Job Description
Job Summary:
The Legal Operations Director is responsible for leading the strategic, financial, and technological functions of the legal department to ensure operational excellence, cost efficiency, and alignment with organizational goals. This role oversees legal technology, vendor management, budgeting, and process improvement initiatives. The Director acts as a key advisor to legal leadership and collaborates cross-functionally to optimize legal service delivery and support the department’s long-term success.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary.
- Develop and execute the legal department’s operational strategy in alignment with firm-wide objectives.
- Oversee legal budgeting, forecasting, and spend management, including outside counsel and vendor oversight.
- Lead implementation and optimization of legal technology platforms (e.g., e-billing, matter management, CLM).
- Establish and monitor KPIs and metrics to evaluate performance and drive continuous improvement.
- Manage legal operations staff and cross-functional project teams.
- Drive process improvement initiatives across legal workflows, knowledge management, and compliance.
- Collaborate with Finance, IT, HR, and Procurement to support legal department needs and enterprise initiatives.
- Ensure adherence to internal controls, data privacy, and regulatory requirements.
- Support strategic planning, talent development, and change management within the legal function.
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Strong leadership and team-building capabilities.
- Deep understanding of legal operations frameworks (e.g., CLOC Core 12).
- Proficiency in legal technology tools and data analytics.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Strategic mindset with a track record of driving operational excellence.
- Ability to manage complex projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Legal Studies, Finance, or related field (MBA or JD preferred).
- 8–10+ years of experience in legal operations, legal management, or related roles.
- Prior experience in a leadership role within a corporate legal department or law firm strongly preferred.
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Frequently required to talk or hear, and use hand to type, handle, or touch objects.
- Regularly required to stand and walk, and may be required to stoop, bend, or reach above the shoulders.
Work Environment:
The position is primarily an office-based position with the potential for a hybrid work arrangement.
Schedule:
Monday – Friday, flexible hours available between 7am-5pm