Legal Project Manager

The Legal Project Manager will use legal knowledge and project management skills to assist management and attorneys with budgeting, organizing project plans for new matters, managing existing matters and reviewing completed matters to assist with future budgeting/pricing efforts. The Legal Project Manager will identify reasons for variance such as rate, mix, time overruns, or out-of-scope work, enabling firm practice groups to budget and price new matters more effectively, monitor existing matters, develop client reporting suites and procure new business. This position will specialize in project management, matter analytics, preparation of RFP responses and competitive rate intelligences. Additionally, this position will conduct frequent analysis on industry trends and provide updates to the Director of Pricing and Project Management.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Review and analyze complex matter data related to billing and fee arrangements, work activities, tasks, completion times and other relevant project information.
• Identify areas of improvement for budgeting, developing work plans and efficiency across practices.
• Work with internal departments to develop customized tracking.
• Apply analysis and project management concepts in a way that improves operational efficiency, forecasting, and effectiveness.
• Conduct after action reviews and analysis to assist with future pricing efforts and client relationship management.
• Develop and maintain task lists, work plans and assumption templates across practices to use for new engagements.
• Assist partners with creating work plans and budgets for new and existing engagements.
• Performs any and all other duties as necessary and as assigned by your supervisor for efficient functioning of the Department, Office and Firm

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge and understanding of law firm practice and operations (litigation or transactional background).
• Expert in Excel; SQL, Monday and Aderant a plus
• Strong business acumen and analytical ability, particularly in connection with legal services pricing and billing, and ability to connect financial data and statistics with business outcomes for analysis and forecasting.
• Understanding of project management principles in business and ability to incorporate them into specific plans for handling legal matters.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to explain complex concepts to professionals of different backgrounds with enthusiasm, clarity and diplomacy, in a clear and concise manner.
• Customer service-oriented with high quality standards in developing valid and reliable analyses.

• Strong organizational and multitasking skills required to assess and digest large amounts of data on multiple.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• At least 7 years experience in various industries from which to draw on experience and alternatives. 4+ years of relevant experience in law practice or practice management/administration preferred.
• Strong analytical, reading comprehension and communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills.

Additional Job Description

Location(s)

Philadelphia

Time Type

Full time

Dechert LLP is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination.  The Firm prohibits unlawful discrimination in any term or condition of employment against any employee or applicant for employment because of the individual’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, membership or service in the armed forces, or any other characteristic protected by law.