Legal Practice Administration Manager

herbertsmithfreehills; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a premier global law firm embarking on a permanent opportunity for a Legal Practice Administration Manager (LPAM) in Melbourne. You may work 4 or 5 days per week, partnering with an experienced LPAM and guided by the Senior Operations Manager.

You will support Real Estate and Employment Industrial Relations and Safety (EIRS) practice groups and lead a team of about eight Legal Assistants and Administrative Assistants.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years' experience in a senior Legal Assistant position.
• Proven history as a people manager in a legal support environment.
• Experience with digital and AI tools; interest in process optimisation (Legora desirable).
• Strong time management and prioritisation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Recruitment support for staff through interviews and onboarding.
• Support performance conversations with LPAM and HR guidance.
• Build capability in the support team and maintain stakeholder relationships.
• Coordinate resources to optimise administrative support across the practice group.
• Lead digital and AI workstream initiatives with the national team.
• Monitor service quality and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Escalate operational issues to the Senior Operations Manager as needed.
• Communicate updates on operational metrics and new initiatives.
• Collaborate with business services to support adoption and implementation of new processes.
• Coordinate equipment, software and workspace requests for the practice group.

Skills

Senior Legal Assistant

People management

Digital tools

Time management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in business

Tools

Legora

AI tools

Job description

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world's largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we're focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition - which is to help you achieve yours.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition

The Opportunity

A unique opportunity has arisen for a Legal Practice Administration Manager (LPAM) to join the Melbourne Office Operations team on a permanent basis.

We are open to considering those working 4 or 5 days per week.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to work side-by-side with an experienced LPAM, gaining hands-on exposure and learning from their expertise while being supported and guided by the Senior Operations Manager.

You will be supporting our Real Estate and Employment Industrial Relations and Safety (EIRS) practice groups, managing a team of approximately 8 Legal Assistants and Administrative Assistants. You will also partner with the broader national team on our digital and AI workstream initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support recruitment of support staff through interviews and onboarding to ensure quality service delivery.
• Enhance team engagement by learning to set expectations, give feedback, and support performance discussions with LPAM and HR guidance.
• Build capability in the support team to deliver high-quality work and maintain strong stakeholder relationships.
• Assist with resource coordination to optimise administrative support across the practice group.
• Lead a variety of digital and AI workstream initiatives, collaborating with the broader national team.
• Learn to monitor service quality and consistency, identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Escalate operational issues to the Senior Operations Manager as needed.
• Communicate consistent messaging around operational metrics.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the national legal support function.
• Share updates on new initiatives and act as liaison for business services to support adoption and implementation.
• Coordinate equipment, software, and workspace requests to support practice group operations.
• Liaise with key stakeholders to ensure optimal space allocation for business needs.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A minimum of 6 years' experience in a senior Legal Assistant position.
• A successful history as a people manager, in a legal support environment.
• Experience working with a variety of digital and AI tools and a passion for process optimisation (experience with Legora desirable).
• Well-developed time management and prioritisation skills.
• A high level of attention to detail.
• The ability to remain calm under pressure and cope well with setbacks. Comfortable with navigating ambiguity and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Confidence to engage and liaise with multiple stakeholders and build collaborative relationships.
• An emerging understanding of commercial operations, with a desire to develop sound operational management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Tertiary qualifications or equivalent in a relevant field (e.g. business qualification) is desirable but not essential.

What you can expect from us

we are a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client-centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution-focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions. We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you. We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals. We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we pl