Practice Manager

About the Firm

McDermott Will & Emery is a leading global law firm with more than 1,700 lawyers and 1,400 business professionals. We celebrate excellence, collaboration, and community and have been recognized as a top workplace by USA Today, Fortune, The American Lawyer, Vault, and others. We are also certified by Great Place to Work. Our award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity, encouraging you to be yourself. We value unique viewpoints and ideas, ensuring everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. Wellness is integral to our benefits program, supporting your physical, emotional, mental, and financial health with an emphasis on work-life balance.

Responsibilities

• Drive organization and execution across practice groups to ensure priorities, timelines, and deliverables remain on track.
• Support implementation of practice group strategic priorities by working closely with practice leadership to define goals and monitor progress.
• Support day-to-day operations of the practice groups under the direction of the Practice Group Director.
• Project manage the delivery of substantive practice development initiatives and projects as directed by practice leadership.
• Coordinate associate onboarding, integration, and offboarding; assist integration efforts as needed with other positions.
• Manage and communicate lateral recruiting pipeline across practice leadership.
• Support operational aspects of running the practice group, including drafting leadership communications, assisting with internal and external practice meetings, and aiding with promotion, compensation, and evaluation processes.
• Track census file changes and ensure these changes flow to other practice group reporting.
• Partner with Finance & Accounting to review and analyze key financial metrics, including capacity and profitability.
• Analyze targeted financial reports to identify and explain specific trends and anomalies, including advising on billing and matter management.
• Support reporting and analysis of timekeeper capacity and utilization based on practice group needs.
• Serve as a liaison between practice groups and administrative departments (Business Development and Marketing, HR, Professional Development, Accounting, and Finance) to ensure operational excellence and effective use of resources.
• Foster cross-platform communication and idea exchange, particularly with similar practice support and operational roles across the firm.
• Identify and implement technology solutions, including AI tools and workflow automation, to improve operational efficiency, reporting, communication, and project execution across the PGD team.

Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent required.
• At least 5-7 years of experience in a professional service environment.
• Strong project management and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work well with all levels of management.
• Reliable, flexible, and demonstrates a high degree of initiative.
• Ability to work independently, set work goals, and objectives.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills, including proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, with exceptional attention to detail.

Pay

Target hiring range: $131,000 - $203,000. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. Full-time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk, and hear.
• Employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds.
• Typical indoor office environment.