Legal Project Manager

Legal Project Manager

Apply Description Lathrop GPM, one of the nation's leading law firms, has an immediate opening for a Legal Project Manager with a preference for our Minneapolis, MN or Kansas City, MO locations. This position is responsible for developing and supporting attorneys with client-facing legal projects. This position will work closely with the Chief Client Officer, Sr. Pricing Manager, Client Service Manager and firm attorneys across all levels to oversee the planning, execution, and completion of legal projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the client's satisfaction. This role involves direct client communication including being able to sell legal project management tools to attorneys and clients, coordinating teams, managing resources, and communicating effectively with stakeholders. The Legal Project Manager Role also plays a crucial role in cost management, risk mitigation, and process improvement within the firm.

Lathrop GPM is a full-service, Am Law 200 law firm with offices in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Overland Park, St. Cloud, St. Louis, San Jose, Redwood Shores and Washington, D.C. Our clients are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, and a professional, challenging, yet comfortable working environment.

• Collaborate with the Chief Client Officer, Directors of Practice Management, Director of Business Development, Sr. Pricing Manager and Client Service Manager, to identify service areas, clients or attorneys who are well positioned to benefit from project management support.
• Collaborate with attorneys and clients to scope out projects and develop matter plans that identify objectives, budgets deliverables, and timelines.
• Coordinate resources, including personnel, technology, and other materials, to optimize project delivery. This role will be the internal owner of our HighQ vendor relationship and involve overseeing matter onboarding for client engagements.
• Collaborating with the firm's pricing and finance teams, proactively track and manage matter budgets with respect to time billed, timekeeper expenses, vendor expenses and write-offs, flag out-of-scope work to improve overall matter efficiency.
• Collaborate with attorneys and Directors of Practice Management to identify resources and staffing that best align with budget proposals.
• Monitor matter metrics, including hours worked and time billed, and report updates to the legal team on a weekly (or as needed) basis.
• Provide organizational and analytical support to legal teams for various types of matters throughout the engagement.
• Ensure that internal stakeholders are receiving timely, accurate and professionally presented budgets and progress reports.
• Provide support and guidance to attorneys who are preparing for post-matter reviews with internal teams or clients.
• Consistently deliver elevated experiences for attorneys and clients. Take ownership of issues, resolve them to completion, overcome obstacles and impediments to extraordinary service and minimize the efforts for attorneys and the client.
• As requested, educate clients on Lathrop GPMs Legal Project Management Program. This will often include training client staff on how best to collaborate with us on LPM initiatives.
• Collaborate with Client & Practice Innovation Team in developing project management training for attorneys and paralegals.
• Collaborate with attorneys and staff to find efficiencies in processes related to client matters.
• Train, coach and mentor the attorney team in legal project management tools, methods, and best practices.
• Develop and present communications of legal project management successes for use in internal communications, client pitches and RFPs.
• Stay abreast of trends in legal project management and communicate learnings to firm as appropriate.

Requirements Strong customer service, commitment to meeting deadlines and multitask in a fast-paced environment Knowledge of law firm processes and attorney-client relationships. Knowledge regarding all project management phases and documentation including project plans, charters, budget estimates, and risk assessments Knowledge of law firm pricing models and application of project management to maximize the efficiencies and profitability of each model Ability to form strong and trusted relationships with attorneys and staff and to be recognized as a credible resource. Strong oral and written communication skills with business professionals, attorneys, and staff. Knowledge of, and skills in, business analytics and the applications used for business analytics in law firms. Ability to define a project and establish relative priorities among competing and demanding deliverables. Strategic thinker, with the ability to craft novel solutions that are responsive to client and attorney needs. Ability to be flexible and work independently with limited or no supervision. Strong technology skills. A bachelor's degree is required, but a JD or MBA degree is preferred. Project or process management certification is preferred, including legal project management, PMP, or Six Sigma. Two- five years of experience managing large projects with complex variables and budgets within a highly matrixed organization. Management experience. Large law firm, corporate legal department or other similar service industry experience preferred.