Manager of Legal Engagement

About the role

The Manager of Legal Engagement plays a key role within Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP's Talent team. This role supports attorney staffing, engagement, onboarding, and policy compliance across the Firm’s legal practices.

Responsibilities

• Support attorney staffing needs by monitoring attorney availability, capacity, and matter demand across practices and offices.
• Partner with staffing attorneys, practice leaders, and business professionals to facilitate daily work assignments, coverage needs, and staffing adjustments.
• Track attorney utilization, billable hours, and workload patterns, escalating risks or concerns related to sustained over- or under-utilization as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate staffing, utilization, and engagement data within firm systems.
• Support day-to-day performance feedback processes by gathering input related to staffing experiences, workload management, and policy compliance.
• Aid in identifying performance or engagement concerns linked to utilization, time management, or workload distribution, escalating issues as appropriate.
• Provide ongoing guidance and coaching to attorneys related to meeting firm expectations around workload, time entry, and engagement.
• Deliver hands-on onboarding and integration support for first-year and lateral attorneys, ensuring a smooth transition into firm systems, policies, and engagement expectations.
• Serve as a point of contact for new attorneys during their initial integration period, supporting early productivity, engagement, and understanding of workload and time expectations.
• Partner with Legal Training, Practice Management, and other stakeholders to support attorney integration and early engagement initiatives.
• Serve as a primary day-to-day resource for attorneys regarding firm policies, including time entry, billable hours expectations, in-office attendance, and related engagement requirements.
• Support consistent execution and enforcement of attorney-related policies, helping ensure attorneys understand expectations and comply with firm standards.
• Identify recurring questions, challenges, or friction points related to policy application and elevate observations to the Director of Legal Engagement for refinement or clarification.
• Contribute to the consistent communication and reinforcement of firmwide attorney engagement practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; JD preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in a law firm or client-centered professional services environment, with hands-on responsibility related to attorney staffing, engagement, onboarding, or practice management.
• Strong understanding of law firm structures, attorney utilization, timekeeping, and engagement expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with attorneys and business professionals across seniority levels.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with law firm practice management or staffing systems preferred.

Qualifications

• Base annual pay range: $150,000 - $180,000.
• Base pay to be offered will vary and depend on skills and qualifications, experience and location.
• Full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits dependent on the position.

Benefits

• EEO/AA EMPLOYER
• Veterans/Disabled

Pay

The base annual pay range for this role is between $150,000-$180,000. The base pay to be offered will vary and depend on skills and qualifications, experience and location.

Schedule

N/A