Paralegal Senior Manager

Sidley Austin; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago is seeking a Paralegal Senior Manager to lead the paralegal and project assistant department supporting about 500 lawyers. You will oversee performance, productivity, and staffing with firm-wide alignment.

This role collaborates with other offices, directs recruiting, onboarding, and compensation processes, and drives high-value operations while maintaining confidentiality and professional standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 10 years experience in professional services or related field
• 5 years experience managing at least 15 direct/indirect reports
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
• Ability to quickly connect with various levels of stakeholders
• Ability to build trust and gain buy-in from firm leadership

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership and management of the Chicago paralegal and project assistant department
• Partner with paralegal and project assistant managers in other offices to promote consistent policies
• Research, develop, and adapt departmental plans and priorities
• Build relationships with firm lawyers, paralegals, project assistants, and staff
• Promote and maintain a unified, collaborative team across practice groups
• Partner with department leadership and HR to develop staffing strategies
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, and selection of staff
• Manage onboarding and the overall employee experience
• Manage onboarding and training of new Project Assistant classes
• Assess training needs and support firm-wide initiatives
• Manage performance management and compensation process
• Counsel staff on employee relations issues and coach high performers
• Monitor morale and engagement to drive high performance
• Manage technology programs and utilization reports
• Track progress toward billable-hour targets and workloads
• Oversee timekeeping and wage-and-hour compliance
• Perform other related duties as required

Skills

Leadership

Excellent communication

Stakeholder management

Organization

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Under the direction of the Litigation and Practice Support Director, the Chicago office Paralegal Senior Manager is responsible for leading and maintaining a high-performing department that includes Paralegals and Project Assistants supporting approximately 500 lawyers. The Manager oversees performance, productivity, employee relations, and workflow across the department, and works closely with peer managers in other offices to ensure consistent standards firm-wide. This individual leads the annual performance management and compensation process, forecasts staffing needs, directs recruiting efforts, and interprets and applies firm policy.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership and management of the Chicago paralegal and project assistant department, including direct supervision of the paralegal supervisor and oversight of paralegal and project assistant staff.

• Partner with paralegal and project assistant managers in other offices to promote consistent policies, standards, and practices firm-wide while addressing the specific needs of the Chicago office.

• Research, develop, and adapt departmental plans and priorities to address resource and operational challenges.

• Build strong relationships with firm lawyers, paralegals, project assistants, firm administration, and fellow managers, establishing a reputation as a key problem solver.

• Promote and maintain a unified, collaborative team across practice groups through regular communication and meetings.

• Partner with department leadership, practice group heads, and Human Resources to develop staffing strategies that address current and future talent needs.

• Participate in the recruiting, interviewing, and selection of paralegal and project assistant staff.

• Manage new hire onboarding, integration, and the overall employee experience.

• Manage the onboarding and training of new Project Assistant classes, as well as the ongoing Project Assistant "Brown Bag Lunch" Series.

• Assess the department’s training and continuing education needs and support firm-wide initiatives that increase paralegal and project assistant efficiency and effectiveness.

• Manage the performance management and compensation process, including obtaining lawyer feedback, writing annual appraisals, making compensation recommendations, and conducting performance review meetings.

• Counsel staff on employee relations issues, resolve conflicts, facilitate performance improvement plans, and coach and develop high performers, including the paralegal supervisor.

• Monitor lawyer feedback, staff productivity, and morale to drive high performance; recommend engagement and recognition initiatives to firm leadership.

• Manage paralegal and project assistant-driven technology programs, including Graphics Support; Trial, Hearing & Arbitration support; and specialty practice applications.

• Monitor paralegal and project assistant utilization and productivity by preparing monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual reports of hours to support workflow coordination and resource allocation.

• Track progress toward billable-hour and utilization targets, and work with firm lawyers, paralegals, and project assistants to balance workloads across the Chicago office.

• Oversee timekeeping, time-and-attendance records, and related departmental reporting, ensuring compliance with firm policies and wage-and-hour requirements.

• Perform other related duties as required and assigned.

Education and/or Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree

• 10 years experience in professional services or related field

• 5 years experience managing at least 15 direct/indirect reports

• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written

• Ability to quickly connect with various levels of stakeholders

• Ability to build trust and gain buy-in from firm leadership

Preferred

• Experience working in the legal industry

• Experience with legal services technologies

Other Skills and Abilities

The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

• Strong organizational skills

• Strong attention to detail

• Good judgment

• Strong interpersonal communication skills

• Strong analytical and problem solving skills

• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others

• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion

• Able to work under pressure

• Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

#LI-OE1

#LI-Hybrid

The target salary range for this role is:

$175,000 - $250,000 if located in Illinois.

Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email [e-mail] (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.