources.
- Partner with Talent Acquisition and firm leadership to anticipate hiring needs and develop proactive attorney recruitment and staffing strategies.
- Monitor attorney workload, utilization, capacity, and productivity; identify trends and recommend resource adjustments or other appropriate interventions.
- Monitor compliance with matter budgets, billing requirements, client and carrier expectations, and internal operational standards.
- Collaborate with practice leaders, practice managers, and professional staff departments to support practice objectives and ensure effective execution of firm initiatives.
- Partner with practice leaders and practice managers to align matter management practices with client and carrier guidelines, expectations, and requirements.
- Identify, assess, and resolve operational issues; escalate matters requiring senior leadership attention and decision-making.
- Lead the implementation of practice management initiatives, training programs, and process improvements, including identifying skill gaps and coordinating with the Professional Development team and practice leaders.
- Establish and promote consistent execution of firmwide practice management processes, procedures, and standards.
- Provide cross-functional stakeholder coordination and communication support for practice management activities and initiatives.
- Support new-hire onboarding and lateral integration by coordinating with appropriate stakeholders and overseeing role-level support, where applicable.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the practice management team, including practice managers and practice management assistants.
- Collaborate with the Innovation and Emerging Technologies team to identify, evaluate, and implement technology, tools, and resources that enhance attorney and paralegal effectiveness and support practice-specific needs.
- Partner with the COO and relevant stakeholders to develop and enhance reporting that enables firm and practice leaders to make informed, data-driven decisions regarding practice, matter, staffing, and financial management.
- Support compliance with firm policies and operational requirements, including time-entry and other attorney productivity and administrative standards.
- Drive continuous process improvement, documentation, and standardization, including the development and maintenance of policies, procedures, workflows, and best practices for the Practice Management function.
- Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
Qualifications- Bachelor's and law degree required; equivalent experience in law firm management, legal operations, professional services, project management, or practice management may be considered.
- Prior experience supporting insurance defense practice areas strongly preferred.
- Prior experience in a law firm, legal operations, professional services, or business operations environment required.
- Strong understanding of practice management, matter staffing, attorney utilization, workload and capacity management, operational reporting, and cross-functional business processes.
- Demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships with attorneys, practice leaders, firm leadership, and professional staff at all levels.
- Strong analytical, organizational, communication, prioritization, and project management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple practice group priorities, competing deadlines, and complex stakeholder expectations in a fast-paced environment.
- Proven ability to proactively identify operational challenges, assess alternatives, and develop practical, timely, and sustainable solutions.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex projects within a collaborative, matrixed organization.
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with attorneys and senior firm leadership.
- Exceptional executive presence, judgment, and presentation skills.
- Strong ability to influence stakeholders, build consensus, and drive accountability without relying solely on direct authority.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, advanced formulas and functions, data analysis, data modeling, visualization, and dashboard development; demonstrated ability to analyze complex datasets and translate findings into clear, actionable insights for firm and practice leaders.
- Exceptional analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize complex quantitative and qualitative information and translate findings into clear, practical, and actionable recommendations.
- Sound independent judgment, tact, discretion, and ability to appropriately handle sensitive and confidential information.
- Experience with iTimekeep, Intapp, financial reporting systems, workflow platforms, dashboards, and other law firm technology preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to learn and leverage technology and data tools to improve processes, reporting, efficiency, and decision-making.
This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
Job TypeFull-Time, Exempt
Reports ToChief Operating Officer
Supervisory ResponsibilitiesPractice Group Managers
Salary$150,000 - $220,000
Work LocationHybrid; California
Physical RequirementsPrimarily sedentary work. Exerting up to 30 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading. Work is performed in an office environment and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment and keyboards. Must have the ability to walk short distances, and/or drive a vehicle to deliver and pick up materials. Work can be performed with or without accommodations.
Travel10-30% domestic travel by car and plane.
Salary Description
$150,000 - $220,000
