Director of Operations - Legal

Crawford Thomas Recruiting; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Crawford Thomas Recruiting seeks a strategic Director of Legal Operations to lead the firm’s business operations, streamline workflows, enhance financial oversight, and implement scalable processes. The role emphasizes technology adoption, vendor management, and process standardization to support attorneys and paralegals in delivering exceptional client service.

The ideal candidate combines operations leadership with financial acumen and tech savvy, capable of driving firm-wide improvements and

Qualifications

• 5+ years of senior operations management, business operations, or business architecture experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Operations, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting, budgeting, billing, and operational controls.
• Experience improving workflows, developing SOPs, and implementing scalable business processes.
• Ability to learn and use Asana for project management and workflow tracking.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including exporting, organizing, and analyzing reports from Sage Timeslips.
• Familiarity with legal practice management, billing, and document management software.
• Experience with platforms such as Clio, Sage Timeslips, and document management systems.
• Strong project management, analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate workflows and eliminate inefficiencies to improve productivity and scalability.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, capex, expense controls, and vendor invoices.
• Oversee administrative HR processes, hiring workflows, staff development, and employee operations.
• Improve time-entry accuracy, billing workflows, reporting, and financial processes.
• Evaluate and manage practice management systems, document management platforms, and AI tools.
• Create firm-wide SOPs, training materials, and operational guidelines.
• Coordinate data privacy, information security, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
• Set performance metrics and lead change-management across the firm.
• Oversee vendor relationships, service performance, and cost optimization.
• Develop operational and financial reports for leadership decision-making.

Skills

Project management

Analytics

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Operations, or related field

MBA or JD (preferred)

Tools

Asana

Microsoft Excel

Sage Timeslips

Clio

Job description

Salary: $95k - $130k Salary + Bonuses & Excellent Benefits

Director of Legal Operations

Lead Operations. Improve Efficiency. Build for Growth.

We’re seeking a strategic, hands‑on Director of Legal Operations to oversee the business operations of a growing law firm. This leadership role will streamline workflows, strengthen financial oversight, improve technology systems, and develop scalable processes that allow attorneys and paralegals to focus on delivering exceptional client service.

The ideal candidate combines business operations expertise, financial and analytical skills, technology knowledge, and the ability to drive meaningful organizational improvements.

What You’ll Do

• Operational Strategy: Evaluate existing workflows, eliminate inefficiencies, and develop standardized procedures to improve productivity and scalability.
• Financial Management: Oversee budgeting, forecasting, capital expenditures, expense controls, and vendor invoice reviews.
• Human Resources: Oversee administrative HR processes, hiring workflows, staff development, and employee‑related operations.
• Timekeeping & Billing: Improve time‑entry accuracy, billing workflows, reporting, and financial processes to support firm profitability.
• Technology & AI: Evaluate and manage legal practice management systems, document management platforms, and emerging AI tools that improve efficiency.
• Process Development: Create firm‑wide SOPs, training materials, and operational guidelines to support consistency and accountability.
• Risk & Compliance: Coordinate data privacy, information security, regulatory compliance, and operational risk management.
• Team Leadership: Establish performance metrics, support staff development, and lead change‑management initiatives across the firm.
• Vendor Management: Oversee vendor relationships, evaluate service performance, and identify opportunities to improve costs and service delivery.
• Reporting & Analytics: Develop operational and financial reports to help leadership evaluate performance and make informed decisions.

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of senior operations management, business operations, or business architecture experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Operations, or a related field
• Strong understanding of financial reporting, budgeting, billing, and operational controls
• Experience improving workflows, developing SOPs, and implementing scalable business processes
• Ability to learn and use Asana for project management and workflow tracking
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including exporting, organizing, and analyzing reports from Sage Timeslips
• Familiarity with legal practice management, billing, and document management software
• Experience with platforms such as Clio, Sage Timeslips, and document management systems
• Strong project management, analytical, communication, and leadership skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and accountability

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing operations within a law firm or professional services organization
• MBA, JD, or advanced degree in a related field
• Experience implementing legal technology, AI automation, or business process improvements
  
• Background in compliance, information security, or operational risk management

Why Join Us?

• Strategic leadership opportunity with direct influence over firm‑wide operations
• Opportunity to modernize workflows, technology, and business processes
• Direct collaboration with firm leadership and legal professionals
• Ability to introduce innovative tools and AI‑driven efficiencies
• Meaningful impact on productivity, profitability, and long‑term business growth

The Ideal Candidate

You’re a business‑minded operations leader who enjoys solving complex problems, improving systems, and turning strategy into action. You can move comfortably between financial reporting, technology implementation, staff leadership, and process improvement—and you understand how to build the operational foundation a successful law firm needs to grow.