Paralegal Manager

After opening its doors in Denver in 1968, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP has grown to 14 offices, 700 employees with over 300 attorneys and policy professionals nationwide. With more than 55 years in the industry, building strong relationships is our priority, not only with our clients but within our teams and our communities. Do you seek camaraderie, collaboration and a challenge? If you're searching for a firm committed to creating strong relationships and a collaborative culture, we want you at Brownstein.

At Brownstein, clients get access to the top legal minds in the industry, powerful policy knowledge, and best-in-class business acumen to solve businesses’ toughest challenges. Brownstein is a law and lobbying firm that has been making moves for more than 50 years to stay at the vanguard of its industry. You’ll find this firm at the heart of many of the most important cases, the most significant deals, and the country’s most pivotal legislation. Brownstein—we’re all in. For more information, visit us at bhfs.com.

We are currently seeking a highly motivated, collaborative, and experienced Paralegal Manager in our Denver Office to manage the Firm’s paralegal program. The ideal candidate will be responsible for overseeing the productivity and appropriate utilization of forty paralegals, working with the department chairs to manage staffing and work allocation, instituting a professional development and training program, and benchmarking and administering a competitive compensation and total rewards strategy. The candidate requires strong leadership and collaboration skills, excellent organizational abilities, and a deep understanding of legal processes and the paralegal’s role in it.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Staffing, Productivity and Utilization

• Lead the hiring and onboarding process for paralegals with the input of department chairs and other designated attorneys.
• Monitor workloads of paralegals and assist attorneys in allocating workload with an eye toward achieving an equitable distribution of assignments within the boundaries of client needs and deadlines.
• Implement and monitor performance metrics to track utilization and identify areas for improvement.
• Understand non-billable time and make recommendations to improve billable performance and, if possible, to utilize un-billable time for other client and department contributions.
• Attend department meetings to brief attorneys on paralegal workload and availability, and other opportunities to leverage paralegal talent.
• Ensure adequate coverage for leaves, absences, and other transitions.
• Evaluate software currently used by paralegals and make recommendations for increased adoption of AI tools, case management software, workflow automation, and project management/collaboration tools that would save time and ensure consistency.

Profitability

• Analyze financial data to assess the profitability of paralegal services. Work with department chairs and finance to develop strategies that improve profitability.
• Examine instances of hours’ write-offs and provide coaching to paralegals and billing attorneys as appropriate.
• Periodically benchmark billing rates and billable hours to peer firms. Participate in surveys re: the same, as applicable.
• Collaborate with the finance team to prepare annual budgets and monitor expenses during the year.
• Ensure that firm policies and protocols are communicated and applied.

Training & Professional Development

• Standardize the on-boarding process for new paralegal hires. Mentor and support paralegals in their career growth and advancement.
• Identify training needs and opportunities. Organize workshops and recommend and implement other professional development programs.
• Consult with the firm’s innovation manager, library and research manager, and litigation support director to leverage research and litigation support tools. Implement project management and AI training.
• Regularly provide feedback to paralegals to enhance their performance and job satisfaction.
• Conduct the annual review process, ensuring that input and feedback is received from attorneys.
• Make recommendations for hiring, termination, and promotion.

Salary Administration

• Manage the timekeeping function, including approving overtime requests and monitoring compliance with FlexWork and timekeeping policies.
• Manage the salary administration process, including performance-based rewards and bonuses.
• Conduct salary reviews and ensure competitive compensation packages by reference to market and IPMA surveys.
• Address compensation-related issues or concerns promptly and fairly.

Required and Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, law, or a related field. Paralegal certification preferred.
• Three years of experience in legal operations management, paralegal management, or adjacent legal management role and at least 5 years of experience as a paralegal.
• Strong understanding of litigation and transactional practices in a law firm, and proficiency in legal software and systems.
• Excellent leadership and organizational skills.
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues to resolve staffing, efficiency, and quality issues.
• Ability to analyze financial data and make informed decisions.
• Exceptional communication and people skills.

Compensation and Benefits: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck offers a benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401k match, profit sharing, and vacation/sick/personal time off. We are offering salary for this role, ranging from $150,00-$160,000.

To Apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is an equal opportunity employer.

Brownstein will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, interpretive regulations and other authority, and applicable state laws.

While Brownstein does not discriminate on the basis of citizenship, the successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship of a work visa, or Brownstein assuming sponsorship of an existing work visa; including student visas with an OPT/CPT designation.