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DLA Piper · 2 days ago

Legal Practice Manager

Greater Chicago Area

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level

$113K/yr - $179K/yr

5+ years exp

DLA Piper is a collaborative and supportive law firm seeking a Legal Practice Manager to support partners with complex practices. The role involves overseeing financial management, coordinating teams, and ensuring client satisfaction through efficient matter lifecycle management.

AdviceLaw EnforcementLegalProfessional Services

No H1B

Responsibilities

Oversee pitch and proposal activity, matter opening, budgeting, and compliance with client guidelines

Monitor WIP (work-in-progress), billing, collections, and profitability metrics for the partner’s portfolio

Coordinate with billing teams to ensure timely and accurate invoicing aligned with client requirements

Work with collections on tracking payments and allocations

Track and report on key financial KPIs, proactively identifying risks and opportunities

Serve as the primary liaison between the partner and internal business teams (finance, billing, administrative support, marketing, etc.)

Lead and coordinate a multi-disciplinary team to deliver exceptional client service and operational excellence, including International where involved

Implement best practices for matter management, workflow optimization, and resource allocation

Ensure compliance with client outside counsel guidelines and reporting requirements

Support client-facing administrative needs, including status reports, budgets, and performance metrics

Partner with the firm’s pricing and legal project management teams to develop and maintain alternative fee arrangements and matter plans

Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce administrative burden

Leverage firm technology platforms for matter tracking, reporting, and collaboration

Train and mentor team members on best practices and tools

Qualification

Law firm economicsBilling processesFinancial analysisMatter management systemsData analytics platformsClient service standardsProcess improvementLeadership skillsCommunication skillsOrganizational skills

Required

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field

5 years of experience in legal operations, practice management, or professional services environment

Strong understanding of law firm economics, billing processes, and client service standards

Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills

Proficiency in financial analysis, budgeting, and matter management systems

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment

Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority

Skilled in interpreting financial data and operational metrics

Committed to delivering exceptional service and maintaining strong relationships

Proactive in identifying issues and implementing solutions

Comfortable with legal practice management tools and data analytics platforms

Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties

Produce deliverables, answer phone calls, and reply to correspondence in an efficient and responsive manner

Provide timely, accurate, and quality work product

Successfully meet deadlines, expectations, and perform work duties as required

Foster positive work relationships

Comply with all firm policies and practices

Engage in both physical and sedentary activity, such as (a) working at a computer for extended periods of time, including on-screen reading and typing; (b) participating in digital/virtual conference calls; (c) participating in meetings as needed

Ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment