Proskauer is a global law firm providing a wide variety of legal services to clients worldwide from offices in Beijing, Boca Raton, Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Paris, São Paulo and Washington, DC.
We are seeking a Corporate Practice Manager to join our Professional Resources team in New York. The Practice Manager will work collaboratively to further the Firm’s strategic objectives of training, developing and retaining highly accomplished and dedicated attorneys. Specifically, the Practice Manager will oversee the day-to-day administration of designated Corporate Department practice groups across all offices in the U.S., including with respect to talent management, staffing, internal communications and integration of practice group resources. The Practice Manager will work directly with the Corporate Department Co-Chairs, Operating Partner, Legal Director and administrators on Corporate-level matters, including strategic planning and execution. The Practice Manager also will collaborate with other members of the Professional Resources Department on tasks and projects related to, among other things, diversity and inclusion, recruiting, lawyer HR, training, performance management, and pro bono.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Staffing and Productivity
Support practice groups with resource allocation and productivity management
Formulate and manage staffing processes and procedures for a national staffing model
Work with partners regarding staffing needs for attorneys in specific practice groups
Interface with assigning attorneys to respond to and clarify staffing requests; conduct outreach to associates regarding capacity, interest and overall workflow
Monitor time and availability of attorneys to effectively assign and reallocate matters, as necessary, and maximize overall productivity
Balance practice group staffing needs and client service considerations with associate preferences and career development goals
Ensure consistency of experiences and equitable distribution of assignments across a given practice group
Synthesize, analyze and present data to practice group leaders and Corporate Department leadership, including through staffing and deal trackers
Development and Training
Work with partners to develop and run practice group meetings and training programs
Work with the business development team to plan and coordinate practice group meetings and client training meetings
Assist practice groups in developing skills checklists for associates at different levels
Assess legal technologies and assist with training and adoption of such technologies
Performance Management
Manage associate evaluation process
Assist practice groups with ad hoc or interim reviews
Partner with practice group leaders to ensure attorneys are receiving clear and actionable feedback, as well as go-forward strategies to achieve their goals prior to the next formal review period
Monitor and address performance issues
Mentoring and Morale
Develop professional relationships with associates, including an in-depth understanding of professional aspirations, experiences, strengths, development needs and relevant personal circumstances in order to serve as a resource for questions regarding individual professional development
Regularly meet with associates to monitor morale and address any concerns
Coordinate mentoring and morale activities and events
Knowledge Management and Projects
Assist in the coordination of the maintenance of portals, resource lists and other KM tools, as needed, including practice group training materials and forms
Manage special practice group projects such as market studies
Budget
Participate in practice group budget planning and management
Attorney Onboarding and Offboarding
Collaborate with practice group leaders, the Corporate Department Co-Chairs/Legal Director and the recruiting team to plan for future workforce needs based on capacity projections
Assist with hiring processes, including:
practice group placement of summer associates
identification of lateral associate needs, interviewing of lateral candidates and preparation of needs memos and offer letters
Facilitate the orientation of new associates and laterals
Assist with departing attorney processes, including matter transitioning and matter mobility
Other Responsibilities
Support Firm diversity and inclusion and women’s initiatives to ensure that the professional needs of diverse attorneys, women and those on reduced schedules are being addressed
Work with attorneys to achieve the Firm’s pro bono goals and commitments
Spearhead innovation projects
Stay apprised of developments in other practice groups, departments and across the firm
General assistance on ad-hoc projects, as needed
Qualifications:
Juris Doctor, with 4+ years of experience at a top law firm
Strong understanding of corporate transactional practices, and an interest in, or experience with, practice management
Robust leadership and management skills
Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
Entrepreneurial, self- motivated, and organized
Ability to multi-task and effectively prioritize competing demands on time and attention
Flexibility to work outside regular business hours as needed
Proskauer, founded in 1875, is a global law firm providing a wide variety of legal services to clients worldwide from offices in Beijing, Boca Raton, Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Paris, São Paulo, and Washington, DC.
