Firmwide Director or Senior Manager of Practice Management
About The Position
The Firmwide Director or Senior Manager of Practice Management serves as a strategic advisor and business partner to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), practice leaders, and firm leadership. The role drives effective practice management across the firm by optimizing attorney staffing and utilization, supporting matter and financial management, implementing practice initiatives, and facilitating collaboration across practice groups and professional staff departments. It provides data-driven insights and practical solutions to help practice leaders achieve business objectives, enhance operational efficiency, support client and carrier expectations, and address staffing, workload, and resource needs. The position combines legal-industry knowledge with analytical, project management, communication, and relationship-building skills, and requires effectiveness in a complex, matrixed organization. It leads and develops the practice management team, including practice managers and practice management assistants, and works with firm leaders and cross-functional teams on staffing, reporting, technology, process improvements, and firmwide practice management standards. This is a full-time, exempt position with a hybrid work location in California. The role reports to the Chief Operating Officer, supervises Practice Group Managers, and requires 10–30% domestic travel by car and plane. The stated salary range is $150,000–$220,000.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s and law degrees are required; equivalent experience in law firm management, legal operations, professional services, project management, or practice management may be considered.
- Prior experience in a law firm, legal operations, professional services, or business operations environment is required.
- Strong understanding of practice management, matter staffing, attorney utilization, workload and capacity management, operational reporting, and cross-functional business processes.
- Ability to establish effective working relationships with attorneys, practice leaders, firm leadership, and professional staff at all levels.
- Strong analytical, organizational, communication, prioritization, and project management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple practice group priorities, competing deadlines, and complex stakeholder expectations in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to proactively identify operational challenges, assess alternatives, and develop practical, timely, and sustainable solutions.
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex projects in a collaborative, matrixed organization.
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with attorneys and senior firm leadership.
- Exceptional executive presence, judgment, and presentation skills.
- Ability to influence stakeholders, build consensus, and drive accountability without relying solely on direct authority.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, advanced formulas and functions, data analysis, data modeling, visualization, and dashboard development; ability to analyze complex datasets and translate findings into actionable insights.
- Exceptional analytical and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to synthesize complex quantitative and qualitative information into practical recommendations.
- Sound independent judgment, tact, discretion, and ability to appropriately handle sensitive and confidential information.
- Ability to learn and leverage technology and data tools to improve processes, reporting, efficiency, and decision-making.
Nice To Haves
- Prior experience supporting insurance defense practice areas is strongly preferred.
- Experience with iTimekeep, Intapp, financial reporting systems, workflow platforms, dashboards, and other law firm technology is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic liaison to the COO, practice leaders, and other firm leaders on practice management, operational, staffing, and resource matters.
- Partner with practice leaders to develop, execute, and monitor practice goals, strategic initiatives, and operational priorities.
- Review matters and consult with practice leaders on staffing, team composition, and attorney assignments throughout the matter lifecycle and an attorney’s experience with the firm.
- Monitor partner-to-associate ratios, attorney capacity, client needs, and business requirements to identify practice areas and offices that may need additional attorney resources.
- Partner with Talent Acquisition and firm leadership to anticipate hiring needs and develop attorney recruitment and staffing strategies.
- Monitor attorney workload, utilization, capacity, and productivity; identify trends and recommend resource adjustments or other interventions.
- Monitor compliance with matter budgets, billing requirements, client and carrier expectations, and internal operational standards.
- Collaborate with practice leaders, practice managers, and professional staff departments to support practice objectives and execute firm initiatives.
- Partner with practice leaders and practice managers to align matter management practices with client and carrier guidelines, expectations, and requirements.
- Identify, assess, and resolve operational issues, escalating matters requiring senior leadership attention and decision-making.
- Lead implementation of practice management initiatives, training programs, and process improvements; identify skill gaps and coordinate with the Professional Development team and practice leaders.
- Establish and promote consistent execution of firmwide practice management processes, procedures, and standards.
- Coordinate and support cross-functional stakeholder communications for practice management activities and initiatives.
- Support new-hire onboarding and lateral integration by coordinating with stakeholders and overseeing role-level support where applicable.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the practice management team, including practice managers and practice management assistants.
- Collaborate with the Innovation and Emerging Technologies team to identify, evaluate, and implement technology, tools, and resources that improve attorney and paralegal effectiveness and meet practice-specific needs.
- Partner with the COO and relevant stakeholders to develop and enhance reporting for data-driven decisions about practice, matter, staffing, and financial management.
- Support compliance with firm policies and operational requirements, including time-entry and attorney productivity and administrative standards.
- Drive continuous process improvement, documentation, and standardization, including developing and maintaining Practice Management policies, procedures, workflows, and best practices.
- Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
