As Senior Manager, Legal Project Management you will partner directly with partners and fee earners across assigned practice groups and sectors to drive matter delivery, commercial discipline, and client transparency - working closely with the Head of LPM and the broader Client Value & Pricing team to embed LPM into the fabric of how Goodwin delivers work.
What You Will Do:Strategic Partnership
- Build trusted advisory relationships with partners and senior associates, engaging at matter inception to shape scope, resourcing, risk mitigation, and fee structures.
- Collaborate with the Pricing team to deliver integrated pricing and project management solutions.
- Act as strategic partner to new business development, supporting client pitches, fee discussions, and acting as a voice of innovation and commercial rigor.
Matter Delivery & Commercial Discipline
- Lead end-to-end LPM support on complex, high-value matters, ensuring that work is delivered within scope, on budget, on time, while protecting matter profitability.
- Ensuring that matters are reviewed on completion to ensure capture of lessons and best practice.
- Drive commercial conversations around scope change, budget risk, and profitability, proactively identifying and addressing commercial issues before they escalate further.
- Develop and maintain matter plans, budgets, and resource trackers that provide partners and clients with real-time visibility of matter health.
Client Engagement
- Build direct client relationships with clients, supporting transparent communication on matter progress, budget status, and delivery timelines.
- Develop and utilize real-time dashboards to support client transparency and risk management.
- Articulate Goodwin's delivery performance in client-friendly terms through value reports and post-engagement reviews.
Innovation & Continuous Improvement
- Champion the adoption of AI, automation, and data tools to transform matter planning, tracking, and reporting.
- Contribute to predictive budgeting models and data-driven tools that improve matter forecasting accuracy.
- Embed design thinking and process improvement into how matters are scoped and managed, building scalable templates and workflows.
Building the Function
- As one of the first hires in a new function, you will help create the LPM operating model, toolkit, and ways of working - building intellectual capital that will scale across the firm.
- Develop frameworks, playbooks, and training materials that will form the backbone of the function's operating model.
- Mentor junior team members as the function grows, modelling excellence and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
Who You Are:- 5+ years' experience in legal project management, legal operations, or a related role within a law firm, in-house legal team, or professional services environment.
- Demonstrated track record of embedding LPM in a nascent environment, e.g. where partners have not previously used LPM.
- Exposure to design thinking, Lean, Agile, or Six Sigma methodologies.
- Prior involvement in training, coaching, or change management initiatives.
- PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification.
- Expertise in the fundamentals of project management and change leadership.
- Strong commercial mindset with deep expertise in AFAs, matter budgeting, profitability analysis and commercial risk management.
- Strong analytical and financial acumen. Comfortable interrogating data, building models, and making commercial recommendations.
- Hands-on experience with legal tech platforms (e.g. workflow automation, collaboration, matter management, BI/reporting tools) and a genuine curiosity about AI and emerging tech.
- Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build credibility with senior partners and demanding clients.
- Ability to set a vision and bring others on the journey.
#LI- TV1
Benefits and MoreAt Goodwin, you will discover your next career opportunity with a rewarding compensation package and comprehensive benefits, including:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Life and disability insurance
- Retirement & Savings Plan
- Emergency back-up child and adult care
- Paid vacation, sick time off, and holidays
- Professional development and career advancement opportunities
- Employee recognition and reward programs
- Employee wellness and assistance programs
- Employee discounts and perks
This position is eligible for overtime: No
The Target Salary Range For This Position Varies By Location And Is Commensurate With Relevant Experience: Up To $200,000.00
