Paralegal Manager

Goodwin; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid vacation

Professional development

Job summary

Goodwin’s Global Operations Team is seeking a Paralegal Manager to evolve service delivery. You will lead operational change, strengthen team performance, and drive technology adoption across paralegal services.

The ideal candidate has over 7 years of leadership experience in a law firm, with a focus on process improvement and workflow optimization while fostering a collaborative environment for professional growth.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of leadership experience in a law firm or legal services environment.
• Proven success in managing legal professionals and driving operational change.
• Experience with legal technology and AI solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead workflow transformation efforts and drive technology adoption.
• Build strong relationships with practice leaders and stakeholders.
• Develop training programs for paralegal and case assistant skills.

Skills

Leadership

Process Improvement

Change Management

Legal Technology

Communication

Project Management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Relevant professional certification

Tools

Legora

Copilot

Litigation support platforms

Job description

Join Goodwin’s Global Operations Team, and make a real impact on a global scale. At Goodwin, we work with some of the world’s most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. As part of the Global Operations Team – all business professionals at the firm – you’ll collaborate with colleagues from varied backgrounds and experiences, fostering an environment where cross-functional learning, networking, and collaboration are at the core of what we do.

Here, we’re not just supporting a law firm; we’re partnering with attorneys and clients to deliver cutting‑edge solutions in high-stakes litigation and dispute resolution, world‑class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex transactions. Our commitment to integrity, ingenuity, agility, and ambition drives us, and we’re proud to have been recognised as the "Best Business Team" by The American Lawyer.

This is your opportunity to grow professionally in a dynamic, global environment, surrounded by forward‑thinking peers.

We are seeking a forward‑looking Paralegal Manager to help evolve the way paralegal services are managed, delivered, measured, and continuously improved.

This is not a traditional role focused primarily on staffing and supervision. Instead, this role requires an experienced operational and people leader who can drive change, strengthen team performance, and advance more efficient, consistent, and technology‑enabled ways of working.

The Manager will partner closely with TIL attorneys, practice leadership, business teams, and other members of Paralegal Services leadership to understand practice goals and ensure the team has the capacity, capabilities, skills, tools, and processes needed to support the practice effectively. Success in this role requires a strong continuous improvement mindset and the ability to translate feedback, data, technology, and operational insights into practical changes that improve service quality, team performance, and long‑term scalability. The Manager may also oversee additional legal professionals or practice areas based on business needs and organizational alignment.

What You Will Do

Technology, Process Improvement & Knowledge Sharing

• Lead workflow transformation efforts by identifying friction points, repetitive work, and inconsistent practices, then by partnering with attorneys, paralegals, technology teams, and firm resources to innovate how work is assigned, completed, and supported.
• Drive adoption of firm technology and AI tools by identifying high-value use cases, supporting experimentation, and embedding successful practices into daily workflows.
• Evaluate opportunities for automation, standardization, and knowledge sharing that reduce manual effort, improve consistency, manage risk, and enable higher-value support.

Practice Partnership & Service Delivery

• Build strong relationships with TIL leaders, partners, associates, and business stakeholders to understand practice priorities and client needs.
• Serve as a strategic point of contact regarding paralegal capabilities, demand, headcount, talent needs, and opportunities to enhance services.
• Translate emerging workstreams and stakeholder feedback into staffing, training, specialization, and workforce plans.
• Identify opportunities for paralegals and case assistants to provide higher-value support while maintaining quality, responsiveness, and sound risk management.

People Leadership & Talent Management

• Lead assigned paralegals and case assistants, setting clear expectations for performance, collaboration, accountability, and client service.
• Provide regular coaching and feedback; identify development needs, high-potential talent, succession opportunities, and emerging skill requirements.
• Own performance management in partnership with the Director and Human Resources, including annual reviews, advancement recommendations, and timely resolution of performance concerns.
• Foster an inclusive culture of continuous learning, knowledge sharing, cross-office collaboration, and shared responsibility for team success.

Training, Recruiting & Onboarding

• Develop training and experiential learning programs that keep paralegal and case assistant skills aligned with practice needs, technology, and industry standards.
• Continue strengthening the Litigation Case Assistant program through structured training, career development, workload optimization, and improved utilization.
• Partner with Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, and practice leadership on workforce planning, candidate selection, hiring, and consistent onboarding.
• Provide orientation and practical guidance to new and lateral attorneys on Paralegal Services, staffing protocols, and effective use of the team.

Staffing & Operations

• Oversee staffing and work allocation, balancing matter needs, workloads, utilization, specialization, and individual capabilities across offices.
• Monitor productivity, demand, and staffing data to identify trends, address capacity constraints, and support workforce planning.
• Partner with the Director and other Paralegal Managers to share resources and resolve operational issues.
• Ensure consistent completion of administrative requirements, including accurate time entry and timecard approval.
• Build practice‑and‑industry‑aligned communities that capture specialized knowledge, share templates and best practices, and reduce knowledge silos.
• Track adoption and impact of improvement initiatives and use lessons learned to guide future changes.

What You Will Bring

• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in a large law firm or similarly complex legal services environment, with demonstrated success managing legal professionals, driving operational change, and improving service delivery.
• Bachelor's degree required; an advanced degree or relevant professional certification is a plus.
• Proven success leading process improvement, workflow optimization, or service delivery initiatives in a legal environment.
• Experience driving adoption of legal technology and AI‑enabled solutions, such as Legora, Copilot, litigation support platforms, or comparable tools.
• Strong project and change management skills, with the ability to turn ideas into practical, sustained ways of working.
• Ability to use staffing, utilization, demand, and performance data to guide operational and workforce decisions.
• Excellent judgment, coaching, communication, and relationship‑building skills, with credibility across attorneys, paralegals, offices, and business teams.

Benefits And More

At Goodwin, you will discover your next career opportunity with a rewarding compensation package and comprehensive benefits, including:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement & Savings Plan
• Emergency back-up child and adult care
• Paid vacation, sick time off, and holidays
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities
• Employee recognition and reward programs
• Employee wellness and assistance programs
• Employee discounts and perks

This position is eligible for overtime: No

The Target Salary Range For This Position Varies By Location And Is Commensurate With Relevant Experience: $150,000.00 - $175,000.00