Legal Project Manager

Keller Postman represents a broad array of clients in class and mass actions, individual arbitrations, and multidistrict litigation matters at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts. Serving hundreds of thousands of clients in litigation and arbitration, we have prosecuted high-profile mass tort, antitrust, privacy, product liability, employment, and consumer-rights cases. Our firm also acts as plaintiffs’ counsel in high-stakes public-enforcement actions. Our mission is to achieve exceptional results for our clients, drive innovation in the practice of law, and pursue unparalleled excellence in everything we do.

Position Overview

Based in Chicago, the Legal Project Manager is a key strategic role responsible for ensuring the efficient and successful delivery of mass claims matters while upholding the highest standards of client service. Reporting directly to the Chief Client Officer, the Legal Project Manager will oversee the entire lifecycle of significant legal matters, from inception to resolution, driving operational excellence, stakeholder alignment, and client satisfaction. This role requires a dynamic individual with exceptional project management, communication, and analytical skills to support legal teams and operational functions in a fast-paced, complex environment.

Primary Activities and Responsibilities

Client Communication

• Develop, implement, and manage clear, consistent, and professional communication strategies to keep clients informed of matter progress and updates.
• Proactively manage client expectations by maintaining transparency and responsiveness throughout the matter lifecycle.

Matter Planning & Execution

• Create comprehensive project plans, including timelines, milestones, and deliverables, tailored to meet client objectives and case-specific requirements.
• Monitor project progress against established goals, adjusting plans as needed to address changing circumstances or priorities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional Operational teams to ensure seamless execution of legal matters.

Stakeholder Management

• Foster and maintain strong relationships with internal teams, clients, and external vendors to facilitate collaboration and mutual trust.
• Act as a liaison between legal teams, operational staff, and clients to ensure alignment on goals and expectations.

Resource Coordination

• Assess and allocate resources effectively to meet case demands, balancing workloads and optimizing team capacity.
• Monitor resource utilization and adjust assignments to maintain high-quality output and efficiency.

Risk Management

• Identify, analyze, and mitigate potential risks throughout the project lifecycle, developing contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges.
• Provide proactive recommendations to minimize operational and legal risks while ensuring adherence to firm policies and client expectations.

Data & Financial Analysis

• Track budgets, costs, and resource allocation with precision to maintain financial oversight and efficiency.
• Analyze financial data and project metrics to generate insights that drive informed decision-making and process improvements.
• Deliver periodic case progress, financial performance, and operational efficiency reports to internal leadership and clients.

Reporting & Documentation

• Prepare comprehensive updates and insights, including docket quality reviews and client sentiment analyses.
• Maintain accurate and organized project documentation.

Process Optimization

• Identify opportunities to enhance workflows and implement best practices for legal project management.

Cross-Department Collaboration

• Collaborate with Finance, Case Management, and Technology teams to align goals, objectives, and resource planning.
• Contribute to the development of firm-wide project management frameworks, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and strategies.
• Drive the adoption and integration of new technologies and methodologies to improve operational performance.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree; JD, paralegal certification, or PMP/LPM certification preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of project management experience in a professional services environment, ideally within a law firm or consultancy.
• Proficiency in project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall) and tools (e.g., MS Project, Asana).
• Advanced Excel skills and experience analyzing financial reports and developing actionable insights.
• Exceptional organizational and multitasking abilities with a proven ability to manage multiple high-stakes projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with experience influencing and managing relationships with high-value stakeholders.
• Demonstrated problem-solving abilities with commercial insight and attention to detail.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication tailored to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and prioritize effectively.