Job Description
Legal Operations Manager (Legal)
Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds - Hybrid
Our client is searching for a Legal Operations Manager with exceptional skills and experience in the legal sector. This position is rarely available, you would be joining a Top- 70 National Law Firm with an excellent workplace culture and the levels of staff retention only seen in firms that truly value their staff.
We are looking for an experienced and highly capable Legal Operations Manager to support the Department Head in driving operational excellence, performance, and continuous improvement across legal teams.
This is a pivotal role, acting as a bridge between senior stakeholders, ensuring alignment, consistency, and delivery across key departmental priorities.
The Role
You will work closely with Department Heads, Partners, and central teams to support the smooth running of the department across its full annual cycle. This includes operational management, financial oversight, project coordination, and stakeholder engagement.
You will play a key role in enabling strategic initiatives, improving processes, and ensuring best practice across the department.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Management
* Support budgeting and financial reporting processes
* Analyse utilisation and KPI data, providing clear insights
* Liaise with Finance and Partners following up and chasing matters
* Monitor financial performance and streamlining processes
Operational & Management Support
* Coordinate departmental meetings
* Manage key operational rhythms, including BOM and Department Head meetings
* Maintain annual planning trackers and ensure deadlines are met
* Lead and support departmental projects and initiatives
* Organise regular department events
* Identify opportunities for process improvement
* Support transformation initiatives and manage collaboration platforms
Business Development
* Work with BD teams on reporting and strategic initiatives
* Coordinate submissions for legal directories
* Maintain marketing materials, profiles, and departmental data
Risk & Best Practice
* Support delivery of risk and compliance objectives
* Monitor departmental performance against best practice standards
* Coordinate audit requirements and reporting
Training & HR Support
* Coordinate internal and external training programmes
* Monitor training budgets and provider engagement
* Assist with recruitment, appraisals, and performance processes
* Support promotions, compensation reviews, and holiday approvals
Skills and experience you will have:
* Proven experience in a similar operational, business management, or senior EA role within a law firm
* Highly-tuned interpersonal skills, a mix of assertiveness and dynamism!
* Strong project management and organisational skills
* Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities
* Financial awareness with the ability to analyse and interpret data
* Confidence to influence and challenge senior leaders
* High level of discretion and experience handling confidential information
* Proactive, detail-oriented, and solutions-focused mindset
* Advanced MS Office skills (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
* Willingness to travel occasionally
This is an opportunity to take on a highly visible role at the heart of the firm, working closely with senior Partners and making a real impact on how the legal teams operate and succeed.