Director of Legal Operations

Job Summary: Director of Legal Operations 

Reports to: Chief Legal Officer/Chief Operating Officer – For a Personal Injury Law Firm

Exempt: Salaried

Location: 100% in Office, West Palm Beach

Salary Range: $100,000 minimum salary, depending on experience, plus a KPI bonus.

Summary of Job:

The Director of Legal Operations is responsible for overseeing and optimizing the operational efficiency of the Personal Injury Legal Departments. This vital leadership role involves implementing technology solutions, managing budgets, streamlining workflows, and enhancing overall productivity and efficiency. This role serves as a strategic partner to Executive leadership, ensuring the legal departments operate at peak performance while aligning with the organization’s broader business goals.

The Director of Legal Operations collaborates closely with the COO and CLO to develop strategic initiatives, ensure compliance, and improve client service. The Director will also oversee all Critical Cases, Litigation Cases, and Pre-Suit cases to ensure achievement of quarterly and annual goals. This role is critical for ensuring that all cases are handled efficiently, strategically, and in alignment with the firm's goals and client needs. The Director will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer to develop strategies, optimize systems, establish standard operating procedures, and cost-effective resolutions, while ensuring that each stage of Pre-Suit and Litigation is managed efficiently, effectively, strategically, and with a clear focus on achieving our goals.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Legal Operations & Process Optimization

• Develop and implement operational strategies to improve the legal department’s efficiency.
• Streamline workflows, policies, and procedures to enhance productivity and reduce costs.
• Oversee contract lifecycle management, document management, and other key legal processes.
• Conduct case audits to ensure compliance and adherence to all our policies and procedures.

2. Technology & Innovation

• Identify, implement, and manage legal technology solutions, including e-billing, matter management, contract management, and compliance tools.
• Leverage automation and AI-driven solutions to enhance the delivery of legal services.
• Ensure integration of legal technology with enterprise-wide systems.

3. Financial Management

• Develop and manage the legal department’s budget to ensure cost efficiency.
• Oversee outside counsel and vendor relationships, negotiating contracts and fee arrangements to optimize spending.
• Track and analyze legal spending to provide insights that reduce costs and enhance return on investment (ROI).

4. Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure adherence to internal policies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
• Support legal and regulatory reporting obligations.

5. Data & Analytics

• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the performance of the legal department and identify areas for improvement.
• Generate reports and insights to support strategic decision-making.
• Oversee all production and efficiency reports of the department and ensure goals are being met.
• Utilize data to enhance forecasting, risk assessment, and operational efficiencies.

6. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as a liaison between the legal department and other business units, including Finance, IT, Human Resources, Culture, Marketing, the New Case Team, and Office Services.
• Support corporate governance, policy development, and strategic initiatives.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the legal team.

7. Team Leadership and Development

·        Lead and mentor a team of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment.

·        Train team members in best practices in litigation, legal technology, and case management.

·        Promote continuous learning and development opportunities for the litigation team.

·        Collaborate with the leadership team to develop and conduct annual performance reviews.

8. Other projects as assigned by the COO or CLO

Qualifications and Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree is required; an MBA or an undergraduate or graduate degree in a business-related field (e.g., Finance, Accounting, or a related field) is also required.
• Paralegal Degree or Florida Registered Paralegal Certificate (FRP)
• 8 years of experience in legal operations, corporate legal departments, or law firms.
• 8 years of leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of legal technology, financial management, and process optimization.
• Proven ability to implement best practices in legal operations and drive organizational change.
• Excellent leadership, project management, and communication skills.
• Experience managing budgets and vendor relationships.
• Expertise in legal technology platforms.
• Knowledge of compliance, governance, and risk management frameworks.
• Data-driven mindset with experience in analytics and reporting.