Legal Practice Manager

DLA Piper; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 124,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

DLA Piper is seeking a Legal Practice Manager (LPM) to support partners across a large, complex practice. The LPM coordinates billing, matter management, and administrative functions, serving as the operational hub and leading a multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and client satisfaction throughout the matter lifecycle.

This role sits in Washington, D.C. or Reston with a hybrid schedule, requires 5 years in legal operations, and a Bachelor’s in business/finance or related

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
• 5 years’ experience in legal operations, practice management, or professional services environment.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in financial analysis, budgeting, and matter management systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversee pitch and proposal activity, matter opening, budgeting, and compliance with client guidelines.
• Monitor WIP, billing, collections, and profitability metrics for the partner’s portfolio.
• Coordinate with billing teams to ensure timely and accurate invoicing aligned with client requirements.
• Work with collections on tracking payments and allocations.
• Track and report on key financial KPIs, proactively identifying risks and opportunities.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the partner and internal business teams (finance, billing, administrative support, marketing, etc.).
• Lead and coordinate a multi-disciplinary team to deliver exceptional client service and operational excellence.
• Implement best practices for matter management, workflow optimization, and resource allocation.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce administrative burden.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Financial analysis

Matter management

Cross-functional leadership

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Matter management software

Data analytics platforms

Billing systems

Job description

DLA Piper is, at its core, bold, exceptional, collaborative and supportive. Our people are the backbone, heart and soul of our firm. Wherever you are in your professional journey, DLA Piper is a place you can engage in meaningful work and grow your career. Let’s see what we can achieve. Together.

Summary

The Legal Practice Manager (LPM), working in collaboration with and in support of the firm’s strategic initiatives, is a strategic business professional responsible for supporting a partner, or group of partners, with a large and complex practice. This role ensures seamless integration of billing, matter management, and administrative functions across multiple teams. The LPM acts as the central coordinator and leader of a multi-disciplinary team of business professionals including pitch and proposal, finance, billing, administrative support, and client service while maintaining strong collaboration with attorneys and practice management leadership. The LPM serves as the operational hub, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and client satisfaction in all aspects of matter lifecycle management.

Location

This position can sit in our Washington, D.C. or Reston office and offers a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities

• Matter & Financial Management
  • Oversee pitch and proposal activity, matter opening, budgeting, and compliance with client guidelines.
  • Monitor WIP (work-in-progress), billing, collections, and profitability metrics for the partner’s portfolio.
  • Coordinate with billing teams to ensure timely and accurate invoicing aligned with client requirements.
  • Work with collections on tracking payments and allocations.
  • Track and report on key financial KPIs, proactively identifying risks and opportunities.
• Operational Leadership
  • Serve as the primary liaison between the partner and internal business teams (finance, billing, administrative support, marketing, etc.).
  • Lead and coordinate a multi-disciplinary team to deliver exceptional client service and operational excellence, including International where involved.
  • Implement best practices for matter management, workflow optimization, and resource allocation.
• Client Service & Relationship Support
  • Ensure compliance with client outside counsel guidelines and reporting requirements.
  • Support client-facing administrative needs, including status reports, budgets, and performance metrics.
  • Partner with the firm’s pricing and legal project management teams to develop and maintain alternative fee arrangements and matter plans.
• Process Improvement & Technology
  • Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce administrative burden.
  • Leverage firm technology platforms for matter tracking, reporting, and collaboration.
  • Train and mentor team members on best practices and tools.

Desired Skills

Strong understanding of law firm economics, billing processes, and client service standards. Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills. Proficiency in financial analysis, budgeting, and matter management systems. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority. Skilled in interpreting financial data and operational metrics. Committed to delivering exceptional service and maintaining strong relationships. Proactive in identifying issues and implementing solutions. Comfortable with legal practice management tools and data analytics platforms.

Minimum Education

• High School Diploma or GED.

Preferred Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field.

Minimum Years of Experience

• 5 years’ experience in legal operations, practice management, or professional services environment.

Essential Job Expectations

All DLA Piper employees are expected to demonstrate excellence in how we serve our clients and develop our people, upholding our firm values as part of our culture. Specific expectations include:

• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and external audiences.
• Produce high-quality work and respond to correspondence in an efficient, timely, and professional manner.
• Meet deadlines, manage competing priorities, and commit to meeting high standards.
• Comply with firm policies and procedures.
• Maintain confidences as required in a law firm environment.

Physical Demands

Sedentary work: This is primarily sedentary work, requiring occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or move objects. The role involves sitting for extended periods, with occasional walking and standing, and occasional travel, both domestic and international.

Work Environment

The individual selected for this position may have the opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement combining remote and in-office work. The specific arrangement will be determined at the time of hiring and may be modified at the firm's discretion.

Disclaimer

The purpose of this job description is to provide a concise statement of the work elements and to organize and present the information in a standardized way. It is not intended to describe all the elements of the work that may be performed by every individual in this classification, nor should it serve as the sole criteria for personnel decisions and actions. The job duties, requirements, and expectations for this position may be modified at the Firm’s discretion at any time. This job description does not change the at-will nature of employment.

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position or participate in the selection process. For accommodation requests, please contact [e-mail].

We are committed to excellence in how we serve our clients and develop our people.

The firm’s expected hiring range for this position is $124,167 - $164,525 per year depending on the candidate’s geographic market location.

The compensation offered for employment will also be dependent on other factors including the candidate’s experience, skills, educational and professional background, and overall qualifications. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k). Applicants who are not based in the jurisdiction in which this position is posted and who apply for this role are doing so voluntarily and are not eligible for relocation assistance. Any relocation benefits, if any, are provided only where a relocation is required at the firm’s direction and in accordance with applicable policy and law.

DLA Piper is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.