Legal Practice Administration Manager

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP in Melbourne is seeking a Legal Practice Administration Manager (LPAM) to lead the Melbourne Office Operations team on a permanent basis. Flexible 4–5 day work week options are available, with close collaboration to an experienced LPAM and Senior Operations Manager.

You will support Real Estate and Employment Industrial Relations and Safety (EIRS) practice groups, manage ~8 Legal and Administrative Assistants, and partner with the national team on digital and AI

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years’ experience in a senior Legal Assistant position.
• Experience as a people manager in a legal support environment.
• Experience with digital and AI tools; Legora desirable.
• Strong time management and prioritisation skills.
• High attention to detail.
• Ability to stay calm under pressure and adapt to ambiguity.
• Confidence engaging with multiple stakeholders.
• Understanding of commercial operations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Tertiary qualifications or equivalent are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support recruitment of support staff through interviews and onboarding.
• Enhance team engagement and support performance discussions with LPAM and HR guidance.
• Build capability in the team to deliver high-quality work and strong 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 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 operations.
• Liaise with stakeholders to ensure optimal space allocation for business needs.

Skills

People management

Digital/AI tools

Legora

Time management

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Commercial operations understanding

Written and verbal communication

Education

Tertiary qualifications

Tools

Legora

Job description

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’re 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. 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 place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you’ll have it and we’ll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.

Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia’s market leading law firm.

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.