Legal Innovation and Operations Manager - Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Orrick currently has an excellent opportunity for a Legal Innovation and Operations Manager. This position can be based in any of our West Coast locations- Los Angeles, Menlo Park, Orange County, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Monica, or Seattle. 

The Opportunity: The Legal Innovation and Operations Manager is a forward-thinking, creative, process-oriented driver to help us deliver amazing client service. Their focus is on transforming legal support services – to create a better experience for our clients, our lawyers, and our entire team. This role is instrumental in driving innovation and streamlining administrative operations within the Support Team. The Legal Innovation and Operations Manager will plan for process and technology integration, foster a culture of innovative thinking, identify bottlenecks & pain points, and develop solutions. They are an expert people manager and an agent of change. The Legal Innovation and Operations Manager will have management responsibility for one or more teams in the Team Support Center and act as a mentor and coach to Team Leads and others on their teams. This management role is a key part of the firm’s strategy to deliver an enhanced client experience, increase profitability and demonstrate operational efficiency.

PROCESS AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Contribute to the development of the firm’s goals and objectives by analyzing data, identifying trends, and making recommendations to improve performance.
• Evaluate existing processes to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement. Assess business and change management needs.
• Work with stakeholders to develop and implement process improvements that streamline workflows, automate routine tasks, reduce waste, and improve efficiency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define special project requirements, objectives, and success criteria. Monitor project progress, identify potential risks, and work with stakeholders to develop mitigation plans.
• Train staff on new processes and systems to ensure successful implementation and adoption.
• Monitor the effectiveness of implemented process, procedures and technologies and make necessary adjustments as required.
• Use change management principles to help assigned staff navigate change.

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT & COLLABORATION

• Work with cross-functional teams to ensure that processes are coordinated across departments and that handoffs are smooth and efficient.
• This will include maintaining expert level knowledge in one or more of litigation needs, transactional needs, billing, expenses, data, new business and conflicts, audit, creative, information technology, collaboration tools, ServiceNow, dashboards, etc.
• Maintain excellent cross-functional relationships and serve as the primary point of contact for assigned areas. 

DATA & TECHNOLOGY

• Establish performance metrics and track performance of assigned teams to identify areas for further improvement.
• Use data to understand the pace, intensity, performance, skillset, and technology aptitude of team members.
• Ensure performance and data metrics evolve over time, as needs and service offerings change.
• Prepare regular reports for senior management, highlighting key performance indicators and actionable insights.
• Stay up to date with industry trends and emerging technologies to ensure that processes and offerings are state-of-the-art.
• Take part in evaluation and selection of new technologies. Assist with implementation, roll-out and adoption.

WORKFLOW AND PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

• Supervise and manage day-to-day activities of staff in Support Center; supervise Workflow Coordinators.
• Act as a role model for professionalism, integrity, and teamwork, inspiring team members to emulate these qualities.
• Drive a culture of inclusivity, continuous improvement and teamwork.
• Provide support and guidance for those on assigned teams; serve as a mentor.
• Conduct regular team meetings and one-on-one sessions to address concerns, share updates, and foster a sense of belonging.
• Maintain a hands-on approach with the readiness to jump in and work alongside their assigned teams.
• Actively seek and act on feedback from attorneys working with their service teams.
• Oversee special projects, including providing staffing. Ensure communication and understanding of deadlines, assignments, and objectives.
• Monitor ServiceNow to ensure even distribution of work within your team in the Support Center to ensure efficiency, proper delegation and use of technology, cohesiveness, collaboration, and high-quality support.
• Provide continuous and real time feedback and complete required reviews for assigned team members.
• Actively lead development opportunities for members of the team.
• Collaborate with HR business partners on recruiting, performance counseling and people management.
• Keen eye on expense management, including actively monitoring overtime of those on team and approving overtime as needed.
• All other duties as assigned.

• BA/BS degree (or commensurate work experience).
• At least 10 years of experience in the legal industry, with at least 5 years of experience leading teams
• Experience applying a Lean Six Sigma skill set across a plethora of business problems; proficient use of a broad range of Lean Six Sigma tools, applicable throughout the project lifecycle is preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven and results-oriented approach.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to lead and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Track record of building rapport and strong working relationships with business stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience influencing and gaining consensus where conflicting viewpoints may exist.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams; the ability to challenge and influence the status quo when required, and effectively manage business expectations.
• Innovative and strategic attitude with a high sense of future vision.
• Knowledge and awareness of best practices and developments in AI-enabled and automation legal technologies, and ability to apply these to promote continuous improvement.
• Ability to work independently and make independent decisions, with limited supervision.
• A strong sense of accountability, comfort with ambiguity and changing priorities, and ability to take ownership of projects and tasks.
• A demonstrated proactive, solutions-oriented approach to work, projects, interactions, and service enhancement
• Ability to act as a trusted, strategic advisor to leadership.

Who is Orrick? Orrick is a global law firm focused on serving the technology & innovation, energy & infrastructure and finance sectors. Founded more than 150 years ago in San Francisco, Orrick today has offices in 25+ markets worldwide. We are recognized worldwide for delivering the highest-quality legal advice through our diverse teams and for our culture of innovation and collaboration.  Financial Times selected Orrick as the Most Digital Firm of 2020, and in the past five years, the Most Innovative Law Firm of the Year three times and runner-up twice. For the ninth year in a row, Fortune named Orrick to its 2024 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For.  Learn more about our awesome employee experience here: Fortune 100 Great Place To Work certified company.

Compensation and Benefits

The expected salary range for this position is between: 

• California Major Markets* $113,000 - $160,000
• National $98,000 - $129,000

* California Major Markets includes San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Monica.  All other California locations fall within National range.

Orrick is committed to providing a comprehensive, competitive, and thoughtful total compensation package to our attorneys and staff, wherever they work. This compensation and benefits information is based on the Orrick’s estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job-related factors that may include, but not limited to, qualifications, relevant experience or education, particular skills or expertise, geography.  Other compensation may include an annual discretionary merit bonus, which would be determined by Firm and individual performance. 

We offer a full range of elective health benefits including medical, dental, vision and life insurances; robust mental well-being benefits; child, family, elder, and pet care benefits; short- and long-term disability benefits; a health savings account (w/applicable medical plan), flexible spending accounts, long-term care insurance, and a 401K program. This role is eligible to employees will receive compensated time off through our Flexible Time Off program, generous Parental leave benefits, and paid holidays.

Please visit www.orrick.com for more information about the firm.

How to Apply: If you are searching for a chance to create an impact, you have a little grit and you love working with a team, we want to talk with you. To submit your resume and cover letter for this position, please visit our Staff and Paralegal Opportunities Listings at www.orrick.com/Careers. Orrick accepts applications for this position on an ongoing basis, until filled. 

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Consistent with the SF Fair Chance Ordinance, an arrest and conviction record will not automatically disqualify a qualified applicant from consideration.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for the position in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

#LI-DNI