Baker McKenzie

Role purpose

Work with the Legal Project Managers, leading on the successful delivery of tasks within both client- and internally-facing projects bringing solutions using established and new tools and processes.

Main responsibilities

• Support the management of multiple projects with competing deadlines
• Liaise with the client, and the Firm's client matter team, as well as the Firm's specialist departments and offices worldwide, along with external stakeholders
• Support creation and management of suitably-detailed project plans
• Support project teams to define matter scope, and to track and manage changes
• Direct and advise more junior team members on project-specific tasks
• Proactively offer support to project teams beyond minimum delivery requirements, seeking opportunity to add additional / higher value
• Set up and own recurring tasks and activities
• Build organizational charts and timelines
• Support requests from the LPM team
• Map matter-specific processes
• Support your ‘core’ project(s) throughout the project lifecycle, giving ad hoc support to other projects
• Design ad hoc project update reporting, create client-ready reports and give oral and written updates to project teams on developments
• Support project teams by flagging scope variance and key risks/issues, and work creatively with senior team on mitigation across projects
• Support the-matter review process for key matters and identify areas of improvement through discussions with project teams
• Triage help requests and raise ‘marginal’ requests with senior team to determine LPM position on task involvement
• Be creative and improve on standard delivery solutions on a given project; identify and propose to Associate Directors of LPM any future needs and improvements to the LPM framework
• Identify opportunities for new service delivery and support analysis and design workshops
• Contribute to LPM element of project budgeting
• Convert project-specific materials into templates and reusable resources for the LPM team
• Prepare, review and interpret data visualization for matters
• Contribution to BM's Innovation Strategy; become a subject matter expert on given tech and standardized processes: evangelize, advise, train, apply to projects and support refinement
• Support implementation of existing and new technology to meet project requirements and to encourage LPM/Legal team uptake
• Demonstrate project-specific process, tools and resources to project teams
• Enhance client experience through LPM tools and communications
• Build network of professional colleagues across the range of PBS and legal functions, including Knowledge Management, Business Development, Finance, and IT and with external stakeholders
• Use network to identify opportunities for new projects or to showcase BM LPM
• Offering ad hoc support and PM expertise to non-LPM initiatives

Travel requirements

This role may require some regional and some global travel driven by client requirements and other internal and external events related to the Professional Business Services function.

Team purpose

Actively support the project management of strategic matters and portfolios of matters to improve quality, profitability, speed, tractability, and transparency with an emphasis on repeatability, scalability, and pace. Drive through the same benefits to matters that are not actively staffed with LPMs, assisting with infusing project management discipline through consultations, trainings, templates, workflows, checklists, and automation. Remain agile in bringing appropriate focus on localisation, technology and process improvement. The core teams within Services are:

• Business Management
• Legal Operations
• Pricing Strategy
• Legal Project Management
• Global eDiscovery and Data Advisory
• Service Design
• Alternative Legal Services

Will report to Associate Director, LPM Americas

About the candidate

Technical skills, qualifications and experience

• Bachelor's Degree (law or business degree preferred)
• Formal project management qualification of Prince 2 Foundation (required) and LSS Yellow Belt (desirable)
• Formal project management qualification of Prince 2 Practitioner or Prince 2 Agile, LSS Green Belt or LSS Black Belt, Management of Portfolios (MoP) or PMP (desirable)
• At least 2 years of experience in project management roles
• Understanding of/ experience working in large complex organizations ideally in a law firm or professional services firm
• Knowledge/ experience of relevant IT packages: e.g. Document Management Systems, Project Extranets (e.g. SharePoint) or other collaborative project management tools,  Other LegalTech knowledge desirable
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Excel, and of financial systems and reports
• Experience of influencing stakeholders within a professional services environment (desirable)
• Great communication and relationship building skills
• Desire to work collaboratively with senior-level professionals to help them succeed in meeting their objectives
• Ability to work independently with a willingness to work flexibly and hands-on to achieve project objectives
• Knowledge of data visualisation and associated tools (e.g. Excel charting, Tableau, Power BI)
• Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in sourcing data for and preparing reports, executive summaries and status reports for consumption by attorneys and clients
• Ability to calculate key financial metrics and analyse matter-level performance including profitability.
• Disciplined and attentive to details with strong time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work in a dynamic and complex environment to meet deadlines and daily requirements.
• Demonstrated competency in continuous improvement, change management, flexible approach and exceeding expectations. 

Personal qualities

These personal qualities represent the shared characteristics of high performers across Baker McKenzie, regardless of job level and location

Know how

• Keeps across key developments in all relevant areas and demonstrates  the ability to develop substantive authority in relation to the Firm's specialist fields
• Demonstrates the ability to identify the real issue, and to anticipate requirements and potential consequences; distils a range of possibilities by thinking in a considered, prudent manner
• Able to move through a variety of tasks requiring different approaches, knowledge, and expertise, with agility of mind and capacity for analysis and synthesis
• Suggests non-standard alternative ideas and approaches that demonstrate some lateral thought and "thinking outside the box"

Dedication

• Driven by a strong personal sense of integrity and upholds exemplary quality standards
• Prepares thoroughly, takes responsibility, uses initiative and is self-reliant to ensure work progresses to the fullest extent possible
• Hardworking and diligent with a keen understanding of client demands
• Demonstrates composure when dealing with difficult situations
• Revels in latitude, seizes and runs with opportunities even where this requires operating at a level ahead of commensurate experience and knowledge, viewing these occasions positively

Personal Impact

• Creates a positive impression at all times; develops relationships through collaboration and reciprocity
• Negotiates to achieve outcomes that are mutually satisfactory; shows good judgement on when to stand strong and when to compromise
• Invests in, nurtures and builds a network of productive relationships

Humanity

• Respectful to others, regardless of their position, and earns the respect of others by being transparent
• Has care and concern for others and a genuine interest in others as people
• Treats delicate or confidential issues with grace and discretion. 

Baker McKenzie empowers clients to compete in the global economy. We provide comprehensive and practical legal advice that cuts through complexity with clear, actionable guidance. Our people represent diverse cultures and jurisdictions, combining local know-how with international expertise to ensure your business thrives across borders.

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people - regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age - to fulfill their professional aspirations with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates. Should candidates require any reasonable adjustments and/or accommodations when applying to or interviewing with our Firm, please notify recruitmentservices@bakermckenzie.com 

Pay Transparency 

• This position is bonus eligible and includes benefits such as medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) based on number of hours worked. 
• The US base compensation for this position is expected to be $107,000 to $132,000 (annually) if located in an office in the state of Illinois and $112,000 to $139,000 (annually) if located in an office in the state of Washington DC. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. 
• California notice: Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates.