Legal Project Manager

Perkins Coie•Los Angeles, CA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Perkins Coie is searching for a Legal Project Manager (LPM) who reports to a member of the Management team. LPMs are aligned with Firm strategy and play an important role in advancing the Firm’s advanced approach to the delivery of legal services. This position supports client-facing engagements to ensure successful implementation of such projects, provides support for all practice groups and will affect efficiency, quality, profitability, competitive positioning and client satisfaction. The LPM will interact with legal and business professionals internally and externally and is expected to uphold the image of the Firm by maintaining positive contact with clients, attorneys and staff. Candidates are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet all criteria. The Firm has several emerging talent roles (e.g., LPM Assistant, Coordinator, Administrator) that will be considered for strong candidates that may not meet the criteria for the LPM role but could be strong in an emerging talent role. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS These essential functions are primary job duties that incumbents must be able to perform unassisted or with some reasonable accommodation. Assist legal teams and practice groups with the delivery of legal services for complex, high-profile client engagements employing project management methods and tools. Provide project management oversight, principles, methodologies and tools as defined by legal teams and practice groups for internal and client-facing projects with limited complexity. Manage assigned projects and associated activities to ensure resources are channeled to produce planned deliverables on time and within scope and budget. Organize project teams into work groups and work closely with relationship attorneys to support and guide the entire project team in their effort to achieve business goals and produce deliverables within the specified time frames and on budget. Monitor the project scope management process to ensure key stakeholders are apprised of scope change requests and impact to project. Collaborate with team resources to plan for custom solutions and oversee the design, plan and implementation for client-facing technical or process solutions. Follow policies, procedures and documentation created for the Pricing and Legal Project Management departments. Manage multiple projects concurrently. Train legal teams and clients on the implementation and fundamentals of LPM. Perform other duties, as assigned. Be present at work during regularly scheduled working hours and as needed, consistent with the Firm’s attendance expectations.

Requirements

Computer proficient with advanced skills in MS Office.
Capacity to learn new technology, tools and platforms.
Aptitude to make difficult and complex independent decisions.
Excellent organizational, oral and written communication skills, including recordkeeping, data collection and system information.
Ability to compile and analyze data, and furnish concise, detailed information in written report format.
Excellent facilitation skills to lead meetings, conduct effective briefings and presentations, and develop consensus, both internally and externally.
Strong ability to lead, think creatively, proactively adapt to a changing environment, act decisively, and motivate, develop, inspire and empower others.
Ability to plan, organize, direct, implement and evaluate processes to lead people and manage resources to achieve desired results.
Aptitude to create an open environment conducive to freely sharing information and ideas.
Capability to use many software programs to provide professional documents and prepare presentation media audiences.
Experience in a similar role either at a professional services company or in a legal environment.
Minimum three years of formal project management experience or equivalent work experience preferred.
Minimum 5 years of law firm or legal operations experience required.

Nice To Haves

SharePoint, Visio and MS Project knowledge.
PMP, JD or MBA preferred.
Understanding of project estimation and management approaches, tools and phases of the project lifecycle.

Responsibilities

Assist legal teams and practice groups with the delivery of legal services for complex, high-profile client engagements employing project management methods and tools.
Provide project management oversight, principles, methodologies and tools as defined by legal teams and practice groups for internal and client-facing projects with limited complexity.
Manage assigned projects and associated activities to ensure resources are channeled to produce planned deliverables on time and within scope and budget.
Organize project teams into work groups and work closely with relationship attorneys to support and guide the entire project team in their effort to achieve business goals and produce deliverables within the specified time frames and on budget.
Monitor the project scope management process to ensure key stakeholders are apprised of scope change requests and impact to project.
Collaborate with team resources to plan for custom solutions and oversee the design, plan and implementation for client-facing technical or process solutions.
Follow policies, procedures and documentation created for the Pricing and Legal Project Management departments.
Manage multiple projects concurrently.
Train legal teams and clients on the implementation and fundamentals of LPM.
Perform other duties, as assigned.
Be present at work during regularly scheduled working hours and as needed, consistent with the Firm’s attendance expectations.