The Legal Project Manager collaborates with attorneys, administrative professionals, and clients to manage the status, resources, and timelines for a variety of projects, and works with colleagues to provide updates on issues to ensure deadlines are communicated and met, and provides oversight with trademark and copyright research and projects.
This is a hybrid position that requires in-office attendance at our Los Angeles office two days per week. On days when in-person attendance is not required, the individual may work remotely, subject to approval by their direct supervisor (and assigned attorneys, if applicable). As an essential function of the role, the employee must be available to attend in-person meetings, training and professional development sessions, and other business-related activities as needed. This position requires residency in California and will be designated to Hanson Bridgett's Los Angeles office location.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties:
• Create long and short-term plans, including tracking progress of phases and tasks, setting targets for milestones and adhering to deadlines.
• Delegate tasks on a project to attorneys and administrative professionals who are best positioned to complete them.
• Make effective decisions when presented with multiple options for how to progress a project.
• Serve as a point of contact when multiple colleagues are assigned to the same project to ensure team actions remain in synergy.
• Perform quality control on the project throughout development to maintain the standards expected.
• Adjust schedules and targets on projects as needed or as project scope changes.
• Create meeting agendas and coordinate practice group and team meetings, recording and collecting minutes, and identifying action items.
• Coordinate and assist in ensuring that meeting agendas and requirements are accurate and complete, including coordination of external guests and, if needed, their travel and accommodations.
• Serve as the liaison on communications for both internal teams and external clients. Responsible for communicating or coordinating the communication of updates, information, and changes.
• Manage the administrative functions, such as the preparation and formatting of written communications, reporting, or presentations, client intake, and billing; maintain and update client files and communication as directed.
• Ensure proper technology is leveraged to execute both project-coordination and financial-tracking tasks.
• Set the calendar and own the daily itinerary as well as any meeting deliverables, communications, or follow-up.
• Oversight of client status reports, research projects, and client communications related to the supported practice area.
Required Skills, Abilities and Qualifications:
• Must be a proactive, self-starter who is detail-oriented and can integrate particulars into a larger, strategic context.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain financial and budget information clearly to attorneys and clients.
• Excellent organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail.
• Experience with researching, collecting, analyzing, and reporting on data, including matter financial data.
• Customer service orientation, commitment to meeting deadlines, and ability to multitask in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Strong, independent problem-solving and the ability to offer constructive opinions and creative solutions.
• A team player who motivates and educates other team members.
• Must have flexibility to work outside scheduled hours as required.
• Exceptional technology skills, with expert-level knowledge of Outlook, Smartsheet, and other project management platforms.
Education, Experience & Certification Requirements:
• Undergraduate degree required.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a law firm environment, including exposure to matter budgeting, billing, alternative fee arrangements, or financial reporting.
• Legal project management certification preferred; PMP certification with legal experience also desirable.
Essential Job Expectations:
All Hanson Bridgett employees are expected to demonstrate excellence in how we serve our clients and support our colleagues, upholding the firm's values as part of our culture. Specific expectations include:
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with clients, attorneys, business professionals, and external audiences.
• Produce high-quality work and respond to correspondence in an efficient, timely, and professional manner.
• Meet deadlines, manage competing priorities, and commit to meeting high standards.
• Comply with firm policies and procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality as required in a law firm environment, particularly regarding sensitive matters, financial and client information.
Compensation:
Hanson Bridgett offers a competitive salary and benefits package. The hourly/ annual salary for this California-based role is anticipated to be in the range of an hourly rate of $58.97 to $64.10 and a salary of $115,000 to $125,000, representing the firm's good-faith and reasonable estimate of possible compensation at the time of posting. Actual compensation is negotiable and will depend on several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's years of experience, qualifications, and skill set.
