Legal Project Manager

Harcourt Matthews Ltd.; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Harcourt Matthews Ltd. is seeking a Legal Project Manager in Manchester with hybrid working. The role partners with lawyers and clients to deliver complex, high-value matters with structured delivery, financial control and clear reporting.

You will own matter plans, budgets and risk logs, while promoting technology adoption and process improvements across the team. Eligible applicants should be able to work in the UK without restriction.

Qualifications

• Experience as a legal project manager or as a qualified lawyer or project professional in a client-facing role.
• A sound grasp of how legal matters are run and the relationship between lawyers and clients.
• Strong analytical skills with budgets and data analysis, including Excel.
• Influential stakeholder management and ability to engage partners and clients.
• Organised, proactive and keen to use AI and new tools to improve delivery.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex legal matters - plan, coordinate and oversee delivery across several practice areas from scoping to completion.
• Own project controls and documentation - build/maintain matter plans, budgets, timelines and risk logs; manage scope changes and contingencies.
• Report on matter and financial performance - analyse data to produce progress reports and budget updates for partners/clients under tight deadlines.
• Champion technology and AI adoption - help lawyers maximise PM and legal tech tools; track market developments.
• Help grow the function - contribute to pitches, tenders, training, thought leadership and process improvements.

Skills

Proven project management

Legal sector understanding

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Organised and tech-minded

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Legal Project Manager | Manchester, Hybrid working available | Competitive Salary + Benefits |

The Company hiring a Legal Project Manager A leading UK law firm is investing in the way it delivers legal services and is looking to strengthen its growing legal project management team. The team partners closely with lawyers and clients on complex, high-value matters, bringing structure, efficiency and clear financial control to every stage of delivery. This is an excellent opportunity for a project management professional or lawyer to develop a career in a fast-evolving specialism, with real scope to shape best practice and influence how the firm works.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage complex legal matters - Plan, coordinate and oversee the delivery of significant client matters across several practice areas, working alongside lawyers from initial scoping through to completion.

• Own project controls and documentation - Build and maintain matter plans, scopes, budgets, timelines and risk logs, proactively managing changes in scope and putting contingencies in place.

• Report on matter and financial performance - Analyse financial and operational data to produce clear progress reports and budget updates for partners and clients, often to tight deadlines.

• Champion technology and AI adoption - Help lawyers get the most from project management and legal technology tools, tracking market developments and spotting new opportunities, including AI.

• Help grow the function - Contribute to pitches, tenders, training, thought leadership and process improvement initiatives that raise the profile and capability of project management across the business.

Skills & Attributes

• Proven project management background - Experience as a legal project manager, or as a qualified lawyer or project professional in a client-facing role, applying recognised delivery methodologies.

• Legal sector understanding - A sound grasp of how legal matters are run and of the working relationship between lawyers and their clients.

• Strong analytical and Excel skills - Confident with budgets, numbers and data analysis, including advanced Excel functions such as formulas and pivot tables.

• Influential stakeholder management - A confident communicator able to engage partners, senior managers and clients, and to challenge constructively when managing expectations.

• Organised, proactive and tech-minded - Highly organised and self-driven, comfortable juggling multiple projects and keen to use AI and new tools to improve delivery.

Applications can only be considered from those eligible to live & work in the UK without restriction.

Harcourt Matthews is committed to diversity and inclusion.