Practice Manager

Alaska Department of Law; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 130,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Arnold & Porter is looking for a Practice Manager in Washington, DC to drive operational excellence in their Innovation and Practice Management Department. The role collaborates closely with Practice Group Leaders and various departments to enhance practice operations.

The ideal candidate should possess strategic thinking skills, a Bachelor's degree, and relevant management experience. The anticipated salary range is $130,000 to $175,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Qualifications

• Experience in law firm management, professional services operations, or a related leadership role.
• Experience supporting legal practices; transactional law experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Practice Group Leaders to develop and execute strategic initiatives.
• Monitor matter activity, workload distribution, and attorney capacity.
• Facilitate regular communication and information sharing across teams.

Skills

Strong financial, analytical, and project management capabilities

Strategic thinking

Excellent judgment and attention to detail

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

Ability to manage multiple priorities

Outstanding interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree or J.D. preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Job description

Arnold & Porter is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and results-driven Practice Manager to join our Innovation and Practice Management Department in Washington, DC.

In this highly visible role, you will partner closely with Practice Group Leaders and collaborate across the firm, including Legal Talent, Business Development, Finance, Legal Technology, and Firm Administration, to drive operational excellence across our Labor & Employment, Environmental, and Privacy Practice Groups. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence strategy, optimize practice operations, and support the continued growth and success of three dynamic practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with Practice Group Leaders to develop and execute strategic and operational initiatives.
• Serve as a key advisor on practice activity, trends, and operational priorities.
• Identify opportunities to improve attorney efficiency, matter management, and resource utilization.
• Develop internal communications and messaging to support practice engagement and alignment.
• Advance innovation initiatives and client-focused solutions across the practices.

Resource & Talent Management

• Monitor matter activity, workload distribution, and attorney capacity to support effective staffing decisions.
• Assess resource needs and prepare analyses to support recruiting and growth initiatives.
• Collaborate with Legal Personnel and practice leadership on attorney-related matters.
• Support equitable and strategic allocation of billable work.

Practice Operations & Communications

• Develop agendas, presentations, and materials for practice group meetings.
• Facilitate regular communication and information sharing across attorneys and administrative teams.
• Ensure practice leaders have the information and insights needed to make informed business decisions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as a key liaison between the practice groups and firm administrative teams, including:
• Finance: Analyze financial performance and identify reporting and business intelligence needs.
• Business Development: Support growth initiatives, client opportunities, and successful lateral integration.
• Talent Development: Partner on associate development, mentoring, evaluations, promotions, training, and retention strategies.
• Legal Technology: Identify and implement innovative tools and processes that enhance collaboration, productivity, and matter management.
• Act as a trusted advisor and resource to attorneys at all levels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree or J.D. preferred.
• Experience in law firm management, professional services operations, or a related leadership role.
• Experience supporting legal practices; transactional law experience is a plus.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong financial, analytical, and project management capabilities.
• Strategic thinker with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across offices and practice groups.
• Proven ability to build credibility and trusted relationships with attorneys and business professionals.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent judgment, attention to detail, and commitment to high-quality work product.
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $130,000-$175,000. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.

Benefits information: https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/careers/professional-staff/benefits

The firm may provide a discretionary bonus annually.