Legal Support Manager

Responsibilities

• Supervision & Leadership
• Develops firmwide workforce plans and succession strategies within PART to support long-term growth, evolving legal practice needs, and the implementation of alternative support models as opportunities are identified across offices.
• Leads organizational change initiatives related to administrative functions, ensuring PART team alignment and readiness through change planning, communication, and training.
• Directs the daily work of PART Specialists, providing guidance, training, coaching, and mentorship.
• Serves as a resource to staff and attorneys, resolving issues and proactively identifying opportunities for improved efficiency.
• Operational Management
• Leverages analytics and performance metrics to inform strategic decisions on staffing models, resource deployment, and workflow design.
• PART Manager partners with RADs to forecast and manage PART team budget to include staffing costs and needed resource investments.
• Develops staffing strategies to ensure adequate PART coverage across practice areas, including trial teams, transactional projects, and overflow assignments.
• Reviews and assigns incoming requests, ensuring timely and accurate completion.
• Captures and coordinates with Office Administrators, RADs, and firm resources to balance workloads and manage assignments across multiple offices.
• Maintains staffing ratios, monitors overtime, approves time and attendance, and manages leave scheduling.
• Analyzes PART program utilization and worklogs to identify operational trends, resource needs, and opportunities to optimize team performance.
• Evaluates how the program is structured and managed to ensure effective alignment with departmental goals.
• Provides strategic recommendations related to training, technology, and process improvements based on data-driven insights.
• Training & Development
• Designs and implements leadership development initiatives to build future administrative leaders and deepen the PART team’s capabilities.
• Identifies opportunities for automation and operational innovation, collaborating with IT and other departments to implement scabble solutions.
• Establishes key performance indicators and benchmarks to measure team performance, productivity, and service excellence.
• Designs and implements training programs to enhance Specialist skills in litigation, transactional support, technology, and client service.
• Supports cross-training to ensure flexibility and depth within the PART team.
• Provides regular feedback and career development opportunities to Specialists.
• Identifies, develops, and implements training programs within PART as well as within the larger Practice Assistant/Practice Administrative Assistant teams to help ensure the teams remain up to date on the latest technology, practices, and procedures.
• Process & Quality Improvement
• Maintains oversight of workflow processes to ensure best practices and consistent service delivery.
• Partners with IT, Records, and Business Resource Centers to streamline processes and leverage available tools.
• Serves as a change agent in adopting firm initiatives and ensuring operational excellence.
• Collaboration & Communication
• Prepares strategic briefings and presents performance trends, staffing risks, and operational recommendations to RADs.
• Builds and maintains strategic relationships with practice group leaders, attorneys, and administrative departments to anticipate and respond to evolving service demands.
• Acts as the primary liaison between PART Specialists, attorneys, and administrative leadership.
• Communicates firm policies, updates, and expectations to the team.
• Prepares and distributes reports on workload, performance metrics, and staffing needs.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 8-10 years’ progressive services administration, with 3-5 years in a senior leadership or strategic operations role, or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of litigation procedures and litigation support best practices.
• Proved ability to lead cross-functional teams, drive organizational change, and align operational functions with strategic business goals.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience managing budgets and resource forecasting.
• Advanced skills in data analysis, performance management and project execution.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop staff.
• Strong knowledge of legal administrative processes, litigation and transactional support functions, and firm operations.
• Excellent planning, organizational, and project management skills.
• Proficiency with firm-provided software systems and workflow tools.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across offices and practice groups.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, manage competing priorities, and make decisions under pressure.
• Professional demeanor and commitment to client service excellence.