Client Operations & Legal Project Manager

Ropes & Gray LLP; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 145,800 - 222,350; Full time

Job summary

Ropes & Gray in San Francisco seeks a Manager in Client Operations Services & Legal Project Management to guide matter management, budgets, and client relationships. You will analyze data, develop matter work plans, and build budgets while collaborating with lawyers and clients to improve delivery of legal services.

The role requires experience leading teams, strong analytics, and the ability to influence outcomes in a global firm.

Qualifications

• Maintain strict confidentiality of the firm's internal affairs and client information; understand ethics of the position, including rules of legal ethics in regards to confidentiality, billing and client representation and advocacy.
• Build relationships, influence and foster a collaborative approach with internal clients across practice groups and all departments and levels of the organization.
• Effectively convey solutions to stakeholders, explaining results within a legal project management framework and achieving buy‑in from legal teams.
• Work effectively in a multi‑office and culturally and educationally diverse environment.
• Be flexible to meet the demands of working at a global law firm and be available for travel.
• Hold a bachelor’s degree; J.D. or MBA preferred.
• Have at least 7 years of experience working in a law firm, corporate legal department, financial institution or other large complex organization; professional services experience is preferred.
• Demonstrate exceptional client service orientation with financial acumen.
• Show demonstrated experience in leading teams and creative problem‑solving, including strong business analytics, critical thinking, troubleshooting, problem‑solving and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Through close collaboration with R&G lawyers and support staff, develop a strong understanding of one or more of the firm’s practices, including strategic priorities, areas of legal focus, major clients and challenges; align support and service delivery with practice priorities.
• Lead client relationship and practice group support with the help of the team's senior analysts and analysts, leveraging the technical expertise of the team’s Infrastructure team.
• Collaborate with partners who lead client relationships and with clients' legal department staff; design and implement processes and tools that address clients’ priorities and enhance the client relationship.
• Develop, maintain and enhance a portfolio of practice‑specific resources that help lawyers identify and communicate the cost and scope of legal work, spot risks for cost overruns, monitor run rate and leverage the firm’s technology and knowledge resources to optimize legal service delivery.
• Apply and advocate for legal project management best practices—including scoping, budgeting, progress reporting, team and client communication and efficiency (including the application of technology and alternative staffing).
• Establish and partner with a network of peers in Finance, Business Development, Practice Development, Knowledge Management and other staff support teams to design and deliver innovative solutions to lawyers and clients and facilitate process improvement.
• Use team technology platforms and apply effective data storytelling techniques to help attorneys optimize matter management and answer clients’ questions; analyze financial metrics and data, and use it to raise issues and make recommendations to lawyers.

Job description

Ropes & Gray in San Francisco seeks a Manager in Client Operations Services & Legal Project Management to guide matter management, budgets, and client relationships. You will analyze data, develop matter work plans, and build budgets while collaborating with lawyers and clients to improve delivery of legal services.

The role requires experience leading teams, strong analytics, and the ability to influence outcomes in a global firm.