IT Lead/Manager, Legal Environment Preferred, Hybrid

IT Lead/Manager, Legal Environment Preferred, Hybrid in Chicago, IL

We are seeking a hands-on IT Lead/Manager to support and enhance the technology environment at a growing law firm with 80+ employees. This role is ideal for someone who understands that in a legal setting, technology is mission-critical downtime impacts client service, deadlines, and case outcomes. You will serve as a trusted partner to attorneys, paralegals, and operations leadership, ensuring systems are reliable, secure, and optimized for legal workflows. You will balance day-to-day IT execution with continuous improvement, helping the firm operate efficiently while maintaining strict confidentiality and security standards. This is a Hybrid position in Chicago, IL with some onsite required.

IT Lead/Manager Responsibilities:

• Ensure uptime and reliability of core systems supporting legal operations (network, file access, VPN, printing, devices).
• Provide responsive, white-glove IT support to attorneys and staff in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues quickly, minimizing disruption to billable work and court deadlines.
• Liaise relationships with external IT and security vendors, ensuring service quality and accountability.
• Support and improve document management, file access, and collaboration workflows critical to legal teams.
• Deploy and manage user technology (laptops, mobile devices, applications) for onboarding and ongoing use.
• Evaluate, test, and implement new tools that improve legal productivity and efficiency.
• Support cybersecurity and compliance efforts, including SOC 2 and client-driven security assessments.
• Help develop and maintain IT policies and procedures aligned with confidentiality, data protection, and ethical obligations.
• Lead and mentor IT staff while coordinating internal and external support resources.

IT Lead/Manager Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 4+ years of hands-on IT experience in a professional environment.
• Experience supporting multi-user environments and end-user computing.
• Prior leadership or supervisory experience required.
• Experience supporting IT in a professional services or legal environment (law firm experience strongly preferred).
• Strong understanding of networking and secure remote access (VPN, MFA, file sharing).
• Ability to operate in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment where responsiveness matters.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly with non-technical professionals, including attorneys.
• Experience managing vendors and third-party IT providers.
• Strong troubleshooting skills across Windows, Mac, and common office platforms.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and commitment to confidentiality.
• A proactive mindset—anticipating issues before they impact legal work.
• Experience with legal technologies (e.g. document management systems, etc.) is a plus.
• Familiarity with security and compliance frameworks (SOC 2, client security questionnaires) is a plus.
• Certifications such as CompTIA, Network+, Cisco (CCNA), or similar is a plus.
• Experience supporting multi-user environments and end-user computing is a plus.
• Proven ability to work successfully with limited supervision.
• Graphic Design skills are a plus.

Benefits include medical insurance, retirement plan, PTO, etc.

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