Manager, Legal Operations

White & Case LLP • Los Angeles, CA

8d

About The Position

The Manager, Legal Operations is a key operational role within the Firm's global Legal Operations team, supporting the delivery of high-quality legal operations services across the Tech Disputes practice and associated client portfolios. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Legal Operations, this role is responsible for executing and maintaining operational processes, supporting financial oversight at the matter level, and contributing to client service delivery in close collaboration with legal teams and cross-functional colleagues. The Manager will take ownership of day-to-day operational workflows, assist in managing local counsel coordination, and support the preparation of financial and operational reporting. They will work alongside the Senior Manager to implement process improvements and technology tools, and will play an active role in supervising and developing the Legal Operations Analysts. The Manager will build trust and nurture relationships with internal and external clients and will coach others to be role models of client service by being responsive, flexible, and professional. The Manager will contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence, supporting the Senior Manager in driving initiatives across the team.

Requirements

• Experience in Legal Operations or a related professional services function, with demonstrated ability to execute day-to-day operational processes and contribute to process improvement initiatives
• Familiarity with complex, multi-jurisdictional matters, including supporting legal teams and outside counsel
• Ability to coach and support junior colleagues, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement
• Good cross-functional collaboration skills with experience working across internal functions such as Finance, Pricing, or Technology
• Knowledge and proficiency in legal technology platforms including extranets, eBilling software, collaboration tools, and SharePoint; familiarity with Legal AI tools and Microsoft Office products including Excel, PowerPoint, and Power BI
• Solid analytical skills with ability to compile and analyze financial reports and performance metrics, ensuring accurate and well-structured financial tracking and reporting
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines in a fast-moving, detail-oriented environment
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to interact effectively with colleagues and support engagement with senior business stakeholders
• Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with a practical approach to identifying, resolving and/or escalating issues
• Flexible and resilient with ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively under pressure
• Sensitivity to cultural differences across global teams
• A strong academic record, preferably of graduate level (Law Degree or other relevant Post Graduate Degree an advantage).
• 3+ years of relevant work experience, ideally with some exposure to client-facing or cross-functional environments

Nice To Haves

• Formal project management qualification desirable (e.g., APMQ or PMP), but not essential — candidates with equivalent demonstrable experience will be considered

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Senior Manager and Director of Legal Operations, support and strengthen the Firm’s legal operations capabilities and pipeline of work, assisting Partners and lawyers in utilizing Legal Ops support on their matters and portfolios.
• Operational excellence and process support: Implementing and maintaining standardized workflows and operational procedures across client matters, supporting tailored frameworks developed by the Senior Manager Conducting process mapping exercises to identify inefficiencies and assisting in the development of improvement proposals Executing implementation plans that align with department objectives, supporting the Legal Ops team in delivering operational outcomes Supporting the roll-out of standardized processes across practice areas, serving as a point of contact for operational queries from legal teams Monitoring adherence to agreed workflows and flagging issues to the Senior Manager for resolution Contributing creative thinking when developing innovative ideas, proposals, and solutions to operational challenges
• Financial management and reporting: Managing concurrent matters across a portfolio to provide financial and operational oversight, including collaboration with legal teams to draft and submit budget proposals, tracking actual costs against budget, and proactively addressing variances Conducting financial modeling and profitability analysis across client portfolios to support strategic decision-making Working with Senior Manager in preparing budget proposals and fee estimates Preparing and maintaining operational dashboards and financial reports, providing regular visibility into matter status, resource utilization, and performance metrics Collaborate with Invoice Compliance team to ensure alignment on local counsel invoicing, reporting, and compliance with client-specific requirements Coordinating with Finance on billing, invoice processing, and matter financial administration Assisting with trend analysis across client portfolios to identify patterns, risks, and opportunities for service enhancement
• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement: Supporting relationships and fostering a collaborative approach between the Firm's legal teams, local counsel, and clients on matter workstreams Serving as the operational liaison between legal teams, clients, and service providers to ensure effective communication and coordination Working across functions such as Pricing, LPM, Finance, Innovation and Practice Solutions, Technology, and Business Development to ensure seamless alignment with client expectations Supporting the preparation and delivery of presentations on relevant topics to partners and clients
• Team leadership and development: Line management of junior team members, as required, including mentoring and developing team members to build legal operations expertise across the organization Contributing to a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and operational excellence within the team Staying current on legal operations trends, technologies, and best practices Participating in innovation initiatives to implement practical tools, processes, and methodologies

Benefits

• White & Case LLP offers a comprehensive suite of benefit programs to all eligible employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, 401(k) retirement savings, vacation time, and leave programs (including parental leave). Exempt roles are also performance bonus eligible.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees