Associate Director, Paralegal Services

Job Summary

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. The firm’s work is distinguished by a unique combination of precision and vision.

Based in any US office, the Associate Director, Paralegal Services will serve as a firm-wide resource for all practice groups that oversee the paralegal department globally. The Associate Director, Paralegal Services will work with local Paralegal Managers to hire, train, mentor, and evaluate paralegals, as well as ensure compliance with ethical and professional standards. This role will focus on overall paralegal utilization, monitoring the distribution of work, their overall workload, and productivity.  Additionally, the Associate Director, Paralegal Services will be responsible for administrative tasks such as budgeting, scheduling, reporting, and liaising with clients and other departments.

This role reports to the Chief Legal Operations Officer to implement the Firm’s strategy for its paralegal program, collaborating closely with local Paralegal Managers, Supervisors, and Coordinators.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement an engagement plan to educate all lawyers and staff on the paralegal program and proper utilization of paralegals.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures for the paralegal department, such as hiring criteria, performance appraisal, quality control, and professional development.
• Provide ongoing training, coaching, mentoring, and feedback to paralegals, and address any issues or concerns that arise.
• Evaluate the work of paralegals, ensuring that they meet the expectations and standards of the Firm and clients.
• Analyze paralegal utilization to support distribution of work among paralegals, considering their skills, experience, and availability.
• Monitor and track paralegals’ progress and productivity.
• Ensure that paralegals comply with the rules of professional conduct, ethics, confidentiality, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Collaborate and communicate with attorneys, clients, and other departments, providing support and assistance as needed.
• Manage the administrative functions of the paralegal department, such as budgeting, planning, reporting, employee timecard approval, and record-keeping.
• Analyze trends and changes in the legal industry to anticipate and prepare for future challenges and opportunities.
• Conduct regular meetings with paralegal staff to review case progress, address issues, and provide updates on departmental initiatives.
• Implement quality control measures and best practices to maintain high standards of work.

Qualifications

• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with the appropriate discretion.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and people skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders. Collaboration skills to work with various departments and facilitate their ability to work with each other.
• Ability to work independently and with a team, and to delegate and manage resources effectively. Strong leadership skills to manage and develop a large and geographically dispersed staff.
• Exhibit a high degree of initiative and critical-thinking skills while exercising independent judgment and making decisions to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, detail-oriented work environment.
• Creative thinker who is open to considering multiple approaches to issues and collaborating with other leaders to develop and execute plans.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to work concurrently on a variety of projects with changing priorities. Have meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with Department personnel, Firm management, and other attorneys and staff.
• Highly motivated and strategy-focused with the ability to understand and support Firm goals, services, culture and strategy to present self and the Firm in a positive, professional manner.
• Understands and stays current on legal market trends, news, and innovations.

Experience

• MBA or bachelor’s degree in legal studies, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• At least 8+ years of experience in a paralegal managerial role at an AmLaw 200 firm.

 

Gibson Dunn will consider for employment qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of local law.

Compensation & Benefits:

The annual compensation range for this position is $260-285k. The salary offered within this range will depend upon qualifications and other operational considerations.

Benefits offered for this position include health care; retirement benefits; paid days off, including sick time, and vacation time; parental leave; basic life insurance; Flexible Spending Accounts; as well as discretionary, performance-based bonuses.

This application window will close on Monday, July 21st, 2025.

Locations:

Century City, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., New York

EEO Statement

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all partners, employees and applicants and, in accordance with the applicable federal and state laws, does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, color, religion, matriculation or political affiliation, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, ancestry, age, marital status or partnership status, family responsibilities, disability, medical condition, personal appearance, genetic information, predisposing genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, arrest or conviction record, or on any other basis prohibited by law.