Legal Project Manager
Toronto, ON
Reference # AC - 18002
Meridia Recruitment Solutions has partnered with one of Canada's leading litigation practice in Toronto, and they are seeking a Legal Project Manager to join their team. The Legal Project Manager (“LPM”) will join the firm’s Legal Project Management team (“LPM Team”), under the leadership of the Director, Legal Talent. The LPM Team is seeking a client-facing resource to play a crucial role in expanding the implementation of legal project management methodologies to meet the fast-growing needs of the firm. The duties and function of the LPM will be guided by the LPM Team to manage fast-paced, complex, and interesting projects primarily with legal teams. The LPM position will be highly visible, and the successful candidate will also be a critical player in the LPM Team’s future state mandate which includes instituting greater cross-functional collaboration across the firm to improve efficiency in matter management, developing and testing innovative practice management strategy, and elevating the client service experience.
Your Responsibilities:
• Reporting into Director, Legal Talent
• Manage multiple complex legal matters on billable legal files.
• Apply technical expertise in robust scoping and planning of legal matters for senior lawyers and clients.
• Drive the implementation of project management best practices and principles on client projects.
• Customize workplans and tools to capture priority workflows and deliverables to meet critical deadlines.
• Understand the litigation process to engage in proactive discussions around structuring workflows.
• Define clear roles with respect to workflow management and tasks to hold owners accountable.
• Set service delivery standards to instruct and manage team effectively to prioritize client experience.
• Develop and monitor resourcing, communication, and control models to fit specific needs of client files.
• Continuously build and strengthen relationships to act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders.
• Create processes for communications, information sharing, and reporting within team and to client.
• Facilitate internal and external client meetings, as well as prepare materials and meeting notes.
• Utilize problem-solving and critical thinking to recommend, implement, and manage necessary change.
• Identify risks and issues to delivery and raise them with urgency to stakeholders.
• Prepare and deliver status and file health reports to clients to provide updates on file progress.
• Manage internal projects, assist with LPM program management, and completion of non-billable duties:
• Support LPM Team with introducing and scaling LPM methodology across the firm.
• Take or seek instruction proactively from LPM Team to own or delegate critical tasks.
• Initiate and facilitate after-action reviews to record lessons learned for improvement of LPM practices.
• Educate and train the firm’s legal and business teams on proper use of LPM tools and methodology. Co-develop materials and provide LPM training as needed to grow LPM presence.
• Share ideas and collaborate with teams across the firm to encourage mutual success, including contributing to presentations and materials which demonstrate significant value add of LPM.
• Engage in other duties as and when required or instructed.
• Scope and create budgets or Alternative Fee Arrangements in collaboration with senior lawyers.
• Collaborate with the Finance team to ensure matter scope, phases, tasks, and fees are viable to the firm.
• Monitor and track legal spend for clients and firm leadership to maximize revenue and minimize write-offs.
Your Requirements:
• Any one or a combination of the following qualifications is required: JD, LL.B., LL.M, or PMP.
• LPM or other project management-related certifications are an asset.
• 4+ years’ experience practicing as a lawyer or LPM at a large- or medium-sized law firm, professional services firm, or in-house at a major corporation (litigation experience is a major asset), or 5+ years’ experience as a project manager at a law firm, professional services firm, or major corporation preferably with experience in a legal environment or exposure to litigation files.
• A combination of a business degree and strong work experience in a legal, financial, or professional services firm environment with demonstrated project management experience on large or complex files (particularly litigation matters) will be considered.
• Proven ability to structure projects of varying size, scale, impact, and risk profile.
• Influential written and oral communicator, able to effectively share ideas or instructions clearly with different stakeholders.
• Experience with developing and implementing training programs and plans.
• Confidence in facilitating meetings and presenting to an audience both in person and virtually.
• Strong leadership skills to be an advocate for yourself and others, driving work that sees results.
• History of exceptional client service in management of revenue-generating projects.
• Budgeting and fee estimate experience is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a cross-functional matrix environment.
• Highly proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and project management tools and methodologies.
• Highly organized with ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, with tight deadlines.
• Detail-oriented.
• Proactive and self-driven, can work independently and collaboratively with minimal instruction. Adaptable and flexible.
• Takes initiative in seeking out opportunities.
• Learns and embodies the values of the firm and its objectives.
• High emotional intelligence.
• Innovation and growth mindset.
• Exercises discretion with exposure to material and information of a highly confidential and sensitive nature.
To express interest in this opportunity, please click on the "Apply Now" button below.
For more information, please contact Adam Creaghan, Partner at acreaghan@kbrs.ca or 647-336-1416 or Muna Dhere, Recruitment Specialist at mdhere@kbrs.ca or 647-480-1718 If you require accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please let Muna Dhere know.
Meridia Recruitment Solutions connects leading organizations with top talent by building strong relationships and creating ideal matches with candidates because we are only successful when you are. We appreciate your interest in this opportunity.
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