Practice Manager

Practice Manager Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to work for one of the top law firms in the U.S.! Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is looking for a Practice Manager to join our team in our Seattle, San Francisco, Culver City, Los Angeles, New York, or Washington D.C. offices. We offer a hybrid work engagement with two days of remote work, and three days in-office. Practice Management (PM) plays an instrumental role in helping our lawyers operate more effectively and efficiently to drive revenue growth, better utilize time spent on non-billable activities, facilitate the integration of lateral hires, and foster a collaborative environment to leverage all our business professional teams' capabilities to support our lawyers in building their practices and serving clients. The Practice Management Team comprises revenue enablers who ensure operational efficiency; develop, drive, and execute on PG/industry strategic vision; provide financial insights that drive economic improvements; support client value initiatives; and otherwise support each practice's business needs and operations. As trusted advisors to the Practice Group Chairs (PGCs) and practice leaders, the Practice Manager must be a highly innovative and collaborative self-starter, with demonstrated experience, confidence, and professionalism in communicating with partners, management, and timekeepers at all levels of the organization. To perform at the highest levels and ensure the highest level of operational efficiency for the practice groups, the Practice Manager must develop an unparalleled knowledge of the inner workings of the Firm and provide timely and effective responses to the Practice Groups they support.

On a typical day you will:

• Practice Group Operations
• Manage the daily execution of business needs / operations of the Practice Group, including developing and managing the practice operations budget, establishing a consistent framework for Practice Group meetings and communications, supporting Firm processes and follow-up on initiatives/action items, etc.
• Serve as main point of contact and primary person responsible for all operations related to the practice group by working closely with its attorneys and professionals, as well as the firm's business departments
• Drive efficiencies and process improvements and introduce innovative approaches to improve the overall operation of the practice group and infrastructure, driving improved service to the Firm's clients and generating revenue
• Maintain practice-specific resources that pertain to lawyer-led trainings
• Guide attorneys on efficient use of technology to improve service delivery, especially AI
• Practice Group and Firmwide Strategy
• Build a strategic vision for the practice group, industry teams, and/or investment area
• Collaborate with PG Chairs, partners and other business operations departments to facilitate the development and execution of Practice Group strategic plans with clear and achievable goals focused on culture, revenue, profitability, growth and retention, reputation, brand awareness, profile and competitive differentiation
• Support the firm's strategic value that "People Matter" by building trust and credibility with partners, counsel, associates, and direct reports including having an in-depth understanding of professional aspirations, experiences, strengths, development needs, and relevant personal circumstances
• Track the group's talent pipeline and ensure forward progress on succession plans, mentorship
• Provide operational and strategic support client teams for the firm's top and fastest growing clients
• People Management and Development
• Manage and supervise specialists and senior specialists to assure they are executing on practice group strategy and departmental strategic plan while providing excellent client service
• Work with Professional Development Partners (PDPs) to ensure that each attorney in the group is fully utilized, with the opportunity to work on a variety of matters and with a variety of partners, while balancing development opportunities with client needs
• Work with Recruiting on needs assessments and lateral recruiting initiatives
• Act as point person to facilitate problem solving and address attorney concerns related to operational and strategic objectives
• Track and report utilization data and proactively looks for opportunities to even out workflow and flag underutilized and overutilized associates
• Keep abreast of case developments and potential leavers, joiners and secondments of associates and paralegals to help with future workload estimations and reporting to team leaders as necessary/requested
• Work closely with the Firm's Professional Development to develop training content and ensure the appropriate development, evaluation, and training of practice group attorneys. Recommend the Firm's training resources, or other assistance as appropriate, to meet identified development needs
• Financial
• Analyze and report on Practice Group financials and other key performance indicators to monitor timekeeper utilization, performance trends, and overall practice revenue
• Work with Finance on tracking and managing alternative fee agreements and other matter management reporting as necessary
• Managing and approve Practice Group budgets and expenses
• Analyze monthly AR and work with Financial Partner and Collections team to collect outstanding revenue
• In collaboration with the Revenue and Profitability team, help practice groups and individual lawyers manage the economics of their practices
• Business Development
• Provide strategic guidance and PG specific information and customization as needed to Business Development and Marketing department on strategic initiatives; RFP and pitch responses; targeted marketing collateral, accolades and recognition, etc., and ensure alignment of resources
• Work with business development and other staff departments to promote client and group initiatives, including client training programs and presentations (CLEs)
• Provide coaching on individual business plans as well as coaching relationship partners on target client business development plans

Join us if you have:

• 5+ years as a business professional in a professional services organization preferred; law firm experience or prior experience as a practicing attorney is a plus
• College degree required; Master's degree in Marketing or Business Administration or similar field, or JD preferred
• Demonstrated ability to develop professional working relationships and create a consultative, advisory-type level of trust with attorneys
• Demonstrated understanding of the business of law, including finance, sales and marketing, staffing models and industry trends
• Ability to work in a professional and collegial manner with attorneys, paralegals and staff
• Previous supervisory experience is required
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously is required
• Strong writing skills and excellent grammar, spelling and proofreading skills are required
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain effective working relationships and communicate verbally and in writing in a professional, courteous manner with clients, firm members, and other business contacts are required
• Demonstrated ability to provide direction and guidance in business plan development efforts – at the individual, practice group and office levels
• Demonstrated understanding of alternative fee arrangements in the service industry (understanding of law firm pricing models a plus) is required
• Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office Products required, i.e. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel; CRM technology a plus
• Ability to pay close attention to detail and be highly organized and accurate is required
• Ability to travel occasionally within the United States is required

Who We Are

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is an AmLaw 100 law firm with 9 offices nationwide. We are relentlessly committed to client service and look for candidates who share that commitment. At DWT, client service means having empathy for each client's and each lawyer's work and personal pressures, business objectives, and legal needs; anticipating their needs; and having the capabilities and commitment to deliver what matters most to them.

What's in it For You?

DWT offers competitive compensation in addition to ample benefits including but not limited to:

• Choice of health and vision insurance plans
• 2 paid volunteer days for qualifying community service work
• Dental plan
• Fertility and adoption benefit
• Paid sabbatical after 13 years of service
• Tuition reimbursement
• Commuter benefits
• Retirement contribution