Paralegal Manager

Mountain View, CA

Summary

A premiere national firm has an opening for a Paralegal Manager. The Paralegal Manager will play a key role in working with the Corporate and Litigation Practice Group Directors to develop, advance and support the implementation of the corporate and litigation practice groups’ strategic plan and business operations. The Paralegal Manager is a firmwide responsibility for evaluating corporate and litigation paralegal staffing needs, developing core competencies, recruiting, conducting performance and compensation assessments and directing workflow assignments.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Planning

• Works with Practice Group Directors to develop, implement and keep current core competencies for paralegals in corporate and litigation practice groups.
• Analyzes data regarding paralegal and case assistant hours; prepares staffing plans and recommends billing rates to management.
• Develops recruiting standards for paralegal program; in coordination with the Human Resources Department, recruits and selects staff.
• Develops work standards and evaluates paralegals for performance and eligibility for promotion.
• In conjunction with Professional Development, Practice Support, Knowledge Innovation Delivery, Training Department and other internal departments, develops plans for effective use and training of technology to support the corporate and litigation practice groups.
• Prepares annual budget for paralegal program, including all staffing, training and operational costs; reviews monthly financial reports and prepares variance reports as indicated.
• Develops profitability analyses of the paralegal department, promoting use of the paralegal staff, and suggesting ways to use staff efficiently and effectively.

Practice Management

• Directs the development and implementation of orientation, training and continuing education programs for paralegals.
• Ensures paralegals are in compliance with B & P code Section 6450.
• Oversees corporate and litigation paralegal staffing and monitors workloads.
• Supervises and monitors use of temporary employees.
• Ensures smooth transition of clients/cases when paralegals leave the firm.
• Develops and presents attorney orientation and education programs pertaining to the effective use of paralegals.
• Monitors paralegal productivity to achieve Firm goals and to assure effective distribution of workloads.
• In conjunction with the Human Resources Department, conducts 90 day and annual performance review conferences.

Operations Management

• Works collaboratively and effectively with all administrative departments, in particular Practice Group Directors, Knowledge Innovation Delivery and Finance to ensure the corporate and litigation practice groups’ requirements and responsibilities are optimized with regard to each of these important functions. This includes but is not limited to coordinating with Corporate and Litigation Practice Group Directors on the development and rollout of updated and new policies affecting corporate and litigation paralegals, including providing input on the Corporate and Litigation practice groups’ perspective for firmwide projects and initiatives.
• Working with the finance department on tracking and managing paralegal productivity and other matter management reporting as necessary.
• Collaborating with Knowledge Innovation Delivery department on identifying efficiencies and innovative best practices for both corporate and litigation departments.

Personnel Management

• Works with Practice Group Specialists, Professional Development and Practice Group Directors to assess training needs and to develop and implement paralegal training programs.
• In conjunction with the Human Resources Department, counsels and disciplines paralegal staff who are not meeting expectations.
• Receives staff grievances in a confidential manner and serves as liaison between paralegal staff and their attorney supervisors.
• Reviews and approves attendance timesheets for accuracy; monitors overtime and meal break waivers; recommends changes in work distribution or staffing in order to reduce overtime costs.
• Coordinates paralegal workflow in the corporate and litigation practice groups.
• Conducts regularly scheduled meetings with paralegals to communicate new policies and procedures; oversees the design and implementation of training materials, procedures manuals and related materials.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• 5+ years of senior paralegal experience, including 2+ years of supervisory experience.
• Demonstrable writing and presentation skills.
• Training or teaching experience.
• Ability to coordinate multiple activities in various practice groups.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, motivate, train and lead.
• Ability to communicate and interact effectively with personnel at all levels.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion.