ACT Practice Group Manager
ACT Practice Group Manager
Job Description:
Key responsibilities and deliverables
Overall Practice Management
* Work with other practice support professionals in Knowledge, Marketing and Business Development, and Learning & Development to optimize precedent system.
* Promote knowledge capture and reuse through operational and business processes
* Capture and distil experience and insight for reuse to improve performance
* Collect and make accessible forms, memos, training materials and other resources.
* Manage and update precedent resources.
* Work with business development to promote client and group initiatives, including client training programs, presentation materials and briefing notes.
* Assist with market research into transactions and industries.
* Work with Learning and Development to create training and CLE materials
* Design and develop a knowledge and precedent filing system, and institute procedures for maintaining it
* Coordinate departmental meetings as assigned by the Practice Group Leader
* Assists with the overall management of the budget and revenue goals for the Group
Marketing and Business Development
* Collaborate with Business Development and Marketing on strategic initiatives and ensures alignment of resources
* Liaise with marketing team on all matters relating to the ACT group's market position.
* Work with business development team and others to provide information for ratings, rankings and submissions.
* Oversee the preparation of data and other materials for submission to awards.
* Work with BD for creation of content for pitches and RFP.
* Develop and lead high level business development initiatives.
* Manage and oversee the MBD related for of the ACT MBD manager and/or specialist
People Management and Development
* Build trust and credibility with partners and develops a professional relationship with each associate, including an in-depth understanding of professional aspirations, experiences, strengths, development needs, and relevant personal circumstances
* Monitor associate development to ensure associates are progressing along the group's desired developmental trajectory and follows-up on development plans
* Recommend the Firm's training resources, or other assistance as appropriate, to meet identified development needs
* Participate in defining and implementing the overall training agenda for the practice area, in collaboration with the Practice Group Leader and designated partners and the Manager of Learning and Development
* Track the group's talent pipeline and ensures forward progress on exit plans, mentorship arrangements etc.
* Keep abreast of case developments and potential leavers, joiners and secondments of associates and paralegals to help with future workload estimations and reporting to team leaders as necessary/requested
* Attendance at review moderation meetings, the sharing of Associate feedback at ACT associate moderation meetings and bonus reviews
* Work with staffing partner to ensure that each attorney in the group is fully utilized, with the opportunity to work on a variety of matters and with a variety of partners, while balancing development opportunities with client needs
* Ensure consistency of experience and equitable distribution of assignments
* Review and absorb weekly hours information/reports with the ultimate goal of ensuring an even spread of work across associates
* Report to the US Chief Operating Officer to review utilisation and headcount in accordance with departmental and firm requirements, and liaise to have new headcount approved
* Liaise with Human Resources with regard to performance issues, medical leave, parental leave, terminations, etc.
* Follow up with associates on timekeeping delinquencies and the correct use of narratives in billing
* Act as point person to facilitate problem solving and address attorney concerns
Job Requirements:
Key requirements (Communication/skills/experience)
* Undergraduate degree, JD
* 4+ years of experience in a large law firm
* Ability to work independently
* Desire to play leadership role in developing and promoting this inaugural role.
* Confident and effective communicator with various members of the firm, both attorneys and staff
* Adaptable to changing business needs
* A skilful listener with an open style; good at facilitating discussion
* Excellent influencing skills
* Good networking and sharing of ideas and success
* Clear and up-to-date understanding of business situation and processes and good working knowledge of organizational strategy
* Ability to think strategically in terms of culture and behavior, business process and technology and tools
* Good appreciation of client needs at both operational and strategic levels.
* Ability to work to tight and changing deadlines
* Organized with good time and workload management, ability to prioritise and react immediately accommodating unplanned requests/issues
* Ability to understand the complexity of different teams, needs and working styles