Legal Project Manager – Interim Assignments

About Peerpoint

Peerpoint by A&O Shearman is a global legal consulting platform for legal professionals who are seeking a self-directed legal career via a non-traditional route. Working with Peerpoint means having the backing of A&O Shearman and, with it, access to the highest quality work, clients, resources and support.

About the role

We are currently seeking an experienced legal project manager to join our panel to support A&O Shearman’s Project Management team on an interim basis.

A&O Shearman’s Project Management team is dedicated to providing legal project management tools, training and support to A&O Shearman lawyers to enhance the delivery of legal work and support the firm’s most complex matters.

The purpose of the project manager role is to:

• help increase efficiency, provide exceptional client service and increase profitability on A&O Shearman’s most complex matters through effective legal project management;
• accelerate A&O Shearman’s ability to deliver tangible financial and non-financial benefits on selected key matters (in conjunction with the legal team), and to develop, co-ordinate, and implement consistent best practice;
• work closely with Senior Legal Project Managers and lead partners to assist with the efficient management of sophisticated client engagements and relieve busy lawyers of certain non-legal activities by delegating to more junior members of the team as appropriate;
• directly support A&O Shearman matters where management to the agreed commercial terms is critical, and where there are a large number of practice areas, fee earners or jurisdictions involved. Support will primarily be given by supporting client teams to better manage project scope and delivery, resulting in capturing out of scope revenue, minimizing write-offs, and improving overall matter efficiency;
• help foster the integration of legal project management techniques into the culture of A&O Shearman and in specific client engagements through the utilization of the firm’s technology, the deployment of resources, and by helping to engineer engagement plans that result in high value to the client, exceptional client service and high profitability; and
• assist with defining and implementing legal project management best practices throughout A&O Shearman through training and tool development.

What you’ll be doing day to day:

Supporting the lead matter partner and matter manager through the lifecycle of our complex matters, specifically:

1.Planning Phase

Assisting the Senior Legal Project Manager with:

• Scoping; budgeting; setting up project phases.
• Preparation of project plans / timelines for internal and external use.
• Coordinating matter opening process.
• Identifying stakeholders and establish a communication plan.

2.Execution Phase

Assisting the Senior Legal Project Manager with:

• Co-ordinate work effort; status reporting; liaising with client and communicating progress; tracking scope changes.
• Financial management: on-going monitoring of fees, run rates and other key financial metrics; regular updates to the client on fees and disbursement; review of fee-earner narratives to ensure they are to the client agreed format.
• Updates to project plans / timelines.
• Co-ordinate cross-departmental / jurisdictional activity.
• Co-ordinate creation and execution of work plans.
• Ensure effective communication with specialist departments and counsel (internal and external); and that the communication plan is adhered to.
• Provide timely updates to matter partner and matter manager on potential issues identified.
• Risk and change management.

3.Review & Close Phase

Assisting the Senior Legal Project Manager with:

• Supporting the post-matter review process including: update project plans / timelines; review matter finances; facilitate learning for future similar matters.
• Ensure know-how is archived.
• Co-ordinate matter closing process.

4.More generally

Assisting the Senior Legal Project Manager with:

• Identify improvements to work product and processes and support implementation of their improvement.
• Maintain a close relationship with support departments to communicate potential improvements to software and systems.
• Introduce new working efficiencies where appropriate and coach team.
• The position will require the skills of an individual capable of facilitating process mapping planning sessions, data collection and analysis, implementing improvements and controls and leveraging technology and knowledge management solutions.

The ideal candidate will either:

Have experience as a project manager in a law firm or professional services firm on client facing, fee-earning legal projects. A minimum of 3-4 years of experience is preferred, but we will consider candidates with less experience if they meet our other requirements.

Be a junior to mid-level lawyer from a top tier firm who excels at matter management.

Successful applicants will:

• have demonstrated experience in leading and managing (to time and budget) workstreams within complex projects that are strategic and large in scope;
• be comfortable with financial management;
• have advanced organizational and influencing skills, flexibility of style, attention to detail, and ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment;
• have a demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders
• have a commitment to building a career through interim assignments and be motivated to operate at a high level while working in this way;
• have a “consultant mindset,” including a flexible and adaptable outlook and approach;
• have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to interface at all levels and build strong relationships internally and externally;
• be resilient, autonomous and highly credible, with exemplary commercial/business acumen, client service ethic and commitment.
• have a high level of proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Extranets, with strong technical skills and the ability to learn new applications quickly. Desirable to have project management certification.

Why Work with Peerpoint?

• Gain more career control and choice. As a Peerpoint legal professional, you are empowered to have more autonomy and control over your future with the flexibility to determine your own path: one that aligns with your career ambitions and lifestyle aspirations. Access high-level work with leading clients. Peerpoint legal professionals may take on assignments with clients or with A&O Shearman.
• Benefit from the resources of an elite international law firm.
• Earn generous compensation; including benefits such healthcare, access to A&O Shearman’s resources and training opportunities, and reimbursement of professional fees.
• Receive objective and individualized career advice and support.

We only invite legal professionals to join our panel when we feel confident that there will be a sufficient volume of suitable roles for their area of expertise and level of experience. We cannot guarantee work but we are every bit as invested in moving your career forward as you are.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $70 to $125 per hour. Peerpoint legal professionals are typically paid an hourly or day rate. The actual rate offered will depend on the overall qualifications of the individual applicant, the details of the assignment, and other job-related factors permitted by law. Peerpoint attorneys also get access to additional benefits, including a healthcare plan, legal resources and trainings programs, mental wellbeing programs, and reimbursement of professional fees. More specific salary information is available upon request.

Please note that, due to nature of the relationship between Peerpoint and our Peerpoint legal professionals, we are not able to sponsor visas.

Please note that, due to the high volume of applications, it is our policy not to provide individual feedback at the application stage.

We will not be using agencies for this role and will not accept unsolicited resumes