Legal Practice Manager

Updated on Sep 23, 2024

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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

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.

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

References

Legal Practice Manager Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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