Practice Area Manager - Litigation

Smith Anderson Group; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Smith Anderson Group in Raleigh is seeking a Practice Area Manager – Litigation to oversee workflow, intake, billing, and matter administration for the thriving litigation team.

The candidate will implement technology tools, establish quality controls, coordinate training, and drive efficiency while maintaining excellent client service.

Ideal applicants have five years in a law firm setting, strong organizational skills, and proficiency with MS Office and practice management software.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of experience in a law firm or legal department.
• Experience coordinating assignments and implementing quality control standards.
• Strong organizational and communication skills; proficient with Microsoft Office and legal practice management software.
• Bachelor’s degree minimum or equivalent related work experience.
• Paralegal Certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily workflow for the litigation practice group to support attorneys and clients.
• Assist with setting workflow standards for intake, billing, case tracking, and case management.
• Assist with coordinating team assignments and tracking deadlines to help workflow smoothly.
• Identify training needs and coordinate training to meet professional development goals.
• Assist with matter- and task-level billing tracking to improve budgeting and client communications.
• Assist with the implementation of technology tools and developing standards for their use.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration and shared resources within the litigation team.
• Administer quality control standards for work product and processes, and recommend improvements.
• Compile and create documents for the litigation team vault.
• Evaluate performance metrics and identify improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate across functions to ensure consistency and optimize performance with Operations, Litigation Technology, Innovation, Finance, and lawyers.

Skills

Project coordination

Communication skills

Workflow optimization

Legal industry experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Paralegal Certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Legal practice management software

Job description

JOB TITLE: Practice Area Manager – Litigation

STATUS: Non-Exempt

Type: Full Time

Smith Anderson is a well-established and dynamic mid-size law firm, providing top-tier legal services to clients across a range of industries. We value a collaborative, innovative, and an inclusive culture. We are looking for a Practice Area Manger to join our litigation team. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, proactive, and thrive in a setting that demands accuracy, efficiency, and strong communication skills.

The Practice Area Manager is a new position to support the growing litigation group at Smith Anderson, named Benchmark Litigation’s Firm of the Year for litigation for seven straight years. The Practice Area Manager will implement and oversee scalable processes related to intake, billing, matter administration, technology use, and professional development. Responsibilities include helping establish workflow standards and processes, identifying and arranging training, implementing technology tools and related practices, administering quality control standards, and recommending improvements to team workflows, work product, and processes. Success in this role requires collaboration, strong execution and client service skills, sound judgment, attention to detail, discretion, and effective communication.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Coordinate the day-to-day efforts of the practice group team to support attorneys, all team members, and clients efficiently and effectively.


• Assist with setting workflow standards and processes for team members related to intake, billing, case tracking, and case management.


• Assist with coordinating team assignments and tracking deadlines to help workflow smoothly.


• Identify training needs and coordinate training to meet the needs and professional development goals of attorneys and other professionals.


• Assist with matter- and task-level billing tracking to improve insight and client communications around budgeting and case expenditures.


• Assist with the implementation of technology tools and developing standards and practices for the use of those tools within the department.


• Identify opportunities for collaboration and shared resources and initiatives within the litigation team.


• Administer quality control standards for practice group work product and processes, and recommend improvements as needed.


• Compile and create documents for the litigation team vault.


• Evaluate performance metrics and identify improvement opportunities.


• Collaborate across functions to establish consistency and optimize performance, including working with Operations, Litigation Technology, Innovation, Finance and lawyers, paralegals, and administrative assistants in the litigation team.


• Identify and address additional operational needs and opportunities for growth within the litigation team.


• Help all litigation team members, and all colleagues interacting with the litigation team, to solve problems and elevate performance.


• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of five years of experience in a law firm or legal department.


• Working knowledge of case intake, conflict check, and new matter procedures.


• Demonstrated experience coordinating assignments and implementing quality control standards.


• Strong organizational and communication skills, and proficiency with Microsoft Office and legal practice management software.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree minimum or equivalent related work experience.


• Paralegal Certification preferred.

Smith Anderson is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and maintaining a diverse work force. It is the policy of this Firm to recruit, hire, train, develop, promote, and compensate employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, genetic information, disability or covered veteran status.