Sr Legal Practice Manager

DLA Piper; Washington, Baltimore (District of Columbia, MD); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 207,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Job summary

DLA Piper is seeking a Senior Legal Practice Manager to coordinate and lead a multidisciplinary team supporting a partner(s) with a large, complex practice. You will oversee billing, matter management, and administrative functions across teams, driving strategic direction and ensuring client satisfaction.

Located in the US with a hybrid schedule, you will act as a central operational hub, aligning plans with firm leadership while guiding pricing, analytics, and process improvements to optimize

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in legal operations, practice management, or professional services.
• Strong leadership and strategic planning capabilities.
• Proficiency in budgeting, financial analysis, and matter management systems.
• Excellent communication and client service standards.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Oversee pitch and proposal activity, matter opening, budgeting, and client guidelines.
• Monitor WIP, billing, collections, and profitability metrics.
• Coordinate with billing for timely invoicing and client requirements.
• Lead a multi-disciplinary team to deliver exceptional client service.
• Identify process improvements and leverage technology for efficiency.
• Strategic planning, monitor progress, and adapt plans with leadership.

Skills

Law firm economics

Billing processes

Client service

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Matter management

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field

Tools

Practice management tools

Data analytics platforms

Financial systems

Job description

DLA Piper is, at its core, bold, exceptional, collaborative and supportive. Our people are the backbone, heart and soul of our firm. Wherever you are in your professional journey, DLA Piper is a place you can engage in meaningful work and grow your career. Let’s see what we can achieve. Together.

Summary

The Senior Legal Practice Manager (LPM), in collaboration with and in support of the firm’s strategic initiatives, is a strategic business professional responsible for supporting a partner, or group of partners, with a large and complex practice. This role ensures seamless integration of billing, matter management, and administrative functions across multiple teams while also helping to drive the strategic direction of the practice. You will act as the central coordinator and leader of a multidisciplinary team of business professionals including pitch and proposal, finance, billing, administrative support, and client service while maintaining strong collaboration with attorneys and practice management leadership. You will serve as the operational hub, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and client satisfaction in all aspects of matter lifecycle management and ensures that there is strategic vision alignment.

Location

This position can sit in any of our US office locations and offers a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities

Matter & Financial Management

• Oversee pitch and proposal activity, matter opening, budgeting, and compliance with client guidelines.
• Monitor WIP (work-in-progress), billing, collections, and profitability metrics for the partner’s portfolio.
• Coordinate with billing teams to ensure timely and accurate invoicing aligned with client requirements.
• Work with collections on tracking payments and allocations.
• Track and report on key financial KPIs, proactively identifying risks and opportunities.

Operational Leadership

• Serve as the primary liaison between the partner and internal business teams (finance, billing, administrative support, marketing, etc.).
• Lead and coordinate a multi-disciplinary team to deliver exceptional client service and operational excellence, including International where involved.
• Implement best practices for matter management, workflow optimization, and resource allocation.

Client Service & Relationship Support

• Ensure compliance with client outside counsel guidelines and reporting requirements.
• Support client-facing administrative needs, including status reports, budgets, and performance metrics.
• Partner with the firm’s pricing and legal project management teams to develop and maintain alternative fee arrangements and matter plans.

Process Improvement & Technology

• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce administrative burden.
• Leverage firm technology platforms for matter tracking, reporting, and collaboration.
• Train and mentor team members on best practices and tools.

Strategic

• Involved in strategic planning process.
• Ensure strategic plan outlines actions to achieve Firm performance goals.
• Monitor plan execution and regularly report on progress against plan to Practice Group Leader and Firm Leadership.
• Adjust plan to ensure it remains relevant in light of changing market dynamics, economic climate and business trends.

Desired Skills

Strong understanding of law firm economics, billing processes, and client service standards. Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills. Proficiency in financial analysis, budgeting, and matter management systems. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority. Skilled in interpreting financial data and operational metrics. Committed to delivering exceptional service and maintaining strong relationships. Proactive in identifying issues and implementing solutions. Comfortable with legal practice management tools and data analytics platforms.

Minimum Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field.

Minimum Years Of Experience

• 8 years of experience in legal operations, practice management, or professional services environment.

Essential Job Expectations

All DLA Piper employees are expected to demonstrate excellence in how we serve our clients and develop our people, upholding our firm values as part of our culture. Specific expectations include:

• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and external audiences.
• Produce high-quality work and respond to correspondence in an efficient, timely, and professional manner.
• Meet deadlines, manage competing priorities, and commit to meeting high standards.
• Comply with firm policies and procedures.
• Maintain confidences as required in a law firm environment.

Physical Demands

Sedentary work: This is primarily sedentary work, requiring occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or move objects. The role involves sitting for extended periods, with occasional walking and standing, and occasional travel, both domestic and international.

Work Environment

The individual selected for this position may have the opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement comprised of remote and in-office work, the requirement for which will be determined in coordination with the hiring manager or supervisor and may be modified in the firm’s discretion in the future.

Disclaimer

The purpose of this job description is to provide a concise statement of the work elements and to organize and present the information in a standardized way. It is not intended to describe all the elements of the work that may be performed by every individual in this classification, nor should it serve as the sole criteria for personnel decisions and actions. The job duties, requirements, and expectations for this position may be modified at the Firm’s discretion at any time. This job description does not change the at-will nature of employment.

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to permit individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions and responsibilities of the position or to participate in the job selection process. If you have a request for an accommodation during the application process, please contact [e-mail].

Equal Opportunity Employer

DLA Piper is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

No immigration sponsorship is available for this position.

Salary and Benefits

The firm’s expected hiring range for this position is $130,000 - $207,000 per year depending on the candidate’s geographic market location. The compensation offered for employment will also be dependent on other factors including the candidate’s experience, skills, educational and professional background, and overall qualifications. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k).

Applicants who are not based in the jurisdiction in which this position is posted and who apply for this role are doing so voluntarily and are not eligible for relocation assistance. Any relocation benefits, if any, are provided only where a relocation is required at the firm’s direction and in accordance with applicable policy and law.

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