Director - Litigation Support

Lathrop GPM•Kansas City, KS

5h•$150,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Lathrop GPM, one of the nation's leading law firms, has an immediate opening for a Director - Litigation Support with a preference for our Minneapolis, MN or Kansas City, MO locations. This position is responsible for the operation of the firm’s Litigation Support and Docketing departments. This includes management and negotiations with outside vendors/technology companies that provide services or products for the firm’s docketing and litigation teams. The position also requires a minimum of 500 hours of billable project work on document review, production, collection, review and/or creation of eDiscovery protocols, other case work on eDiscovery platforms and completing work as assigned by case teams. Lathrop GPM is a full-service, Am Law 200 law firm with offices in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Overland Park, St. Cloud, St. Louis, San Jose, Redwood Shores and Washington, D.C. Our clients are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, and a professional, challenging, yet comfortable hybrid working environment. Daily leadership and direction of the litigation support and firm docketing teams, creation of policies & procedures for delivery of excellent services to case teams and clients, responsibility for use and administration of technologies including Relativity, Everlaw, JuraLaw, Case Natebook, CaseMap, OnCue, TrialPad, Collaborate, Box, and ShareFile, evaluation of new technologies including AI advancements and make recommendations to Chief Legal Operations Officer related to same, and assistance with other other tasks, needed Minimum of 500 hours of billable work, including, completing document review, production, collection, and other work on eDiscovery platforms, working with case teams on discovery motions, trial work, or other needs, advising on eDiscovery protocols, and/or motion work related to discovery disputes Responsible for managing the interactions with existing vendors providing managed services to firm for discovery services and other vendors that provide one-off services like data collections for specific case teams Responsible for the creation of monthly billing reports & backup invoices so that clients are appropriately invoiced & charges collected for services rendered and meeting with billing partners to address questions regarding how charges are calculated & solutions to manage client spend Collaborate with attorneys on drafting discovery orders, complying with discovery orders, responding to requests for production, requests for costs/fees, and other litigation related topics Coordinate internal legal holds and assist firm’s General Counsel (and others) with reviews of firm documents for subpoenas, litigation, and investigations Administer and/or oversee the administration of the firmwide ECF/Pacer accounts Maintain inventory of equipment and supplies needed for trials and coordinate set-up and delivery of equipment and the deployment of services for trial teams in coordination with Paralegals, Attorneys, and Office Services. Maintain a list of graphics vendors in various geographies to support trial teams as needed with development of trial demonstratives. Assist firm’s Information Governance & Management team with data transfers in and out of the firm specifically as it relates to litigation matters but also sometimes assisting with searches of firm email/data to identify items to be pulled before transfer Manage the department’s firm budget, handle payment of expenses, and track client payments to yearly budget expectations Meet with all incoming timekeepers to provide orientation on services provided by Litigation Support and Firm Docketing, present at practice group meetings on timely or requested topics, and collaborate with firm professional development team to provide relevant educational opportunities to firm’s attorneys Communicate and coordinate with clients and clients’ representatives at the request of case teams, develop discovery budgets and project plans, training of case teams in the use of document review platforms, interface between firm’s TSD and case teams, and collaborate with Directors of Project Management to solve staffing and other issues. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Eight (8) plus years litigation support experience
Experience managing diverse group of individuals in a virtual work environment
Ability to explain technical issues/concepts in plain English to non-technical audiences
Possess excellent problem-solving skills, prioritization skills, customer service ethics, and listening skills
Ability to problem-solve.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively in a virtual environment (e.g., via phone, web/videoconference).
Ability to concentrate on tasks, make decisions and work calmly and effectively in a high-pressure, deadline-orientated environment.
Demonstrated ability to use good judgment in taking initiative while asking for direction or clarification and consulting others, as appropriate.
Willingness to be flexible with time and adjust to a changing work environment.
Ability to build and maintain positive relationships, both internally and externally, while maintaining a client service orientation.
Ability to use sound judgment and discretion in dealing with highly confidential information.
Ability to maintain stamina throughout a standard workday, on- and off-site.
Ability to maintain regular attendance and work regularly scheduled hours.
Ability to take direction and accept supervision.
Demonstrate ability to work independently, organize and accurately prioritize work, be detail-oriented, understand when urgency is required and use good judgment in varied situations.
Ability to work effectively with co-workers in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.

Nice To Haves

Juris Doctorate preferred; prior experience litigating cases in state or federal court from inception of case to trial is preferred
Relevant e-discovery certifications such as Relativity Certified Administrator or Certified E-Discovery Specialist (ACEDS) is a plus
Experience with litigation technology, including, Relativity, Everlaw, JuraLaw, Case Natebook, CaseMap, OnCue, TrialPad, Collaborate, Box, and ShareFile
Experience with budgeting and pricing of litigation support services is preferred

Responsibilities

Daily leadership and direction of the litigation support and firm docketing teams
Creation of policies & procedures for delivery of excellent services to case teams and clients
Responsibility for use and administration of technologies including Relativity, Everlaw, JuraLaw, Case Natebook, CaseMap, OnCue, TrialPad, Collaborate, Box, and ShareFile
Evaluation of new technologies including AI advancements and make recommendations to Chief Legal Operations Officer related to same
Minimum of 500 hours of billable work, including, completing document review, production, collection, and other work on eDiscovery platforms, working with case teams on discovery motions, trial work, or other needs, advising on eDiscovery protocols, and/or motion work related to discovery disputes
Responsible for managing the interactions with existing vendors providing managed services to firm for discovery services and other vendors that provide one-off services like data collections for specific case teams
Responsible for the creation of monthly billing reports & backup invoices so that clients are appropriately invoiced & charges collected for services rendered and meeting with billing partners to address questions regarding how charges are calculated & solutions to manage client spend
Collaborate with attorneys on drafting discovery orders, complying with discovery orders, responding to requests for production, requests for costs/fees, and other litigation related topics
Coordinate internal legal holds and assist firm’s General Counsel (and others) with reviews of firm documents for subpoenas, litigation, and investigations
Administer and/or oversee the administration of the firmwide ECF/Pacer accounts
Maintain inventory of equipment and supplies needed for trials and coordinate set-up and delivery of equipment and the deployment of services for trial teams in coordination with Paralegals, Attorneys, and Office Services.
Maintain a list of graphics vendors in various geographies to support trial teams as needed with development of trial demonstratives.
Assist firm’s Information Governance & Management team with data transfers in and out of the firm specifically as it relates to litigation matters but also sometimes assisting with searches of firm email/data to identify items to be pulled before transfer
Manage the department’s firm budget, handle payment of expenses, and track client payments to yearly budget expectations
Meet with all incoming timekeepers to provide orientation on services provided by Litigation Support and Firm Docketing, present at practice group meetings on timely or requested topics, and collaborate with firm professional development team to provide relevant educational opportunities to firm’s attorneys
Communicate and coordinate with clients and clients’ representatives at the request of case teams, develop discovery budgets and project plans, training of case teams in the use of document review platforms, interface between firm’s TSD and case teams, and collaborate with Directors of Project Management to solve staffing and other issues.
Other duties as assigned.