Legal Administrative Services Manager – West

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 the Los Angeles office, the Legal Administrative Services Manager – West will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the legal administrative services support team.  This is an exciting and dynamic role, managing a 50+ person team of Legal Administrative Assistants, Legal Executive Assistants, and Legal Administrative Services Coordinators.

The successful candidate will ideally have prior experience managing staff in a rapidly changing environment and will be able to actualize their vision for the future of legal administrative services support within the legal industry by recognizing new developments within the field – including keeping abreast of the latest technologies and methodologies that supplement this vision.  This position will be responsible for strategy, training and development and innovation within the department.

This role requires a strong communicator at all levels who relishes building trust and exceptional working relationships with the legal administrative services team and key stakeholders while maintaining a high degree of comfort with change and change management.  This role functions as an ambassador for the legal administrative services team and will work closely with the team and office leaders to positively implement change, navigate new ways of working and develop efficiencies as the business requires.

This role reports to the Director of Administration for the LA and Bay Areas and will assist the DOA as needed. The Legal Administrative Services Manager – West will work closely with other US Legal Administrative Services Managers and local office leaders.  This position will be responsible for monitoring, developing, and managing consistently exceptional levels of support by working directly with office leaders, attorneys and practice group leaders.

 

Responsibilities include:

General Management:

• This position will be responsible for managing the work schedule for the Legal Administrative Services Team and ensure appropriate coverage Monday-Friday, and weekends on occasion.
• Engaging daily with the legal administrative services staff to develop a strong and trusting relationships with each team member.
• Managing all aspects of attorney/legal administrative services assignments for all legal administrative services staff.  This includes reassignments and assignments for new hires.
• Coordinating and maintaining back-up assignments for absences; scheduling one-off support as needed.
• Reviewing and approving timecards each pay period including confirmation of time off and overtime.
• Managing requests for vacation and personal leave; assigning desk coverage as appropriate.

People:

• Managing all aspects of the hiring and on-boarding process for the department including recruiting, reviewing resumes, testing, interviewing, scheduling attorney interviews, checking references, and making hiring recommendations.
• Managing performance evaluation process including conducting 90-day and annual performance evaluations, obtaining and reviewing attorney evaluations of legal administrative services staff and receptionists, submitting salary/bonus recommendations, and scheduling and conducting individual evaluation meetings.
• Main point of contact for all performance-related concerns; coaching, mediating and documenting all problems and issues; bringing discipline issues to the attention of the Director of Administration.
• Coordinating preparation of legal administrative services orientation schedules and orientation process. Assign peer mentors to new hires and track progress of new hires.
• Identifying and creating appropriate training for the department and individuals.  Develop baseline skill sets required for Legal Administrative Services Team members to provide exceptional service to our attorneys.  Monitor development of baseline skill sets to ensure we are meeting the needs of our attorneys.
• Scheduling, coordinating and leading quarterly Legal Administrative Services Team meetings.  Coordinate social events for the team; encourages team participation in office events and functions.

Finance:

• Preparing annual budget for department in coordination with Director of Administration, and reporting on variances.
• Approving expenses for the Legal Administrative Services Team.
• Effectively managing Legal Administrative Services Team overtime that is not client related.
• Actively seeking and suggesting value engineering opportunities.

 

Qualifications

• Proven people management skills.
• Effective impartial management style with strong verbal and written communication skills.
• High levels of self-motivation and autonomy.
• Ability to problem solve with little to no direction.
• Leads by example with the ability to build trust and develop strong positive relationships.
• Strong analytical, organizational and presentation skills.
• Commitment to delivering consistently excellent legal administrative services support to all attorneys.
• Calm and effective under pressure.
• Ability to bring a resilient and collaborative approach to problem solving.
• Strategic thinking with strong future planning skills and a focus on the big picture.
• Drive and enthusiasm to motivate and engage a growing team; creates a sense of community.
• Hands-on flexible managerial approach.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
• This position will maintain an in-office work schedule and may occasionally require overtime beyond the standard schedule.

Experience

• A bachelor’s degree is strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in a law firm or professional services environment where the applicant was responsible for complex administrative duties and projects is required.
• Previous leadership, supervisory or managerial experience in a law firm or professional services environment is required.

 

 

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 $125K-$175K. 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.

Location:

Los Angeles

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.