Legal Support & Talent Operations Manager

Shipman & Goodwin LLP; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Shipman & Goodwin LLP in Hartford seeks a Legal Support and HR Administration Manager to lead a large paralegal and LPAs team, partner with HR and Talent, and drive recruiting, onboarding, and performance initiatives.

The role emphasizes collaborative leadership, cross-functional teamwork, workforce planning, and continuous improvement across firm-wide HR projects, with a focus on operational excellence and strategic staff development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3 years of experience managing legal support staff, paralegals, or professional services teams.
• Experience in a law firm or professional services environment strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional environment.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and performance management skills.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience with recruiting, workforce planning, and employee development.
• Proficiency with timekeeping systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of approx. 75 Paralegals and Legal Practice Assistants across all practice groups.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and development support.
• Partner with HR and Talent colleagues on employee relations matters and performance management strategies.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team environment aligned with firm and HR/Talent team standards.
• Partner with HR and Talent team members to support recruiting efforts, including candidate evaluation and hiring decisions.
• Coordinate onboarding activities in alignment with firm-wide HR/Talent processes and standards.
• Support seamless integration of new hires through coordinated engagement across HR, Talent, and business leadership.
• Collaborate across HR and Talent functions to design and deliver training programs for legal support staff.
• Ensure team members remain current on firm procedures, technology, and best practices through coordinated learning efforts.
• Contribute to career pathing, development planning, mentorship, and continuing education initiatives as part of a broader talent strategy.
• Manage daily staffing assignments and workload distribution across a large, multi-practice team.
• Coordinate coverage for absences and shifting business needs in partnership.
• Provide input into workforce planning, optimization and headcount strategy, aligning staffing models with firm priorities and industry standards.
• Partner with attorneys, practice leaders, and administrative departments to ensure consistent, high-quality legal support services.
• Work collaboratively across the HR/Talent team to align processes, improve coordination, and enhance service delivery.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and contribute to continuous improvement across the firm, including cross office support.
• Support firm-wide HR/Talent initiatives and projects, contributing beyond core functional responsibilities as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Staff management

Communication

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Timekeeping systems

Job description

Shipman & Goodwin LLP in Hartford seeks a Legal Support and HR Administration Manager to lead a large paralegal and LPAs team, partner with HR and Talent, and drive recruiting, onboarding, and performance initiatives.

The role emphasizes collaborative leadership, cross-functional teamwork, workforce planning, and continuous improvement across firm-wide HR projects, with a focus on operational excellence and strategic staff development.