Legal Practice Manager

DLA Piper is, at its core, bold, exceptional, collaborative and supportive.  Our people are the backbone, heart and soul of our firm.  Wherever you are in your professional journey, DLA Piper is a place you can engage in meaningful work and grow your career.  Let’s see what we can achieve. Together.

Summary

The Legal Practice Manager (LPM), working in collaboration with and in support of the firm’s strategic initiatives, is a strategic business professional responsible for supporting a partner, or group of partners, with a large and complex practice. This role ensures seamless integration of billing, matter management, and administrative functions across multiple teams. The LPM acts as the central coordinator and leader of a multi-disciplinary team of business professionals including pitch and proposal, finance, billing, administrative support, and client service while maintaining strong collaboration with attorneys and practice management leadership. The LPM serves as the operational hub, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and client satisfaction in all aspects of matter lifecycle management.

Location

This position can sit in our Austin or Chicago office and offers a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities        

• Matter & Financial Management

  • Oversee pitch and proposal activity, matter opening, budgeting, and compliance with client guidelines.

  • Monitor WIP (work-in-progress), billing, collections, and profitability metrics for the partner’s portfolio.

  • Coordinate with billing teams to ensure timely and accurate invoicing aligned with client requirements.

  • Work with collections on tracking payments and allocations.

  • Track and report on key financial KPIs, proactively identifying risks and opportunities.   
     

• Operational Leadership

  • Serve as the primary liaison between the partner and internal business teams (finance, billing, administrative support, marketing, etc.).

  • Lead and coordinate a multi-disciplinary team to deliver exceptional client service and operational excellence, including International where involved.

  • Implement best practices for matter management, workflow optimization, and resource allocation.      
     

• Client Service & Relationship Support

  • Ensure compliance with client outside counsel guidelines and reporting requirements.

  • Support client-facing administrative needs, including status reports, budgets, and performance metrics.

  • Partner with the firm’s pricing and legal project management teams to develop and maintain alternative fee arrangements and matter plans.   
     

• Process Improvement & Technology

  • Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce administrative burden.

  • Leverage firm technology platforms for matter tracking, reporting, and collaboration.

  • Train and mentor team members on best practices and tools.
               

Desired Skills   

Strong understanding of law firm economics, billing processes, and client service standards. Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills. Proficiency in financial analysis, budgeting, and matter management systems. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority. Skilled in interpreting financial data and operational metrics. Committed to delivering exceptional service and maintaining strong relationships. Proactive in identifying issues and implementing solutions. Comfortable with legal practice management tools and data analytics platforms.

Minimum Education                        

• High School Diploma or GED.
   

Preferred Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
   

Minimum Years of Experience  

• 5 years’ experience in legal operations, practice management, or professional services environment.

Essential Job Expectations

While the specific job requirements of a DLA Piper position may vary depending upon scope of the job and area of specialty, there are certain universal requirements that are expected of all DLA Piper employees, which include but are not limited to:
 

• Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties.

• Produce deliverables, answer phone calls, and reply to correspondence in an efficien