The Paralegal Manager - Corporate is responsible for the management and supervision of the Corporate Paralegal team, including but not limited to work allocation and service delivery, hiring, training and professional development, and other personnel and administrative matters, in support of the Firm's Corporate Department and Corporate practice groups.
Job Relationships :
Reports to the Director of Corporate Practice. Interacts frequently with : practice group heads, partners and special counsel / associates at all levels; Corporate Practice Management team members; Practice Directors and Paralegals in other Departments; managers and directors from across all Business Services departments; senior Firm management.
Duties & Responsibilities :
Staffing & Timekeeping
- Monitors and manages work allocation, including directing requests for paralegal services, matters and assignments as needed, to ensure effective support. Manages ATO and other requests to ensure coverage.
- Monitors Corporate Paralegals' hours, utilization and scope of responsibilities.
- Coordinates cross-practice / department support as needed.
- Manages the timecard approval process and ensures compliance with the Firm's timekeeping policies.
Administration, Operations & Financial Management
Oversees Paralegal team operations to ensure effectiveness in providing support to the Corporate Department and practice groups.Maintains effective relationships with Paralegal team members and attorneys to continually improve internal relationships, communications and service delivery.Develops, proposes and implements policies, procedures and best practices to ensure consistency and efficiency across Corporate practice groups and firmwide in coordination with other Departments.Oversees all aspects of Paralegal performance, including utilization, billing rate and salary administration, and annual and interim evaluations.Prepares the annual budget and exercises cost control.Manages the Firm's third-party corporate service provider relationships and policy compliance for the Corporate and Real Estate departments.Recruiting, Training & Development
Identifies or confirms Paralegal hiring needs within the Department and practice groups, scopes and drafts job descriptions, and prepares business cases for hiring.Participates in the recruiting and hiring processes, and suggests enhancements to our processes.Addresses personnel related issues and counsels paralegals on career advancement, work performance, and related matters.Manages the onboarding, orientation and training program for new Corporate Paralegals. Collaborates with Practice Directors and Professional Development on similar programs for Paralegals firmwide.Works with Corporate Paralegals, and Paralegals firmwide, to develop and maintain Paralegal handbooks and resources, including Paralegal- and attorney-facing resources.Manages the ongoing training and development of Corporate Paralegals, including identifying and developing training programs (internal and external) and other learning initiatives. Collaborates with Practice Directors and Professional Development on similar programs for Paralegals firmwide.Communications & Team-Building
Communicates with the Firm's Corporate lawyers and Practice Management to ensure that client needs are met.Organizes Paralegal team meetings and fosters effective coordination and communication among Corporate Paralegals and with Paralegals across Departments.Qualifications :
Education : Bachelor's degree preferred.
Experience : 7 years of experience in a role providing paralegal support, and / or coordinating / supervising such support, in a large law firm.
Experience mentoring, developing and training junior and entry-level Paralegals, and supporting Paralegals at all levels to advance their skills, knowledge and level of responsibility.Skills and Abilities : Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written skills
Displays a high degree of integrityGreat customer service skills; team playerMust be resourceful, detail-oriented, organized and proactiveExcellent judgment and effective decision-making skillsAbility to work independently with tight deadlinesAbility to keep matters confidentialKnowledge of relevant firm computer software programs (e.g., Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint), with the ability to learn new software and operating systems
