The Legal Project Manager (the Manager) will be responsible for working alongside various practice groups and legal matter teams, including the partners, to provide project management, staffing, profitability and communications support, strategically and operationally. The role will be charged with helping to implement significant changes to the practice by focusing on improving client service, streamlining delivery of legal services, exploring process innovation and efficiencies, and maximizing the overall profitability of matters.

This role will report to the Manager of Legal Project Management and assist in creating a global Legal Project Management ("LPM) function at Cleary Gottlieb.

• Use proven project management principles and practices, technical knowledge, and experience to plan, lead and coordinate deliverables through written communications (including workstream trackers and budget estimates), team meetings and regular communications with the lead partner(s), other legal matter team members and clients about the progress of matters.
• The Manager should count on heavy involvement in the following areas on all matters to which they are staffed to assist in a LPM capacity:
  • Define scope and develop budgets including the monitoring of legal spend, alternative fee arrangements, and profitability, with assistance from and in close collaboration with, the Firms Financial Reporting team and Practice Development Lawyers (PDLs)
  • Project and/or matter staffing and communications
  • Ensure the integrity and usefulness, from a data harnessing perspective, of time entries being recorded to the matter in addition to compliance with client requirements for time entries
  • Service delivery for the client
  • Task and time management
  • Closure and feedback on performance
  • Document and review key learnings, to be used to help on improving future matters
  • Gather client satisfaction information and data
• Act as an internal consultant by focusing on continuous improvement projects, performing analysis, gathering learnings and know how that relate to processes and project management, refining processes and implementing change, and advising on innovative use of technology for
• Act as the subject matter expert on a range of topics including processes, project planning, scoping, fee estimating and budget preparation, fee and scope management and status reporting.
• Develop budgeting materials and project management templates to be used widely for managing active matters, incoming matters and to be used in business development (i.e., pitch materials). Collaborate with other professionals, including PDLs and the Firms Financial Reporting team, to develop and leverage these materials.
• Work in collaboration with the PDLs to ensure both the Manager and PDLs are aware of the upcoming stage(s) and needs of a matter and can support the matter team with more/less support in the form of LPM as well as KM.
• Provide for legal project management training needs as appropriate (including intranet materials, occasional departmental sessions, delivering training and partner coaching).

Ideal Experience:

• At least 3 years of legal project management or practice management at a law firm.
• A project management qualification is desirable (Lean Six, PMP, etc.)
• Strong familiarity with complex organizations like law firms and the interplay amongst fee earners, staff, and processes, and how to effect change in complex organizations
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Agile with technology generally and a high aptitude to continuous learning about technology with an eye towards implementing it for matter management.
• Proficiency with Power BI a plus.

Critical Competencies for Success:

• High-impact written and verbal communication skills; comfortable commanding a room (literal or virtual) in order to drive project success.
• Poise and patience under pressure; ability to multi-task.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively and collaboratively with diverse global teams and departments.
• Willing and able to cover a wide range and level of tasks - from thinking strategically to troubleshooting detail where needed.
• Creative and pioneering thinking; being able to spot issues and implement
• Superb time management, judgment, decision-making and problem solving
• Strong desire to collaborate closely with diverse colleagues across offices and departments to grow the LPM function.

*The estimated base salary range for this position is $140,000 to $180,000 at the time of posting. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of job-related factors, including skills, education, training, credentials, experience, scope and complexity of role responsibilities, geographic location, and performance. This role is exempt meaning it is not overtime pay eligible.

At Cleary Gottlieb, all members of our community deserve respect as individuals and appreciation for the contributions they make to our community. We champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, and creating equal opportunities to develop and succeed.