Paralegal Support Manager

Troutman Pepper Locke LLP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 135,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Troutman Pepper Locke LLP is seeking a Paralegal Support Manager in Chicago to lead paralegal staffing across Bankruptcy + Restructuring, Consumer Financial Services, and Finance + Banking groups. You will oversee hiring, onboarding, resource allocation, and performance management to ensure attorneys have skilled support.

You will collaborate with HR and Practice Management to align staffing, develop talent, and optimize service delivery.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience managing large legal support teams or working as a paralegal manager or team lead.
• Experience leading resources supporting multiple individuals in multiple locations and/or priorities.
• Strong supervisory and interpersonal skills to drive performance and retention.

Responsibilities

• Plans, directs, and manages all aspects of paralegal staff management, including hiring, development, direct supervision, and performance management.
• Provides leadership and direction to paralegal staff, including assignment of resources, schedules, and compensation decisions.
• Develops understanding of practice group operations to ensure staff have necessary skills and training.
• Monitors paralegal performance metrics to identify trends and improve service delivery.
• Collaborates with HR on coaching, career development, and policy guidance.
• Ensures optimal staffing and alignment with firm objectives and practice needs.
• Builds productive relationships with lawyers and staff to improve morale, productivity, and retention.

Skills

Paralegal staff management

Leadership

Performance management

Collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

We are always seeking talented, motivated, growth‑minded, and creative individuals. Our firm is committed to providing employee support and advancement, while embracing inclusion and innovation as keys to a stronger future.

The Paralegal Support Manager is responsible for the delivery of all aspects of paralegal support management for the Bankruptcy + Restructuring, Consumer Financial Services, and Finance + Banking practice groups, ensuring that the lawyers have the appropriate level of skilled paralegal support for client work. From selection and onboarding through the entire employee lifecycle, the Paralegal Support Manager proactively builds a collaborative culture that reflects firm objectives and serves as the Legal Support Administration point of contact in their local office.

Essential Responsibilities

• Plans, directs, and manages all aspects of paralegal staff management, including hiring, development, direct supervision, and performance management, partnering with Human Resources as needed.
• In collaboration with the Paralegal Support Administrator, provides leadership and direction to assigned practice group(s) paralegal 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 groups operations and ensures paralegal staff have the right skills and training to support the needs of the practice group.
• Monitors and analyzes paralegal performance metrics to identify trends, improve efficiency, and develop related strategies that will improve service delivery to clients.
• Conducts regular check‑ins and touchpoints with paralegal staff and attorneys, partnering with Human Resources for needed policy guidance and interpretation (e.g. coaching, counseling, career development, corrective action measures).
• Collaborate with managers of the Legal Support Administration teams ensuring that the right work is assigned to the right personnel for optimal efficiency and effectiveness.
• 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.
• Strong collaborative leadership and management skills with ability to build productive relationships, communicate effectively, and work in a team environment.
• Understanding of practice level technology is a plus.
• Strong supervisory skills as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to exercise considerable judgment and discretion in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with both lawyers and staff.
• Able to relate to and influence individuals at all levels, internally and externally, and build productive relationships.
• Demonstrated capability to identify issues, develop creative and effective solutions and resolve conflict through acceptable and practical business solutions.
• High level of flexibility and adaptability as well as the ability to manage and support change in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to effectively communicate and present information as well as respond to questions from lawyers, staff, and clients.

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Strong collaborative leadership and management skills with ability to build productive relationships, communicate effectively, and work in a team environment.
• Understanding of practice level technology is a plus.
• Strong supervisory skills as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to exercise considerable judgment and discretion in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with both lawyers and staff.
• Able to relate to and influence individuals at all levels, internally and externally, and build productive relationships.
• Demonstrated capability to identify issues, develop creative and effective solutions and resolve conflict through acceptable and practical business solutions.
• High level of flexibility and adaptability as well as the ability to manage and support change in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to effectively communicate and present information as well as respond to questions from lawyers, staff, and clients.

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in experience and/or training.

Preferred Education

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive management experience, preferably within a legal/professional services environment.

Certification(s)

• N/A

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience managing large legal support teams or working as a paralegal manager or team lead in a large law firm or professional services firm.
• Experience leading resources supporting multiple individuals in multiple locations and/or priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous law firm experience is required with practice area knowledge in Bankruptcy + Restructuring, Consumer Financial Services, and/or Finance + Banking.

The Firm will comply with any applicable city or state workplace mandates in effect in regards to Covid-19.

This position description is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of the job. The statements contained in the position description are not necessarily all‑inclusive and additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned as determined by business needs.

This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

By applying for this position, you agree and understand that Troutman Pepper Locke will process your Personal Information pursuant to the terms of our Worker and Applicant Global Privacy Notice. If you have questions about our data handling practices, or you are a resident of California, the United Kingdom, or the European Union and wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us at [e-mail].

Equal Employment Opportunity

Troutman Pepper Locke adheres to a policy of equal opportunity and will make all employment decisions, which include hiring, promotion, transfer, demotion, evaluation, compensation and separation, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, pregnancy, citizenship, disability, genetic information, marital or armed forces status and any other classification as protected by law.

Compensation is dependent on several factors, such as position, location, market, education, training, and/or experience.

Hiring Salary Range

$135,000.00 - $180,000.00