NAELA's CareerCenter

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*This position can reside in CH, NY, or DL*

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Assignment Manager – Litigation is primarily responsible for the distribution of billable work assignments to Litigation associates in their first through fifth years of practice. The Assignment Manager works extensively and proactively with the litigation leadership, assignment committee,  Director of Litigation Practice Operations, and Career Development Manager to anticipate and fill associate staffing needs and to distribute work in a manner that advances the group’s strategic goals: superior client service, uniformly high associate productivity, and career development.   

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:    

• Manages distribution of billable work assignments for first- through fifth-year associates in the Litigation Department, within and across offices.
• Liaises with Practice Group Leaders and partners leading case teams to understand staffing needs and assign associates appropriately with consideration for department utilization objectives and individual attorney development goals.
• Tracks assignments and productivity by individual attorney, office, and practice group to inform work assignments; maintains awareness of attorney productivity, engagement, and utilization for key stakeholders
• Participates in the evaluation of, and makes recommendations on, technology tools to assist with work allocation and data analysis.
• Works closely with the Diversity & Inclusion team to promote equitable access to and distribution of assignments; promotes the staffing of attorneys with flexible working arrangements with an eye toward ensuring that their work allocations are aligned with their working arrangements.
• Collaborates with members of the Attorney Recruiting team to share capacity projections and utilization data that is relevant to strategic hiring objectives,
• Supports associates in achieving developmental goals and experience in areas for focus as identified in the annual evaluation process.
• Maintains ongoing communication with and regularly updates stakeholders including e.g., Department Chairs, PGLs, administrative chiefs, etc., regarding associate talent matters, soliciting both input and feedback.
• Stays up to date on legal industry trends.
• Provides consult to the Talent / Learning & Development team about staffing as it affects talent milestones, coaching needs, and career development.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree required; J.D. preferred
• 4 + years of practice in a law firm, corporate legal department, or comparable experience preferred
• Knowledge of the litigation process and civil procedure required

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong client service focus with the ability to navigate complex, matrixed organizations.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of law firm operations.
• Extremely detail-oriented, strong organizational, analytical, and excellent project management skills
• Ability to establish credibility and build strong relationships at all levels of the firm across practices and geographies, particularly with Litigation Department Chairs, Practice Group Leaders, and administrative leaders. 
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and innovative problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to effectively tailor communications for different stakeholders.
• Established proficiency in the use of computer programs including Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Creative approach to data visualization and facility with tools for efficient and effective data reporting a strong plus.