Job Title: Practice Group Manager
Job Responsibilities:
The Practice Group Manager serves as the primary business manager for multiple practice groups within the law firm. This role acts as a liaison between Practice Group Leaders (PGLs), the practice groups (PGs), and other departments to support the goals and strategic initiatives of the PGs. The Practice Group Manager is expected to exhibit the firm's core values, adhere to all firm policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines, and may require after-hours, weekend work, and periodic (including overnight) travel.
The responsibilities of the Practice Group Manager are divided into several key areas:
Practice Group Business and Operations:
- Collaborate with PGLs to prepare annual business plans and goals, and monitor and report progress.
- Support PGLs and the Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer in assessments and market analysis.
- Provide appropriate support to Industry Teams and collaborate with Business Development Managers (BDMs) on activities such as developing and managing PG budgets and responding to new business proposals and RFPs.
- Prepare for and support regular PG meetings, ensuring meaningful agendas, reporting key performance indicators, and actionable takeaways.
- Maintain meeting notes, monitor progress toward action items, and follow up on deliverables.
- Establish and maintain clear communication lines with the PG, including those in other offices.
- Assist with specific events and client initiatives involving PG members, ensuring appropriate representation at firm and client events.
- Manage the execution of PG projects and initiatives as assigned by the PGL.
- Field questions on various aspects of PG operations and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and innovation.
- Review and approve new clients and matters as part of the intake process, ensuring compliance with firm-wide standards.
- Keep PGLs and the Chief Information Officer informed of key practice technologies and innovations.
- Promote high levels of client service and adherence to the firm's client service standards.
- Contribute to the PG's resume by notifying the BD and marketing team of significant matters for media outreach and experience tracking.
Financial Management:
- Support the PGL in managing the financial performance of attorneys and the PG to ensure key metrics are met, including growth, client and matter financial performance, expenses, budget management, billable hours, and collections.
- Act as a liaison with Accounting to generate and analyze financial reports, prepare summaries and briefings, and address specific reporting needs for the PGLs/practice group.
- Work with the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer to identify opportunities for rate setting and value-added pricing through alternative fee arrangements and renegotiate client service level agreements for more favorable terms.
- Ensure PG members practice sound financial hygiene, such as time entry and billing.
- Manage expense approvals and track against the PG administrative budget.
People Management:
- Partner with the PGL and HR in identifying, establishing, and implementing hiring/strategic growth goals.
- Collaborate with HR on the planning and recruitment of attorneys and staff to meet the needs of the PG.
- Assist with the onboarding and integration plan for each lateral hire, ensuring successful implementation and integration.
- Facilitate onboarding and integration by connecting new hires to other attorneys in the PG, the office, and the law firm.
- Assist the PGL in managing work allocation for PG attorneys to maximize production and meet client needs, monitoring attorney workload and utilization reports to identify productivity issues and gaps.
- Regularly review PG staffing needs to ensure optimal use of staff resources and improve staff engagement, including Paralegal hours and LPA utilization and capacity.
Professional Development:
- Facilitate professional development plans and expectations for each Associate and Counsel/Special Counsel, including training, job shadowing, and pro bono work under the firm's professional development program.
- Assign mentors for each non-partner, as appropriate.
- Support the PGL in their role and participation in the Professional Review Committee (PRC) processes.
- Work with the Office of General Counsel to implement the firm's processes for departing attorneys, ensuring smooth transition of clients/matters and sending client letters according to the firm and Bar ethics rules.
Diversity and Inclusion:
- Support the firm's strategic plan by contributing to the success goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Coordinate with BD Managers and Diversity Manager on diversity-related surveys and RFPs.
Education and Experience Information:
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in law firm administration or corporate legal operations.
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting/finance, marketing, human resources, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and job experience. An MBA is highly desirable.
- Working knowledge of generally accepted business and financial principles, disciplines, and standards.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to influence others, as well as flex style and delivery to varying audiences.
- Exceptional interpersonal and customer service skills, demonstrating effective teamwork and maintaining effective working relationships with PGLs, firm management, attorneys, professional staff, clients, and the public.
- Excellent project management skills with the ability to organize and prioritize workload and consistently meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Highly self-motivated and self-directed, able to work independently with minimal supervision and recognize when issues should be escalated.
- Demonstrates independent judgment, provides guidance and direction to key stakeholders, and exhibits initiative and innovative thinking.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word) and legal management and accounting software.
Salary Information:
The job description does not provide specific salary information for the Practice Group Manager position.
The law firm is an Equal Opportunity Employer and makes recruitment, employment, promotional, and all other personnel decisions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
