Legal Practice Manager

A Legal Practice Manager describes an employee who has a wide range of management and administration responsibilities at a law firm with the overall purpose of ensuring the smooth day to day running of the legal office. He or she is usually supervised by the Managing Partner (in a Partnership) or by the Director (in a Company), and may also have supervisory responsibilities for support staff including secretaries, financial administrators and reception staff.

Duties vary between law firms, but they may include any of the following responsibilities.

Financial

• The financial administration of the law office including book-keeping, billing, bank account reconciliation and debt recovery
• Completing and filing tax documents including Value Added Tax returns (UK), employee tax and monthly payroll payments
• Working with accountants to provide documentation and information required for the purpose of completing annual accounts and returns
• Managing cash-flow and credit control
• Banking duties including checking and processing payments, paying in cheques.
• Preparing financial reports including cash-flow forecasts, unpaid bills, profit and loss, and expense budgets^[1]

Human Resource Management

• Managing the recruitment of staff including working with recruitment agents, placing recruitment advertisements, reviewing job applications and organising and attending interviews
• Managing all staff including organising and attending appraisals, maintaining personnel files and identifying development staff objectives
• Dealing with employee grievances and disciplinary processes
• Providing day to day guidance to support staff relating to their duties and responsibilities
• Organising training for staff and completing training records

Legal Compliance

• Identifying relevant legislation that applies to the law office and their staff and ensuring compliance through implementing relevant procedures and drafting appropriate documentation, including data protection, health and safety, business, and legal services regulatory law

Administration

• Initiating and maintaining relationships with suppliers of products and services
• Ordering stationary and other supplies required for day to day use in the office
• Maintaining office records relating to (for example) health and safety incidents, risks, breaches of procedure and regulations, expenses, taxation, contracts with suppliers, law library books and borrowings
• Answering the telephone, greeting clients, and checking the general office email address.
• Creating new client files and completing file opening procedures.^[2]

Information Technology

• Providing training and support to staff on using software
• Ensuring software is up to date
• Researching and testing new software and hardware for business use
• Ordering hardware and setting this up for use by staff

Premises Management

• Ensuring business premises hold appropriate insurance and that fittings and office equipment is checked and maintained by professionals
• Initiating and maintaining security processes and procedures including fire alarm checks, security and evacuations
• Maintaining records relating to the premises including fixture and fittings records, health and safety checks, lease agreements and correspondence
• Ensuring premises look professional and clean through organising and supervising cleaning, placement of publicity, etc.

Business Development

• Developing a marketing plan, usually in conjunction with the Managing Partner or Director
• Performing duties required to implement the marketing plan and performing administrative duties relating to marketing such as placing advertisements, drafting and sending out newsletters and updates to the website
• Administering client feedback forms and compiling reports on feedback
• Generating and maintaining relationships with clients^[3]

See also

References

1. "Job Description for a Law Firm Director of Practice Support". Chron.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
2. "Law Office Manager: Job Duties and Education Requirements". Study.com. Study.com. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
3. "What do Legal Practice Managers Do?". Law Practice Manager. Martyn Benjamin Williams. Retrieved 14 May 2016.