Practice Manager

ABOUT JENNER & BLOCK

Jenner & Block LLP is a law firm with global reach, with offices in Century City, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. The firm is known for its prominent and successful litigation practice, global investigations practice, regulatory and government controversies work, and experience handling sophisticated and high-profile corporate transactions. Its clients include Fortune 100 companies, technology companies, large privately held corporations, emerging companies, Native American tribes, and venture capital and private equity investors. The American Lawyer has recognized Jenner & Block as the No. 1 pro bono firm in the United States 10 times.

SUMMARY

Jenner & Block is looking to add a Practice Manager to our Practice Management Team.

The Practice Manager will work with the Director of Practice Management to support the leaders of the Firm’s Practice Groups. The Practice Manager will work alongside the designated Practice/Department Chairs and other business operations departments (i.e., Finance, Talent, Business Development, IT, Communications, etc.) to ensure operational efficiency, develop, drive, and execute their strategic plan, provide and manage financial insights, handle work allocation and staffing, support client value initiatives, and otherwise support the practice’s business needs and operations. As a trusted advisor and “chief of staff” to the practice leaders, the Practice Manager is a highly collaborative self-starter, with demonstrated experience, confidence, and professionalism in communicating with partners, management, and timekeepers at all levels of the organization.

The Practice Manager will report to the Director of Practice Management.

In this capacity, the Practice Manager will:

• Collaborate with the Director of Practice Management, Practice Group Chairs, partners, other business operations departments, and other stakeholders to facilitate the development and relentless execution of Practice Group strategic plans with clear and achievable goals focused on revenue, profitability, headcount, reputation, brand awareness, profile and competitive differentiation;
• Collaborate with the Finance Department to analyze Practice Group financials and other key performance indicators to stay on top of all timekeeper hours, performance trends, and overall practice revenue, providing actionable insights towards the management of the Practice;
• Collaborate with Talent Department to manage a productive workforce where: work assignments are provided efficiently and equitably; opportunities are allocated in accordance with Practice Group and individual development goals; and performance issues are identified early and addressed;
• Collaborate with business operations departments to facilitate and coordinate lateral attorney onboarding efforts;
• Manage the daily execution of business needs of the assigned Practice Groups, including developing and managing the Practice Group’s budget, establishing a consistent framework for Practice Group meetings and communications, supporting Firm processes like billing and collections, matter intake and matter type classifications, and support for Firm initiatives; and
• Collaborate regularly with colleagues in IT and across other administrative departments to continue to drive efficiencies, process improvement, and innovation throughout the Practice Groups and across the Firm.

In addition, the Practice Manager will be expected to have:

• Strong business acumen and analytical skills; the ability to develop and successfully execute comprehensive project and operational plans from broadly stated objectives
• Proven experience driving continuous improvement and innovation in business operations, technology, infrastructure, and practices in a complex professional services organization
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to deal effectively with lawyers and staff at all levels of the organization and to regularly handle sensitive and confidential information
• Advanced understanding of business operations and proficiency in financial performance metrics
• Advanced proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, including specifically Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Project and Visio
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including ability to plan and facilitate at group and individual levels
• Ability to handle a wide variety of responsibilities and work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to solve problems and provide solutions, take initiative, and work independently in high-pressure situations
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated confidence and competence in dealing with individuals in leadership positions
• Strong work ethic and desire to lead and achieve at a high standard of excellence.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree (required); JD or MBA (preferred)
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience serving as a practicing lawyer or business professional with an emphasis on practice management and operations (required)
• Experience working with litigation or transactional practices (preferred).

Jenner & Block LLP is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment and employment decisions are not made on the basis of an individual’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability or medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity and/or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions, arrest record, matriculation, personal appearance, political affiliation, marital, parental, veteran, military, or order of protection status, or any other protected status or that of their relatives, friends, or associates.

Jenner & Block is proud to offer a competitive total rewards package, including comprehensive health & well-being benefits and 401k profit sharing. The anticipated pay range for this role is $130,000-$200,000 in Chicago. The actual offered rate for this position will be determined based on several factors, including qualifications and experience, geographic location, education, external market data, and consideration of internal equity.