Practice Manager

Jones Walker LLP; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Jones Walker LLP in New Orleans is seeking a Practice Manager to partner with leadership to drive operational excellence, financial performance, and client service within the firm's Corporate or Litigation groups.

The ideal candidate will analyze processes, lead projects, manage staffing and resources, and collaborate with attorneys and professionals to convert strategic goals into actionable plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or J.D. preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in legal operations, business management, project management, finance, professional services administration, or a related field.
• Experience in a law firm, professional services organization, or other client-focused environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Director of Pricing & Legal Project Management and Practice Group leadership to support the execution of strategic goals and business objectives.
• Identify operational challenges and opportunities and develop recommendations to improve efficiency, profitability, resource utilization, and client service.
• Lead the implementation of major Practice Group initiatives, including technology deployments, process improvement efforts, reporting enhancements, and other operational projects.
• Develop project plans, timelines, communication strategies, success metrics, and reporting structures to support initiative execution.
• Analyze financial, operational, productivity, staffing, and realization data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Develop recommendations regarding staffing, workflow management, resource allocation, and operational improvements.
• Monitor attorney and staff productivity, utilization, and capacity and recommend strategies to maximize performance and balance workloads.
• Develop reports, analyses, forecasts, and business cases to support strategic and operational decision-making.
• Collaborate with lateral integration stakeholders to support the successful onboarding and integration of new partners and other key personnel.
• Establish communication processes and meeting structures that foster collaboration, accountability, and alignment within the Practice Group.
• Resolve operational issues, interpret Firm policies and procedures, and recommend practical solutions to support business objectives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to Practice Group leadership on operational, financial, staffing, and strategic matters.

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or J.D. preferred

Job description

Jones Walker LLP is seeking a Practice Manager to support one of the Firm's core practice groups—Corporate or Litigation. This position serves as a strategic business partner to Practice Group leadership and is responsible for driving operational excellence, financial performance, productivity, and the successful execution of key Practice Group initiatives.

The ideal candidate is an analytical problem-solver who enjoys improving processes, leading projects, and working collaboratively with attorneys and business professionals. This role offers the opportunity to influence practice operations, support strategic decision-making, and help shape initiatives that enhance client service, efficiency, and profitability.

• Partner with Director of Pricing & Legal Project Management and Practice Group leadership to support the execution of strategic goals and business objectives.
• Identify operational challenges and opportunities and develop recommendations to improve efficiency, profitability, resource utilization, and client service.
• Lead the implementation of major Practice Group initiatives, including technology deployments, process improvement efforts, reporting enhancements, and other operational projects.
• Develop project plans, timelines, communication strategies, success metrics, and reporting structures to support initiative execution.
• Analyze financial, operational, productivity, staffing, and realization data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Develop recommendations regarding staffing, workflow management, resource allocation, and operational improvements.
• Monitor attorney and staff productivity, utilization, and capacity and recommend strategies to maximize performance and balance workloads.
• Develop reports, analyses, forecasts, and business cases to support strategic and operational decision-making.
• Collaborate with lateral integration stakeholders to support the successful onboarding and integration of new partners and other key personnel.
• Establish communication processes and meeting structures that foster collaboration, accountability, and alignment within the Practice Group.
• Resolve operational issues, interpret Firm policies and procedures, and recommend practical solutions to support business objectives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to Practice Group leadership on operational, financial, staffing, and strategic matters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or J.D. preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in legal operations, business management, project management, finance, professional services administration, or a related field.
• Experience in a law firm, professional services organization, or other client-focused environment preferred.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and drive projects to completion.
• Experience analyzing operational and financial data and translating insights into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong judgment, professionalism, and commitment to client service.

What We're Looking For

The successful candidate will be someone who can take a strategic objective and turn it into an actionable plan. They will be comfortable identifying areas for improvement, recommending solutions, coordinating stakeholders, managing change, and driving initiatives through implementation. This individual will serve as a key business partner to Practice Group leadership and play an important role in advancing the Firm's operational excellence and strategic goals.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The Human Resources department will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate.