Legal Project Manager

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Job description

Job Overview

We are looking for four Legal Project Managers to support the following practice areas:

- Litigation & Dispute Resolution

- Corporate

- Global Financial Markets

Legal Project Management sits within our "Best Delivery" hubs which are aligned to global business units of Corporate, Global Financial Markets and Litigation & Dispute Resolution. The purpose of Best Delivery is to ensure that we can deliver an outstanding client experience on every matter, every time. Our application of continuous improvement principles, smart technology and the most efficient and effective resources are all geared to improving outcomes for our clients' business. It is an established and critical strand to our Innovation change programme with far reaching global coverage.

As a Legal Project Manager, you will have impact on how we deliver high end complex legal advice to our biggest clients.

You will work on client matters and deals, as a core part of the client team recording time against those matters.

You will help enhance the client experience and add value through efficient project management.

You will track workstreams, work with clients, monitor resourcing, manage budgets, and integrate "best delivery" solutions into our largest and most complex projects. You will also bring new ideas and expertise to an evolving role within a rapidly changing legal market.

Who you will work with

You will work day to day on a range of projects (legal matters) working across multiple client / sectors on up to five project teams at any one time. These multi-disciplinary teams will be made up of trainees, lawyers, partners, legal tech advisors, secretaries, business development, billing, and anyone else in the firm who forms part of a client matter or deal team. The focus of each of the teams you work with is to serve the client, and to deliver excellent legal advice and guidance, and to conclude the matter successfully.

You'll need establish strong relationships with Practice Area Leaders, Practice Area Managers, Best Delivery Champions, Business Development and Best Delivery Directors. You'll able develop sustainable relationships, understanding stakeholder needs, identifying ways to address needs and demonstrate influencing skills to deliver the business objectives.

You will collaborate other Legal Project Manager colleagues around our global network. You will also work closely with other members of the broader "best delivery" community which includes Legal Technology Delivery Advisors, Resource Managers, Pricing Specialists, Delivery Centres and Continuous Improvement professionals.

What you will be responsible for

You'll support our partners working on some of the most complex matters with a chance to drive, deliver and implement outstanding project management on our largest legal matters.

What you will do

We are the front runners of change delivery in the legal sector and everyone who joins our team becomes an integral part of shaping a rapidly developing area of law that is critical to the Firm's strategy.

• You will assist with the preparation of all project initiation documentation - such as prepare scope, resourcing and budget proposals for relevant matters or workstreams and then track progress against those proposals

• You will dissect problems and processes and apply logical and analytical approaches to solving them

• You will positively influence the individuals you work with (across a range of roles and seniority) to change and adapt their ways of working

• You will clearly explain theoretical concepts to senior stakeholders, including clients, and be comfortable amending your delivery approach and style

• You will manage effective planning: over the short, medium and long term, then execute against those plans, such as documenting minutes, actions and tracking workstreams. Throughout each project you will:

Continually assess and understand where issues are and how they can be addressed and then provide and implement pragmatic solutions to ensure the programme moves forward
Identify risks; such as conflicting deadlines, or a lack of skills, and then provide alternative solutions to mitigate the risk
Monitor accruals and manage the project against agreed budgets including scope change

• You will advise and engage with legal technology tools available, to provide support to efficiently manage your projects

• You will take regular feedback and direction from your colleagues, and adjust and adapt your style and plans

• You will deliver presentations and facilitate workshops and form part of the client pitch teams

• You will work directly with Clients, positively representing Clifford Chance and as required working from Client site locations independently

Your career experience so far

You will have either have a background in project management, ideally gained within a professional services or complex matrix environment, or you will have been a lawyer with experience of matter management.

A qualification or industry recognised certification in project management would be desirable, but is not essential, as we are happy to support team members with these qualifications.

Collaboration, influencing and internal networking are all key skills to make an impact as a Legal Project Manager within the Firm.

How we will support you

As a Firm we make a significant investment in training and supporting members of the team through their careers at the Firm. We continuously develop careers structures to aid the skill development and progression of team members.

We offer assistance and funding for externally recognised training qualifications including Lean Six Sigma, Prince2, and training in change management and technology. In addition to this, the nature of the work and interaction with the team will drive continuous on-the-job learning and you'll all have access to our global training and development centre, the Academy.

There are Best Delivery teams in every region across the globe who represent all the change delivery disciplines working across project management, process improvement, outsourcing, technology and pricing. You will immediately become be a part of this multidisciplinary global community with structures in place orchestrated to connect team members from across the globe.

Wherever you join in our network, you will become a core member of the regional and global Best Delivery team. You will also have local support at the highest level from a Partner, as each office has a nominated Best Delivery Champion.

The team is enriched by a wide range of knowledge and made up of people with vastly differing career backgrounds and experiences coming from the other professional services firms, within the legal industry and from corporates.

About the Firm

Whatever your area of expertise, you will find a range of career opportunities at Clifford Chance. And wherever you're heading, Clifford Chance is where you can be true to your ambitions.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures and languages. In a world where commercial success increasingly relies on globalisation, we offer clients a truly international perspective, and we offer our people a rewarding and stimulating career.

We're proud of our approachable, friendly and team-based way of working. Highly professional and self-assured, with an entrepreneurial streak, our people are more than happy to share their expertise and knowledge.

About the office

As one of the world's main financial centres, London continues to be a key market and many of our global deals are led from what is still one of the world's main financial centres in Canary Wharf. We have London roots that go back past the firm's beginnings in 1987 to the early 1800s.

Our Legal Project management function in London was one of the first in a law firm, and has continued to grow, as well as drive exceptional value for our clients. The LPMS are aligned to each of the global business units, and work and collaborate with each other regularly.

To find out more about what it is like to work in Clifford Chance in London or Newcastle, please visit

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.

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 here.

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