Legal Project Manager

Harcourt Matthews Ltd.; Nottingham; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Harcourt Matthews Ltd. is seeking a Legal Project Manager to join its growing team. The role is based in the Midlands or North West with hybrid working.

You will oversee complex client matters, build and maintain matter plans, budgets and risk logs, and report progress to partners. You will champion technology and AI adoption to improve delivery and contribute to the growth of the PM function. The ideal candidate will have a proven legal project management background or be a qualified lawyer or

Qualifications

• Proven track record in project management, preferably in a professional services or legal setting.
• Understanding of how legal matters are run and the client-lawyer relationship.
• Strong numerical and data analysis abilities with Excel proficiency.
• Able to engage partners, senior managers and clients and manage expectations.
• Well organised, proactive and comfortable using new tech and AI tools.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex legal matters from scoping to completion.
• Own matter plans, budgets, timelines, risks and documentation.
• Report on financial and operational performance for partners and clients.
• Champion technology adoption and AI-enabled project delivery.
• Contribute to process improvement and growth of the PM function.

Skills

Project management

Legal sector understanding

Excel analytics

Stakeholder management

Organisational skills

Job description

Legal Project Manager

Midlands or North West, 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 of the Legal Project Manager

• 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 of the Legal Project Manager

• 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 acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Harcourt Matthews is committed to diversity and inclusion.