IT Lead/Manager (Legal Environment)Location: Chicago (hybrid)
Department: Operations
Reports to: Director of Operations
About the RoleWe are seeking a hands-on
IT Lead/Manager to support and enhance the technology environment at a growing law firm with 80+ employees.
This role is ideal for someone who understands that in a legal setting,
technology is mission-critical-downtime impacts client service, deadlines, and case outcomes. You will serve as a
trusted partner to attorneys, paralegals, and operations leadership, ensuring systems are reliable, secure, and optimized for legal workflows.
You'll balance
day-to-day IT execution with
continuous improvement, helping the firm operate efficiently while maintaining strict confidentiality and security standards.
What You'll Do- Ensure uptime and reliability of core systems supporting legal operations (network, file access, VPN, printing, devices)
- Provide responsive, white-glove IT support to attorneys and staff in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Troubleshoot and resolve issues quickly, minimizing disruption to billable work and court deadlines
- Liaise relationships with external IT and security vendors, ensuring service quality and accountability
- Support and improve document management, file access, and collaboration workflows critical to legal teams
- Deploy and manage user technology (laptops, mobile devices, applications) for onboarding and ongoing use
- Evaluate, test, and implement new tools that improve legal productivity and efficiency
- Support cybersecurity and compliance efforts, including SOC 2 and client-driven security assessments
- Help develop and maintain IT policies and procedures aligned with confidentiality, data protection, and ethical obligations
- Lead and mentor IT staff while coordinating internal and external support resources
What Makes This Role Unique- Direct impact on attorney productivity and client service delivery
- Exposure to legal technology and data-sensitive workflows
- Opportunity to modernize IT in a professional services environment
- High-trust role requiring both technical skill and professional discretion
- Collaboration with attorneys and leadership-not just back-office IT
What You Bring- Experience supporting IT in a professional services or legal environment (law firm experience strongly preferred)
- Strong understanding of networking and secure remote access (VPN, MFA, file sharing)
- Ability to operate in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment where responsiveness matters
- Proven ability to communicate clearly with non-technical professionals, including attorneys
- Experience managing vendors and third-party IT providers
- Strong troubleshooting skills across Windows, Mac, and common office platforms
- High level of professionalism, discretion, and commitment to confidentiality
- A proactive mindset-anticipating issues before they impact legal work
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 4+ years of hands-on IT experience in a professional environment
- Experience supporting multi-user environments and end-user computing
- Prior leadership or supervisory experience required
Preferred / Bonus Experience- Experience with legal technologies (e.g. document management systems, etc.)
- Familiarity with security and compliance frameworks (SOC 2, client security questionnaires)
- Certifications such as CompTIA, Network+, Cisco (CCNA), or similar
Salary for the IT Manager ranges from $130,000 to $165,000 per year depending on seniority and experience level. The IT Manager may be eligible for bonuses based on individual and firm performance.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package to all eligible full-time employees, which includes the following: Health Coverage (comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer premium contributions, and short and long-term disability). Retirement Benefits 401(k) retirement plan with a firm contribution. Paid vacation and sick time and paid holidays. We also offer a Flexible Spending Account and pre-tax Commuter Benefits.
