Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Practice Services Manager

Kirkland & Ellis LLP$133K — $183K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent experience
  • 5+ years of leadership and supervisory experience or 10+ years in practice services
  • Experience in a medium-to-large law firm is strongly preferred
  • Ability to manage staffing, performance, and service delivery effectively
  • Proven judgment in resolving personnel and workflow issues
  • Strong communication and relationship-building skills
  • Comfort with change and balancing competing priorities

Responsibilities

  • Lead and inspire the Practice Assistant Services team to achieve clear goals
  • Coach and evaluate Practice Assistants through ongoing feedback and formal management
  • Oversee staffing models to ensure efficient administrative support
  • Identify and implement process improvements and technology solutions
  • Partner with Talent and Technology for onboarding and professional development
  • Advise firm leadership and lead teams through change initiatives

Benefits

  • Comprehensive healthcare
  • Generous paid time off
  • Retirement plan options
  • Personal support services
  • Tailored learning and development opportunities
Full Job Description
What You'll Do

Are you a people-focused leader who thrives on building high-performing teams and delivering exceptional support in a fast-paced professional environment? As Practice Services Manager, you'll lead the Practice Assistant Services Department, providing strategic direction and operational oversight to ensure consistent, high-quality administrative support aligned with firm priorities and attorney needs.

Partnering closely with the Senior Director of Administration, Office Leadership, and Firmwide Leadership, you'll serve as a trusted advisor; driving operational excellence, supporting talent development, and leading change initiatives that elevate service delivery across the firm. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while upholding the highest standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and client service.

What You'll Do
Team Leadership: Lead and inspire the Practice Assistant Services team by setting clear goals, communicating expectations, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and service excellence.
Performance Management: Coach, develop, and evaluate Practice Assistants through ongoing feedback and formal performance management, addressing concerns proactively and consistently with firm standards and policies.
Service Delivery & Staffing Strategy: Oversee attorney support assignments and staffing models to ensure efficient, responsive, and high-quality administrative support across practices.
Operational Excellence: Identify and implement process improvements, best practices, and appropriate technology solutions to enhance efficiency, consistency, and effectiveness within the department.
Talent Development & Onboarding: Partner with Talent and Technology teams to support onboarding, training, and continuous professional development for Practice Assistants at all levels.
Change Leadership & Trusted Partnership: Serve as a strategic advisor to firm leadership while leading teams through change initiatives by clearly communicating the rationale, supporting adoption, and exercising sound judgment and discretion.

What You'll Bring
Education: Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience: At least 5 years of progressively responsible leadership and supervisory experience, or 10+ years in practice services, ideally within a professional services or legal environment; experience in a medium-to-large law firm is strongly preferred.
People Leadership: Demonstrated ability to manage staffing models, performance management, and service delivery with direct accountability and measurable results.
Judgment & Discretion: Proven capability to independently resolve complex personnel, workflow, and service-related issues while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
Communication & Collaboration: Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and partner effectively across all levels of the organization.
Adaptability: Comfort navigating change, driving continuous improvement, and balancing competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

If you're excited to lead a critical support function, develop talented teams, and make a lasting impact as a Practice Services Manager, we'd love to hear from you!

Compensation

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in Washington, DC This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations. At Kirkland & Ellis, we consider compensation more than just a base salary. We offer an exceptional range of flexible benefits including comprehensive healthcare, paid time off, and retirement. We also offer personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work.

Compensation Range:

Washington, DC: $133,000 - $183,000

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others at Kirkland.

About Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is an American law firm. Founded in 1909 in Chicago, Illinois, Kirkland & Ellis is the largest law firm in the world by revenue, the seventh-largest by number of attorneys, and is the first law firm in the world to reach US$4 billion in revenue. As of 2021, Kirkland & Ellis ranks third on Am Law's list of profits per equity partner. While Kirkland & Ellis was historically considered a firm focused on litigation, during the 2010s, it expanded private equity and restructuring practices which, together with large-scale commercial litigation, comprise the core legal service areas of the firm. Many attorneys from the firm have served as federal officials or judges, including United States Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and former Attorney General William Barr.
Learn more about Kirkland & Ellis LLP
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1909

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