The Legal Operations Manager owns aiLegal's legal delivery engine. This role is responsible for turning caseload into measurable results by implementing KPIs, standardizing workflows, and driving accountability across attorneys and case managers. You will ensure every team member meets productivity targets, every case moves on time, and every client receives consistent, high-quality service. This is a hands-on execution role for a systems builder and performance leader who thrives on metrics, ownership, and result

Description

Location: Atlanta, San Francisco, New York, or Remote

Employment Type: Full-time

Compensation: Competitive base salary + performance bonuses based on credit-hour productivity, quality of work, and great customers interaction.

Reports to: Managing Partner

We are seeking experienced and self-driven Legal Operations Director. This role exists for one reason: ensure every case manager consistently delivers required billing hours with high quality, predictable timelines, and zero operational chaos.

You are the operator who turns strategy into execution.

You build systems.

You enforce standards.

You drive accountability.

Your success is measured directly by legal output.

This role is not for candidates who:

move slowly

resist using technology and/or is not tech savvy

require handholding

cannot manage deadlines

dislike KPIs

lack ownership, accountability, or flexibility

can not produce results within defined timelines

brings drama or an ego that requires its own parking space

This role is for candidates who are:
• disciplined high-performers
• outstanding writers and strategists
• tech-comfortable professionals
• deadline-sensitive professionals
• professionals who can take full ownership of job responsibility
• professionals who thrive in well-structured, high-accountability environments
• professionals who bring curiosity, humility, and professionalism

Position Review

Within 90-180 days, this role must achieve:

• ≥90% of case managers meeting or exceeding monthly credit-hour targets
• On-time deliverables ≥95% across all active matters
• Measurable reduction in backlog and stalled cases
• Clear KPI dashboards adopted firmwide
• Daily operational cadence fully implemented
• Managers actively coaching to performance using your system

If these aren't happening, the role isn't succeeding.

Key Responsibilities

• Legal Delivery Management
• Own end-to-end case execution across all practice areas
• Monitor daily progress of every active matter
• Identify stalled files, overdue tasks, and underperforming staff in real time
• Reallocate workload dynamically to protect deadlines and utilization
• Run weekly delivery reviews with attorneys and case managers
• You are the control tower of legal operations.
• KPI Design & Enforcement
• Credit hours per person (monthly/weekly/daily)
• Case cycle time by case type
• On-time task completion %
• Rework/correction rate
• Client response SLAs
• Utilization rate per role
• Backlog aging
• Create dashboards, publish scorecards. Run performance meetings.
• Metrics must be visible, unavoidable, and acted upon.
• SOP + Workflow Standardization
• Document and enforce SOPs for each case type
• Implement standardized task sequences per matter
• Reduce vibration between case managers
• Partner with tech team to embed workflow into systems.
• Continuously refine processes based on data.
• Team Performance Management
• Run weekly performance reviews with case managers.
• Coach underperformers with concrete improvement plans.
• Recommend corrective action when KPIs are missed.
• Partner with HR on PIPs and exits when needed.
• Build a culture of ownership, not excuses.
• Capacity Planning & Hiring Input
• Forecast staffing needs based on caseload and credit-hour demand
• Advise leadership on hiring timing and role mix
• Support onboarding with productivity ramp plans.

Qualifications

Must-Have

• 5+ years in legal operations, professional service operations, or delivery management.
• Proven ownership of KPI-driven teams (law firm, consulting, healthcare, or similar)
• Direct experience managing production staff (case managers, legal assistant, analysts, etc.)
• Strong data fluency: dashboards, metrics, operational reporting
• Experience implementing SOPs and performance systems.
• Comfortable holding professionals accountable.

Strongly Preferred

• Immigration law or high-volume legal services background
• Experience with flat-rate or production-based models
• Familiarity with Jira / Case management platforms
• Lean/Six Sigma/Process optimization experience
• Remote + Hybrid team management

Personal Attributes

You are:

• Operationally ruthless (about process, not people)
• Data-driven
• Calm under pressure
• Direct communicator
• Systems thinker
• Execution obsessed
• Comfortable saying "this is not acceptable".

You don't avoid performance conversations.

KPI Framework

Firm-Level KPIs owned by Legal Operations Director

• Case Manager Credit Hour Compliance - ≥90% hitting monthly target
• On-time deliverables - ≥95%
• Backlog >30 Days -
• Average Case Cycle Time - Reduced quarterly
• Rework / Correction Rate -
• Client SLA Response - ≥95% within 24 hours
• Internal SLA Response - ≥95% within 1 hour

Individual Performance KPIs Implemented by Legal Operations Director

Each case manager tracked on

• Monthly credit hours
• Task completion rate
• Quality score (attorney review)
• Responsiveness
• Case aging
• SOP adherence

Published weekly.

Reviewed monthly.

Consequence enforced.

Operations Maturity KPIs (First 6 Months)

• KPI Dashboard Live
• SOP coverage ≥95% of workflows
• Weekly delivery Cadence established
• Performance coaching system running
• Capacity planning model operational

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive base salary + performance-based bonuses
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) with employer contribution
• Paid time off
• Career growth opportunity in a fast-scaling, and technology driven practice.

Salary

$90,000 - $150,000 per year