Legal Support Lead — IP/Life Sciences, Hybrid

Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders is seeking a Legal Support Manager to lead all aspects of legal support staff across Health Care & Life Sciences practices. You will direct staffing, coaching, and resource allocation to ensure efficient attorney support and high service levels.

The role emphasizes collaboration with HR, practice management, and administration to optimize workflows, staff development, and performance management in a hybrid office setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in experience and/or training.
• Demonstrated experience managing large legal support teams and working in large law firm or professional services.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive management experience, preferably within a legal/professional services environment.
• Experience leading resources supporting multiple individuals in multiple locations and/or priorities.
• Demonstrated practice area knowledge in Intellectual Property docketing and litigation procedures beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Plans, directs, and manages all aspects of legal support staff management, including hiring, development, direct supervision, and performance management, partnering with Human Resources as needed.
• In collaboration with the Legal Support Administrator, provides leadership and direction to assigned practice group(s) legal support staff, including assignment of resources, management of schedules, performance management, and compensation decisions, partnering with Practice Management and Human Resources to ensure alignment.
• Develops a deep understanding of practice group operations and ensures legal support staff have the right skills and training to support the needs of the practice group.
• Analyzes performance data and identifies insights, recommendations, and strategies that improve overall delivery of legal support services to the practice groups.
• Conducts regular check-ins and touchpoints with legal support staff and attorneys, partnering with Human Resources for needed policy guidance and interpretation (e.g., coaching, counseling, career development, corrective action measures).
• Works closely with management, attorneys, and employees to improve work relationships, build morale, and increase productivity and retention. Supports employee engagement through team building, community service, and other relevant site initiatives.
• Collaborates closely with Legal Support Administration managers, ensuring that the right work is assigned to the right personnel for optimal efficiency and effectiveness.
• Fosters relationships between legal support staff and administrative staff to identify workflow efficiencies and solve problems, such as improvements in billing, intake and conflicts, or administrative needs like travel.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Adaptability

Judgment and discretion

Relationship building

Public speaking/presenting

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Experience managing large legal support teams

Legal/professional services background

Tools

Practice management software

Job description

Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders is seeking a Legal Support Manager to lead all aspects of legal support staff across Health Care & Life Sciences practices. You will direct staffing, coaching, and resource allocation to ensure efficient attorney support and high service levels.

The role emphasizes collaboration with HR, practice management, and administration to optimize workflows, staff development, and performance management in a hybrid office setting.