Legal Project Manager

ROLE OVERVIEW //
We are recruiting for a Legal Project Manager to join the Legal Project Management team on a permanent basis.
The Legal Project Manager will work closely with the Legal Project Management team, matter partners, lead associates and business services including Executive Assistants, the Billing and Costs Team, the Pricing Team, the Client and Practice Solutions team and the Pitch Team.
The role of the Legal Project Manager is to provide a first-rate client service in how our matters are delivered from scoping and planning through to matter review. The Legal Project Manager will ensure that Slaughter and May’s best practices are consistently embedded in everything we do and that our client’s requirements are incorporated into this, meaning our client’s expectations are met and, where possible, exceeded.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES //
The key responsibilities of this role are set out below and there may be others which are not listed. You may be required on occasion to work outside our normal working hours of 9:30am to 5:30pm.
Supporting our lawyers on matters that are suitable for a dedicated Legal Project Manager. Driving the delivery of the matter in the most efficient manner, challenging and considering alternative methods of delivery to achieve this. Ensuring the client is at the forefront of everything we do.
Setting up and maintaining legal project management tools and processes on matters, be it at the beginning of a matter, part way through or assisting with a particular workstream on a matter. Working with the team to embed these tools and processes.
Providing support on matters where the legal team are project managing the work.
Supporting the Head of and Senior Legal Project Manager across all workstreams in the team.
Assisting with pitches and client presentations where input from the Legal Project Management team is required.
Meeting with senior stakeholders to scope the matter, create financial agreements (including third party fees), assist with resourcing considerations, engage third parties and consider any technology that could be utilised.
Assist with planning the matter including ascertaining and incorporating client requirements throughout the matter, including client kick off meetings and team briefing meetings and ensuring third parties are engaged as part of the planning process.
Managing the matter throughout the lifecycle providing guidance and oversight on scope, financials, planning, resourcing and ensuring there is continuous focus on creating efficiencies and value add considerations throughout.
Monitoring a matter throughout its cycle and including the timely conducting of a matter debrief.
Supporting and providing training to our trainees and lawyers on an ongoing basis to help instil the Slaughter and May approach to Legal Project Management.
Achieving measurable success including providing a first rate client service, adding value (be it financial or other), creating cost savings and having excellent levels of engagement with all teams.
CANDIDATE PROFILE //
Candidates for this position must have:
Preferably a Legal Project Manager with circa 2 years’ experience.
A strong academic background.
A recognised Project Management qualification, such as PRINCE2, is helpful but not essential.
Experience of working in a law firm with senior stakeholders and running matters preferably embedded on the matter as a Legal Project Manager and be client facing in this role.
A focused, organised and motivated individual who pays attention to detail, can work well under pressure with the ability to multi-task and who takes responsibility for their performance.
A confident and professional style with strong communication skills (both written and oral), the ability to listen, adapt their communication style as required and show diplomacy and tact.
Able to shape, communicate and promote best practice standards in legal project management, influencing others to gain their buy-in or support.
The ability to challenge and make recommendations based on well-reasoned arguments as well as delivering and setting very high standards for the quality of work delivered in an organised and timely manner.
Confident with financial reporting including assisting with creating agreements, monitoring, reporting on and analysing the same.
The ability to quickly absorb, digest, understand and share new information.
A team player, who encourages and promotes collaborative working.