Senior Legal Project Manager – L&DR

The Role

Clifford Chance US is seeking a full-time Senior Legal Project Manager to play a key role in delivering complex legal services within the Americas Litigation & Dispute Resolution (L&DR) practice. The Firm has embedded Legal Project Management into various practice areas focusing on continuous improvement and innovative technology to enhance client outcomes. This role will be located in our New York, N.Y. or Washington, D.C. office and reports to the Practice Area Manager – Litigation & Dispute Resolution, with a dotted line to the Director of Legal Project Management.

The Senior Legal Project Manager will be responsible for strategically planning and building demand in the L&DR practice area, deploying resources, and implementing best practices for large mandates. Additionally, the role will actively participate in client matters, track workstreams, manage budgets, and enhance the client experience through efficient project management. This role requires bringing new ideas and expertise to navigate a rapidly evolving legal landscape.

Responsibilities:

• Support partners and senior stakeholders in complex matters, with the opportunity to drive, deliver, and implement outstanding project management.

• Responsible for developing and coaching on project management best practices.

• Assist and attend client pitches, providing a compelling explanation of how the firm will effectively manage the project to in terms of time, cost, and quality.

• Assist with the preparation of all project initiation documentation – such as preparing scope, resourcing and budget proposals for relevant matters or workstreams and then tracking progress against those proposals.

• Dissect problems and processes and apply logical and analytical approaches to solving them.

• Influence stakeholders (across a range of roles and seniority) to change and adapt their ways of working.

• Explain theoretical concepts to senior stakeholders, including clients, and be comfortable amending your delivery approach and style.

• Manage effective planning over the short, medium, and long term, and then execute against those plans, such as documenting minutes, actions, and tracking workstreams. 

• Continually assess and understand where issues exist and how they can be addressed and then provide and implement pragmatic solutions to ensure the programme moves forward.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of best practices, tools, and processes that enhance the efficiency and quality of our legal services

• Identify risk, such as conflicting deadlines, and then provide alternative solutions to mitigate the risk.

• Monitor accruals and manage the project against agreed budgets, including scope changes.

• Responsible for influencing and integrating new ways of working to improve service delivery.

• Responsible for allocating project management work and tasks for specific matters to the appropriate resources within the Legal Project Management function.

• Advise on and engage with legal technology tools available to provide support in efficiently managing your projects.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders, with the ability to accept regular feedback and direction, and adjust and adapt your style and plans as needed.

• Deliver presentations and facilitate workshops and participate in client pitch and relationship teams as needed.

• Work directly with clients, positively representing Clifford Chance US LLP and as required, work from client site locations independently.

• Build strong and deep client relationships through your activities on client projects and/or client relationship teams, contributing towards delivering the firm's strategic priorities for the client.

Your Experience

• Must have a strong background in project management, preferably in a professional services or complex matrix environment, or extensive experience in matter management as a lawyer.

• A bachelor's degree is required; a JD, MBA or equivalent advanced degree is preferred.

• A qualification or industry-recognized certification in project or program management is preferred (e.g., PMP, Six Sigma).

• Proven ability to collaborate, influence and build internal networks at all levels of an organization.

• Must be professional, personable and mature, with the ability to work appropriately with people at all levels of the organization, including senior stakeholders. Must be able to foster, enhance and contribute to the team environment.

• Must have strong problem-solving and analytical skills.

• Skilled communicator, able to persuade and articulate verbally and in writing.

• Must keep abreast of market developments pertaining to the practice area and develop a deep understanding of the practice area's offerings, clients and markets.

• Must have strong proficiency in Microsoft applications and project management software (collaboration tools, Power Bi, legal tech applications).

• Must be able to adhere to and comply with the Firm's Agile Working Policy which requires employees to work from the office at least three days each calendar week.

• Ability to work outside of core business hours as needed.

• Must be independently and legally authorized to work in the United States.

Clifford Chance US LLP offers a comprehensive benefits and compensation package. The salary range for this role is $170,000 - $190,000. Actual salary will be commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and relevant experience.

Who we are

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

Our one firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies, which matter most to them.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.

Equal Opportunities

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society. 

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.

Find out more about our inclusive culture here