Office Manager - Family Law

Paxus Australia Pty Ltd.; Canberra; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site parking provided

Job summary

Paxus Australia Pty Ltd. is partnering with a well-established Canberra law and wills & estates firm to recruit an experienced Office Manager. You will shape operations, people, systems and growth, with genuine autonomy to implement improvements and drive efficiency.

Full-time hours are preferred, with potential for part-time or school-hour arrangements for the right candidate. You will work closely with Partners and the Business Manager to lead recruitment, establish procedures and enhance

Qualifications

• Experience managing a law firm or professional services office.
• Strong understanding of professional office operations and administration.
• Ability to learn and adapt to business systems and software.
• Experience leading staff to achieve business outcomes.
• Confidentiality, compliance and risk-management awareness.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations and support exceptional client service outcomes.
• Manage administrative and legal support staff.
• Lead recruitment, onboarding and staff development with the Business Manager.
• Develop and maintain office procedures, systems and workflows.
• Drive system improvements and technology initiatives to boost efficiency.
• Act as internal champion for business systems, coordinating with external providers.
• Support staff training and adoption of processes.
• Provide insights on operational performance to Partners.
• Assist workload planning and resource management.
• Manage relationships with external suppliers and service providers.
• Support compliance and risk management obligations.
• Contribute to marketing and growth strategy.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, high-performing workplace culture.

Skills

Law firm management

Office operations

Staff leadership

Stakeholder management

Time management

Communication

IT proficiency

Confidentiality & risk management

Learning new systems

Recruitment & onboarding

Tools

Actionstep

Job description

Employment Type:

Full-time or part-time by negotiation

Salary:

Negotiable based on experience

Benefits:

On-site parking provided

The Company

Paxus has partnered with a well-established and growing family law and wills & estates firm committed to providing practical, compassionate and high-quality legal services.

The team works in a fast-paced and often emotionally complex area of law, where exceptional client care is just as important as strong legal expertise. As the firm continues to grow, they are seeking an experienced Office Manager to become a key member of the leadership team and help drive the firm's continued success.

The Opportunity

This is more than a traditional Office Manager role.

Working closely with the Partners and Business Manager, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the firm's operations, people, systems and future growth. You will have genuine autonomy to identify opportunities for improvement, implement new ideas and help ensure the firm continues to operate efficiently, professionally and sustainably.

We are looking for someone who enjoys taking ownership, solving problems, leading people and finding better ways of doing things.

Full-time hours are preferred; however, part-time or school-hour arrangements can be considered for the right candidate.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the firm and support exceptional client service outcomes
• Manage and support administrative and legal support staff
• Lead with recruitment, onboarding, performance management and staff development alongside the Business Manager
• Develop, implement and maintain effective office procedures, systems and workflows
• Lead operational system improvements and technology initiatives to enhance efficiency and productivity
• Act as the internal champion for business systems and technology, working with external providers to ensure the firm's platforms and tools operate effectively
• Support staff training and adoption of business systems and processes
• Monitor operational performance and provide insights and recommendations to the Partners
• Assist with workload planning, resource management and business improvement initiatives
• Manage relationships with external suppliers, consultants and service providers
• Support compliance, risk management and professional obligations
• Contribute to marketing, business development and the firm's ongoing growth strategy
• Foster a positive, collaborative and high-performing workplace culture

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a commercially minded and proactive professional who can see the bigger picture while remaining hands-on when required.

Ideally, you will bring:

• Previous experience managing a law firm or professional services office
• Strong understanding of professional office operations and administration
• Confidence using and learning business systems, software and technology
• Experience leading and supporting staff to achieve positive business outcomes
• Strong organisational, planning and time-management skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities
• Commercial awareness and sound business judgement
• A solutions-focused, proactive approach to challenges
• High attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities
• An understanding of confidentiality, compliance and risk management requirements
• Experience using legal practice management software (Actionstep experience highly regarded but not essential)
• We are more interested in finding the right person with strong office management skills, commercial awareness, excellent IT capability and the ability to learn and adapt to our systems.

Family law or wills & estates experience will be viewed favourably, however outstanding candidates from other professional services environments will also be considered.

Why Join?

• Be part of a respected and growing Canberra law firm
• Work directly with the Partners and contribute to key business decisions, influencing the direction of the firm
• Enjoy genuine autonomy and ownership of your role
• Flexible working arrangements available
• Modern Deakin office with on-site parking
• Positive workplace culture
• Opportunity to implement new ideas and drive meaningful change
• Opportunities for professional growth and career development
• Competitive remuneration package based on experience

What Success Looks Like

In your first 12 months, you will:

• Build trusted relationships across the firm
• Identify and implement operational improvements that enhance efficiency
• Help optimise the firm's systems, technology and workflows
• Support a positive and high-performing team culture
• Contribute to the firm's growth and ongoing commitment to exceptional client service

Paxus values diversity and welcomes applications from Indigenous Australians, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and people living with a disability. If you require an adjustment to the recruitment process, including the application form in an alternate format, please contact me on the above contact details.