Practice Manager | Legal Operations

Connected People; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work after probation

Fully funded travel to Newcastle

Leadership opportunity

Job summary

Connected People is partnering with a NSW leading law firm to recruit a Practice Manager based in Sydney CBD. The role focuses on legal operations and people leadership, overseeing day-to-day practice operations and ensuring teams across Sydney and Newcastle are resourced and supported.

Reporting to a senior leader, you will identify improvements, drive efficiency, and lead change initiatives while maintaining a positive, collaborative culture.

Qualifications

• Experience in legal practice management or legal operations.
• Experience leading teams and managing change.
• Ability to improve workflows and resource planning.
• Strong commercial acumen and business sense.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day legal practice operations across Sydney and Newcastle.
• Manage workflows, resource allocation, workloads and staffing requirements.
• Provide hands-on people leadership, supporting team performance, engagement and satisfaction.
• Identify and implement operational improvements to enhance productivity and profitability.
• Lead and support change management initiatives.
• Work with leadership to translate commercial priorities into practical improvements.
• Balance competing priorities and maintain a positive team environment.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture.

Skills

Legal operations

People leadership

Workflow management

Change management

Team leadership

Commercial acumen

Job description

Connected People is proud to be partnering with one of NSW's leading law firms to recruit a Practice Manager based in their Sydney CBD office.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced legal operations professional to join a growing and highly regarded firm, taking ownership of day-to-day practice operations, workflow management and team performance across its Sydney and Newcastle offices.

Unlike many traditional Practice Manager positions, this role is focused purely on legal operations and people leadership, without responsibility for HR, finance or accounts.

About the Firm:

Our client is a highly respected and established law firm with offices in Sydney and Newcastle. The firm has built an excellent reputation for delivering high-quality legal services while maintaining a supportive, collaborative and people-focused culture.

Continued growth has created the need for a dedicated Practice Manager who can support the firm's people, improve operational efficiencies and ensure teams have the resources and processes needed to perform at their best.

With strong staff retention and a dynamic leadership team, this is an opportunity to join a firm that genuinely values its people and is committed to continued growth and improvement.

About the Role:

Reporting directly to a senior member of the firm's leadership team, you will take responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the firm's legal teams, ensuring workloads, resources and processes are managed effectively.

You’ll play a pivotal role in identifying opportunities for improvement, implementing operational changes and supporting team members through periods of growth and change.

Key responsibilities include:

• Oversee day-to-day legal practice operations across the Sydney and Newcastle offices.
• Manage workflows, resource allocation, workloads and staffing requirements to ensure efficient service delivery.
• Provide hands-on people leadership, supporting team performance, engagement and satisfaction.
• Identify and implement operational improvements that enhance productivity, efficiency and profitability.
• Lead and support change management initiatives, ensuring teams are engaged and supported throughout the process.
• Work closely with the leadership team to understand commercial priorities and translate these into practical operational improvements.
• Balance competing priorities and respond proactively to the evolving needs of a busy legal practice.
• Foster a positive, collaborative and high-performing team environment.

The position will be based in Sydney CBD, with travel to the Newcastle office approximately one day per fortnight. All travel expenses will be covered by the firm.

About You:

We're looking for a commercially minded and resilient Practice Manager who combines strong operational experience with a genuine passion for leading people.

Ideally, you’ll have experience working within a medium to large law firm (50+ employees), where you’ve developed an understanding of the complexities of managing workloads, resources and competing priorities.

Experience in defendant insurance, personal injury or a fixed-fee legal environment would be highly regarded, although it is not essential.

You’ll also bring:

• Demonstrated experience in legal practice management, legal operations or a similar leadership role.
• Strong workflow and resource management capabilities.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage change and drive operational improvements.
• Commercial acumen and an understanding of how operational efficiencies contribute to business performance.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and the ability to build trusted relationships.
• A resilient, adaptable and solutions-focused approach.
• The ability to manage competing demands while maintaining a positive and supportive team environment.

Above all, we’re looking for someone who can see the bigger picture, understand the reasons behind change and bring people along on the journey.

What's on Offer?

• Competitive salary package, commensurate with experience.
• A newly created leadership opportunity with genuine scope to make an impact.
• Sydney CBD location.
• A supportive, collaborative and highly regarded law firm.
• The opportunity to work closely with an experienced and commercially focused leadership team.
• Hybrid working arrangements available following a successful six-month probation period.
• Fully funded travel to the Newcastle office.
• Ongoing professional development and career opportunities.
• A positive workplace culture with a genuine focus on employee wellbeing and satisfaction.

If you’re an experienced legal professional who enjoys leading people, improving processes and making a meaningful contribution to a firm's success, we’d love to hear from you.

All enquiries will be treated with the strictest confidence.