Legal Project Manager

Clifford Chance; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent law firm based in the UK is seeking a Legal Project Manager to become integral in shaping an evolving area of law critical to its strategy. The role involves supporting partners on complex projects, managing budgets, and influencing stakeholders for successful outcomes. Applicants should possess a strong background in project management or legal operations, with the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams. The firm offers a hybrid working environment and various opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Variety of financial and lifestyle benefits

Opportunity for professional development

Access to global training and development resources

Qualifications

• Experience in project management or legal operations within a complex environment.
• Ability to influence and establish strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Comfort with presenting complex concepts to senior management.

Responsibilities

• Support partners on complex legal matters through project management.
• Prepare project initiation documentation, including scope and budgets.
• Monitor progress, identify risks, and provide solutions for project challenges.

Skills

Project management

Legal operations

Collaboration

Influencing skills

Networking

Education

Qualification or certification in project management

Job description

The role

We have established a market‑leading Legal Project Management team. Those who join our award‑winning team become integral to shaping a rapidly evolving area of law essential to the firm’s growth strategy.

Our LPMs are fully aligned and embedded within our priority Client relationship teams and our Global Business Units (GBUs). You will be aligned to one of our GBUs impacting how we deliver high‑end complex legal advice to our biggest clients.

You will work on client matters and deals as a core part of the client team recording time against those matters. You will track workstreams, work with clients, monitor resourcing, manage budgets and integrate our innovative solutions into our largest and most complex projects. You will also bring new ideas and expertise to an evolving role within a rapidly changing legal market.

Who you will work with

You will work day‑to‑day on a range of projects (legal matters) working across multiple client / sectors at any one time. These multi‑disciplinary teams will be made up of trainees, lawyers, partners, legal tech advisors, practice assistants, business development professionals, billing and anyone else in the firm who forms part of a client matter or deal team. The focus of each of the teams you work with is to serve the client and to deliver excellent legal advice and guidance and to conclude the matter successfully.

You’ll need to establish strong relationships with Practice Area Leaders, Practice Area Managers, Business Development and a range of other internal stakeholders. You’ll be able to develop sustainable relationships, understand stakeholder needs, identify ways to address needs and demonstrate influencing skills to deliver the business objectives.

You will collaborate with other Legal Project Manager colleagues around our global network. You will also work closely with other members of the broader business professional community which includes Legal Technology Advisors, Resource Managers and Transformation Specialists.

What you will be responsible for

You’ll support our partners working on some of the most complex matters with a chance to drive deliver and implement outstanding project management on our largest legal matters.

What you will do

We are the front runners of innovation in the legal sector and everyone who joins our team becomes an integral part of shaping a rapidly developing area of law that is critical to the Firm’s strategy.

• You will assist with the preparation of all project initiation documentation such as prepare scope, resourcing and budget proposals for relevant matters or workstreams and then track progress against those proposals.
• You will dissect problems and processes and apply logical and analytical approaches to solving them.
• You will positively influence the individuals you work with (across a range of roles and seniority) to change and adapt their ways of working.
• You will clearly explain theoretical concepts to senior stakeholders including clients and be comfortable amending your delivery approach and style.
• You will manage effective planning over the short, medium and long term then execute against those plans such as documenting minutes, actions and tracking workstreams.
• Throughout each project you will continually assess and understand where issues are and how they can be addressed and then provide and implement pragmatic solutions to ensure the programme moves forward.
• Identify risks; such as conflicting deadlines or a lack of skills and then provide alternative solutions to mitigate the risk.
• Monitor accruals and manage the project against agreed budgets including scope change.
• You will advise, recommend and engage with legal technology tools available to provide support to efficiently manage your projects.
• You will demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills of working with the Best Delivery technology and you’ll be able to define requirements and set‑up technology to support efficient delivery.
• You will assess the activities required and ensure we are delegating appropriate tasks to the Legal Project Analyst team to efficiently manage your projects.
• You will take regular feedback and direction from your colleagues and adjust and adapt your style and plans.
• You will deliver presentations and facilitate workshops and form part of the client pitch teams.
• You will work directly with Clients positively representing Clifford Chance and, as required, working from Client site locations independently.

Qualifications: Your experience

You will have either a background in (i) project management or legal operations ideally gained within a professional services or complex matrix environment or (ii) you will have been a lawyer with experience of matter management.

A qualification or industry recognised certification in project management would be desirable but is not essential as we are happy to support team members with these qualifications.

Collaboration, influencing and internal networking are all key skills to make an impact as a Legal Project Manager within the Firm.

How we will support you

From your first day with us you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and develop your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills‑based and technical training and on the job learning.

We offer assistance and funding for externally recognised project management qualifications including APM and others as well as training in change management and additional to this the nature of the work and interaction with the team will drive continuous on‑job learning and you’ll all have access to our global training and development centre the Academy.

We have LPM teams in most offices and in every region across the globe. You will immediately become a part of this global community with structures in place orchestrated to connect team members from around the world.

Wherever you join in our network you will become a core member of the regional and global team. You will also have local support at the highest level from champion Partners and the Practice Area Manager.

The team is enriched by a wide range of knowledge and made up of people with vastly differing career backgrounds and experiences coming from the other professional services firms within the legal industry and from corporates.

Additional Information

Hybrid working

This role follows our balanced hybrid working approach and, as long as business needs allow you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.

What we offer including our broad range of benefits and working environment

When you join Clifford Chance you will have access to a broad range of benefits to support you across many aspects of your personal and professional life including financial wellbeing, lifestyle and family friendly benefits. For more information on what we offer specifically in the UK please visit our What We Offer page on our career site.

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.