Legal Project Manager

Baker McKenzie helps clients overcome the challenges of competing in the global economy. We solve complex legal problems across borders and practice areas. Our unique culture, developed over 65 years, enables our people to understand local markets and navigate multiple jurisdictions, working together as trusted colleagues and friends to instill confidence in our clients.

This is an exciting time to join us as we invest in and further develop our Professional & Business Services organisation, providing rewarding and challenging career opportunities in all of our world-class business functions. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people – regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age – to fulfil their professional aspirations with us.

The Legal Project Manager will help increase revenue, improve profitability and provide exceptional client service on the Firm’s most complex matters through more effective Legal Project Management (LPM); accelerate the Firm’s ability to deliver tangible financial and non-financial benefits on selected key matters in conjunction with the client team; and develop, co-ordinate and implement consistent best practice across the Firm.

The LPM will support those regional matters where scope is difficult to define, where management of the agreed commercial terms is critical and where there are a large number of practice areas, fee earners or jurisdictions involved; support client teams to better manage project scope and delivery, resulting in capturing out-of-scope revenue, minimizing write-offs and improving overall matter efficiency.

Responsibilities:

• Scope and plan specific client-facing projects
• Liaise with the client, the Firm’s client matter team as well as the Firm’s specialist departments and offices worldwide
• Support the Principal/ Lead Associate in defining matter scope, track and manage changes
• Prepare project plans and Gantt charts to support the client matter team.
• Report on status and track issues
• Monitor costs and fees on an ongoing basis?
• Prepare client team and client status report and provide timely updates to client team partners on potential issues identified
• Support the post-matter review process for key matters and research practice area processes through discussions with fee earners and identify areas of improvement
• Identify and propose to Associate Directors of LPM or Associate Director of LPM Service Delivery any future needs and improvements to the LPM framework
• Work with the Global Director of Legal Operations and Director of Legal Project Management to define, enhance and integrate a single set of project management standards, processes, methodologies and tools to improve the efficiency of LPM
• Roll out improvements and solutions through specific attorney coaching and training sessions

Skills and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (law or business degree preferred)
• Formal Project Management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, PMP, or equivalent) desirable
• Good experience in project management roles
• Experience working within law firms or other professional services firms (e.g. accounting, consulting)
• Knowledge of relevant IT packages: e.g. Document Management Systems, Project Extranets, Microsoft Project experience
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Excel, and financial systems and reports
• Experience of influencing or coaching within legal or professional services (e.g. accounting, consulting) environment desirable
• Experience of acting in a project executive/manager capacity on client facing, fee-earning legal projects preferred
• Outstanding communication skills
• Demonstrated ability and desire to work collaboratively with senior-level professionals to help them succeed in meeting their business development objectives
• Ability to work independently and be hands-on to achieve objectives in a relatively “flat” organizational structure
• Ability to build relationships with and influence senior stakeholders
• Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in pulling, preparing reports, executive summaries and status reports for consumption by attorneys and clients
• Proven ability to organize and prioritize work in a dynamic and complex environment to meet deadlines and daily requirements
• Ability to manage multiple projects at a time