Manager of Legal Project Managment

Jackson Lewis P.C. is a prominent law firm focused on employment and labor law, with over 1,000 attorneys across the United States. They are seeking a Manager of Legal Project Management to enhance their legal project management function, ensuring effective pricing execution, budget adherence, and improved financial performance while collaborating with various internal teams.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop the Legal Project Management team, including coaching, performance management, and professional development
• Work with the Director of Pricing to define and scale the firm’s LPM function, including standards, workflows, and best practices
• Develop LPM playbooks, templates, and training programs to support consistent matter planning, budgeting, and monitoring across the firm
• Drive adoption of legal project management principles among attorneys and practice groups through practical support and education
• Oversee the development and execution of matter budgets and Alternative Fee Arrangements
• Translate pricing strategies into practical matter plans, aligning scope, staffing, and financial expectations
• Monitor budget-to-actual performance, identifying risks to profitability, realization, and scope, and partner with attorneys and Pricing to implement corrective actions
• Support the development of client-facing budgets, financial updates, and matter status reporting
• Establish consistent approaches for communicating budget status, scope changes, and financial performance to clients
• Implement processes for ongoing matter monitoring, variance analysis, and escalation
• Deliver clear, actionable reporting on budgets, AFAs, and matter financial performance
• Lead the development of dashboards and tools that support data-driven decision-making
• Strengthen governance around budgeting, AFAs, and matter financial management, including scope and change control practices
• Partner with Pricing, Billing, and Finance to improve workflows, data integrity, and reporting
• Serve as a key liaison between attorneys, Pricing, Finance, Billing, and Client Account teams
• Support firm initiatives that improve matter efficiency, profitability, and client value delivery

Requirements:

• 6+ years of experience in pricing, legal project management, legal operations, or financial analysis within a law firm or professional services environment
• Strong foundation in matter budgeting, Alternative Fee Arrangements (AFAs), and budget-to-actual performance management, with an understanding of how matter management impacts profitability, realization, and client outcomes
• Proven experience leading teams and driving cross-functional initiatives in a professional services setting
• Advanced analytical capabilities, including proficiency in Excel and experience with financial reporting or dashboard tools
• Ability to translate complex financial and operational data into clear, actionable insights for attorneys and other non-financial stakeholders
• Familiarity with legal project management principles, matter lifecycle management, and legal time and billing systems
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively with attorneys and firm leadership
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Experienced in pricing, legal project management, legal operations, or financial analysis within a professional services environment
• Proven leader with experience managing teams or complex initiatives
• Strong understanding of how matter management impacts profitability, realization, and client outcomes
• Analytical, highly organized, and solutions-oriented, with the ability to manage complexity and drive practical outcomes
• Brings a proactive, client service-oriented mindset with an interest in building and scaling the LPM function, enhancing reporting visibility, and improving service delivery across the firm