Legal Project Manager

The legal market is undergoing a period of hyper-change, driving opportunities for innovative thinking and hybrid careers. The Client Operations Services & Legal Project Management team thrives on these changes, residing at the intersection of process improvement, technology, data storytelling, client service and legal practice. Our mission is to strengthen Ropes & Gray's client relationships and optimize the delivery of legal services by developing innovative tools and processes that drive efficiency and meet our clients' evolving priorities.

The role of the manager is to provide lawyers, clients and support staff guidance on matter management best practices and tools, ensuring that client relationships are supported and matters are executed efficiently. This involves encouraging the use of matter work plans, scoping and building budgets, analyzing data and progress reporting, and building on the team's practice knowledge. The manager collaborates with lawyers and acts as a resource for clients, especially those with legal operations functions.

A key aspect of the manager’s role is to use their experience to influence outcomes and engage in process improvement and change management.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Through close collaboration with R&G lawyers and support staff, develops a strong understanding of one or more of the firm’s practices, including its strategic priorities, areas of legal focus, major clients and challenges; aligns support and service delivery with practice priorities.

2. Develops, maintains and enhances a portfolio of practice-specific resources that help lawyers identify and communicate to clients the cost and scope of legal work, spot risks for cost overruns, monitor run rate and leverage the firm’s technology and knowledge resources to optimize legal service delivery.

3. Applies and advocates for legal project management best practices including scoping, budgeting, progress reporting, team and client communication and efficiency (including the application of technology and alternative staffing).

4. Establishes and partners with a network of peers in Finance, Business Development, Practice Development, Knowledge Management and other staff support teams to design and deliver innovative solutions to lawyers and clients and facilitate process improvement.

5. Collaborates with the partners who lead client relationships and with clients' legal department staff; designs and implements processes and tools that address clients' priorities and enhance the client relationship.

6. Uses team technology platforms and applies effective data storytelling techniques to help attorneys optimize matter management and answer clients' questions; analyzes financial metrics and data, and uses it to raise issues and make recommendations to lawyers.

7. Leads client relationship and practice group support with the help of the team's senior analysts and analysts, and by leveraging the technical expertise of the team’s Infrastructure team.

ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES :

1. Able to maintain strict confidentiality of the firm's internal and personnel affairs and client information. Understands ethics of position including rules of legal ethics in regards to confidentiality, billing and client representation and advocacy.

2. Able to build relationships, influence and foster a collaborative approach with internal clients across practice groups and with all departments and levels of the organization.

3. Can effectively convey solutions to stakeholders, explaining results within a legal project management framework and achieving buy-in from legal teams.

4. Able to effectively work in a multi-office environment and a culturally and educationally diverse environment.

5. Must be flexible to meet the demands of working at a global law firm and available for travel.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED :

1. Bachelor's degree required; J.D. or MBA preferred.

2. At least 7 years of experience working in a law firm, corporate legal department, financial institution or other large complex organization is required; professional services experience is preferred.

3. Exceptional client service orientation with financial acumen.

4. Demonstrated experience in leading teams and creative problem-solving.

WORKING CONDITIONS :

Incumbent is expected to work the hours necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the position. The above job description is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities or requirements. Firm management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs.