Pre-Litigation Department Manager (Settlements Negotiations)

The Ward Law Group, PL•Miami Lakes, FL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Ward Law Group is seeking a driven, results-obsessed leader to run its Senior Case Management team, which is responsible for settlements. This is a performance-focused role where the manager will lead people, performance, and results, rather than managing cases directly. The position is based in Miami Lakes and requires the candidate to be onsite.

Requirements

Minimum 2+ years of management experience in a performance-driven environment
Minimum 2+ years of experience working in legal industry running a team of Case Managers for settlements and negotiations
Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills
Highly organized, proactive, and results-oriented
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Commitment to maintaining high performance standards and accountability
Ability to work collaboratively across departments
Ability to work onsite at our Miami Lakes office (Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5:30 PM)

Nice To Haves

Experience in settlement negotiations (2+ years)
Proven track record managing teams and hitting targets (2+ years leadership)

Responsibilities

Leading and motivating a team of high-volume case managers
Driving monthly settlement results and hitting aggressive targets
Running 1:1s, coaching sessions, and performance check-ins
Holding the team accountable to productivity and quality standards
Monitoring pipeline, projections, and closing performance
Jumping in on escalated client situations and turning them around
Identifying gaps, fixing inefficiencies, and improving workflows
Building structure, developing leaders, and scaling the team
Hiring, training, and leveling up talent
Provide clear direction, structure, and leadership to the Senior Case Management team.
Establish performance expectations, benchmarks, and accountability standards for all team members.
Conduct regular one-on-one meetings to review performance, provide coaching, and support development.
Lead daily huddles and team meetings to align priorities, address challenges, and maintain focus.
Build and maintain an effective team structure, including pod creation and leadership development within the department.
Delegate responsibilities and projects strategically based on team strengths and workload.
Own and drive monthly settlement performance across the department.
Monitor individual and team performance against established KPIs and benchmarks.
Conduct performance evaluations and implement performance improvement plans when necessary.
Identify underperformance trends and take corrective action, including coaching, retraining, or disciplinary measures.
Ensure all team members clearly understand expectations, productivity targets, and quality standards.
Ensure all case management tasks and workflows are executed accurately and efficiently by the team.
Oversee the full lifecycle of case handling, including client communication standards, insurance negotiations, file documentation and updates in Litify, case reviews, audits, and settlement processes.
Monitor workload distribution to prevent backlog and ensure timely case resolution.
Ensure compliance with firm protocols, legal standards, and internal procedures.
Conduct regular audits of cases, calls, and documentation to ensure quality and consistency.
Implement and maintain quality assurance standards across the department.
Identify gaps in execution and implement corrective processes.
Ensure proper client communication, documentation accuracy, and negotiation standards are upheld.
Analyze weekly, monthly, and quarterly performance data to identify trends and opportunities.
Monitor projections, productivity metrics, and department output.
Prepare and present reports on performance, settlements, and operational efficiency.
Develop and execute strategies to improve results and operational performance.
Ensure the highest level of client service across all interactions.
Handle escalated client concerns and resolve issues efficiently and professionally.
Identify root causes of escalations and implement solutions to reduce recurrence.
Continuously improve communication standards and client satisfaction.
Identify training needs and implement development programs for the team.
Provide ongoing coaching in negotiation strategy, client communication, and case handling.
Develop future leaders within the department.
Foster a culture of accountability, growth, and continuous improvement.
Evaluate and optimize workflows to improve efficiency and productivity.
Implement best practices and leverage technology to streamline operations.
Collaborate cross-functionally to improve processes and outcomes.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the department.
Assess staffing needs and participate in hiring decisions.
Oversee onboarding and training of new hires to ensure successful integration.
Manage offboarding processes when necessary.
Build a strong, scalable, and high-performing team.

Benefits

Paid Time Off (three weeks per year)
Health insurance (firm covers 40-65% of employee premium, national coverage options, free mental health services)
Dental plans (with unlimited coverage)
Vision plans
Short-term and Long-term Disability benefits (paid by the firm)
1X earnings life insurance coverage (paid by the firm)
Firm paid accidental death and dismemberment benefit
Supplemental insurance options (Critical Illness, Accident, Cancer, Hospital Confinement Indemnity insurance, Term Life insurance, and Whole life insurance)
401(K) plan with firm match (100% on first 3%, 50% on next 2% after one year of service, immediate vesting)
Competitive compensation package