Paralegal, Senior Manager

Our client, a leading Am Law firm, is seeking an experienced Paralegal Senior Manager to lead its Chicago-based Paralegal and Project Assistant team supporting approximately 500 attorneys across multiple practice areas. This highly visible leadership role partners closely with firm leadership and Human Resources to oversee staffing, performance management, recruiting, onboarding, professional development, utilization, and department operations while driving consistency across offices. The ideal candidate is a collaborative people leader with experience managing large professional services teams, building strong relationships with attorneys and business professionals, and leading operational initiatives in a fast-paced environment. This position offers long-term growth potential into a broader Litigation Practice Support leadership role. Hybrid schedule (3 days onsite weekly) in Chicago, IL.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Operations
• Lead the day-to-day management of the Chicago Paralegal and Project Assistant department
• Supervise the Paralegal Supervisor and oversee paralegal and project assistant staff
• Collaborate with peer managers across offices to promote consistent policies and best practices
• Develop departmental plans and operational priorities to address staffing and resource needs
• Build strong relationships with attorneys, administrative leaders, and business professionals
• Promote collaboration and communication across practice groups and support teams
• Partner with leadership and Human Resources on workforce planning and staffing strategies
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring paralegals and project assistants
• Manage onboarding and integration of new employees
• Oversee onboarding and ongoing training programs for Project Assistants
• Evaluate training needs and support continuing education initiatives

Performance Management

• Lead the annual performance review and compensation process
• Collect attorney feedback and prepare performance evaluations
• Provide compensation recommendations and conduct review meetings
• Coach employees, address performance concerns, and oversee performance improvement plans
• Support employee engagement, recognition, and professional development initiatives

Resource Management & Reporting

• Oversee department technology programs supporting litigation and practice support services
• Monitor utilization, productivity, and staffing through regular reporting
• Track billable hours and workload distribution across the department
• Coordinate staffing assignments to balance workloads and client needs
• Oversee departmental timekeeping and attendance reporting
• Ensure compliance with firm policies and employment requirements
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• Several years of professional services or related experience
• Several years managing teams with at least 15 direct and/or indirect reports
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to build relationships across multiple levels of an organization
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, and employee development experience
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• High level of discretion and confidentiality

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within a law firm or legal environment
• Familiarity with legal services technologies

Expected salary for this exempt role is $175,000 - $250,000, commensurate with experience, training, skills, qualifications, and other market factors.

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Job ID: 7594