Director of Legal Operations [HE063]

Job Description

Job Description

Director of Legal Operations

Location: In-Office l Oakland, CA 94607

Reports To: Firm Owner

Compensation and Benefits

• Starting rate at $185,000, could be higher depending on experience
• After 90 days of employment, you may be eligible for benefits in accordance with applicable laws and Firm policies, including:
• Paid Time Off: Accrual of 120 hours of PTO per year .
• Paid Holidays: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
• Health Benefits: Medical and dental insurance available. The Firm contributes $500 per month toward your personal premium if you elect coverage.
• Retirement: 401(k) plan available after 90 days; eligibility and contributions governed by plan documents.

Our Practice

We represent investors, businesses, and property owners in both transactional and litigation matters involving real estate and land use. Our team understands the financial and operational realities behind every property decision and works to deliver efficient, business-minded solutions.

About the Role

We are seeking a seasoned Director of Legal Operations to serve as the operational backbone of our growing law firm. This is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring the firm runs efficiently, profitably, and with intention—every single day.

The Director of Legal Operations oversees firm-wide systems, policies, people, and infrastructure, allowing attorneys to focus on practicing law while the business operates smoothly behind the scenes. This role partners closely with the Owner and leadership team to drive growth, accountability, and continuous improvement across the firm.

If you thrive on building systems, leading teams, and turning strategy into execution, this role was built for you.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Firm Operations & Strategy

• Design, implement, and continuously improve firm-wide policies, procedures, systems, and technologies
• Lead operational projects tied to firm growth, including software and technology implementations
• Develop, manage, and forecast the firm’s operations budget
• Identify inefficiencies and reduce operational overhead without compromising service quality or compliance
• Create disaster preparedness and business continuity plans

People & Leadership

• Oversee the HR function, including hiring processes, onboarding, training, development, and performance reviews
• Supervise all non-attorney staff, including reception, paralegals, legal secretaries, and HR
• Ensure non-attorney staff consistently meet performance and billable expectations
• Roll out and maintain a comprehensive firm-wide training and development program
• Drive accountability and compliance with firm policies and procedures

Data, Finance & Reporting

• Partner with finance to build dashboards and reporting that give leadership near real-time visibility into firm performance
• Track KPIs related to staffing, retention, billables, and operational efficiency
• Maintain metrics that measure progress toward firm goals

Technology, Vendors & Risk Management

• Oversee IT vendors and technology tools, including selection, deployment, and optimization
• Review and manage firm contracts and identify cost-savings opportunities
• Oversee firm insurance policies and ensure coverage evolves with firm needs

Communication & Culture

• Develop and manage an internal communication strategy, including meeting cadence and firm-wide updates
• Lead executive meetings with the Owner and Director of Marketing
• Host quarterly firm-wide town halls

Success in This Role Looks Like

• A well-run firm with clear systems, documented processes, and consistent execution
• Engaged, trained, and accountable non-attorney staff
• Leadership has real-time insight into firm performance through dashboards and metrics
• The firm scales without chaos, burnout, or breakdowns in service

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Proven experience in legal operations and law firm management
• Demonstrated HR leadership experience, including hiring, onboarding, performance management, employee relations, and compliance
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage, coach, and hold teams accountable
• Highly systems-oriented with a track record of building scalable processes
• Comfortable with data, dashboards, KPIs, and financial collaboration
• Confident working with ownership and exercising delegated authority
• Calm, organized, and decisive in a fast-moving environment

Why Join Us

• Direct access to firm ownership and decision-making
• Ability to truly shape how the firm operates and grows
• Leadership role with real authority and impact
• Opportunity to build systems that support both profitability and people

If you are a strategic, organized, and people-focused leader ready to make a tangible impact on a growing law firm, we want to hear from you. Join us and help shape the systems, culture, and operations that allow our attorneys and staff to excel while delivering exceptional service to our clients.

Apply today to become a key driver of our firm’s success.