Job Description

1 Job Purpose

The Practice Lead is responsible for managing and co-ordinating the financial, operational and compliance functions of the legal departments to ensure efficient workflow, effective communication, and smooth daily operations across the firm, while supporting senior leadership in growth and regulatory compliance.

By fulfilling these duties, the Practice Lead ensures that the legal departments run smoothly, enabling optimal client service, legal process management and profitability.

Each practice at Broadfield UK has a HOD (Head of Department) who is responsible for P&L and management of the legal teams within their remit. The Practice Lead will work very closely with the HOD, assisting with management and operational tasks.

2 Main Duties

2.1

Financial Management

: Oversee accounting functions including supporting the HOD with management of unbilled WIP, lockup, billing, aged WIP and disbursements, and cashflow management. Approve expenses claims for the legal departments in compliance with the firm's Expenses Policy.

2.2

Budgeting and Financial Oversight

: Working with the HOD on monthly forecasting, monitoring revenue control, perform reviews and support annual financial planning processes. Conduct ongoing reviews of direct overheads budgets and performance against budgets.

2.3

Compliance and Risk Management

: Ensure the legal departments comply with the requirements of regulatory bodies (e.g., Solicitors Regulation Authority), anti-money laundering laws, professional liability insurance renewals, and internal quality standards like Lexcel, CQS and ISO 27001, and assist in audits and policy reviews.

2.4

Operations and Administrative Oversight

: Manage the day-to-day business operations and office procedures within the legal departments in collaboration with the appropriate Business Support teams. Work closely with the administration teams, improve performance and efficiency via centralised processes. Support the management and operations teams on strategic initiatives, meeting preparations, and governance duties and relay information between management and the legal departments. Monitor and update On Hold statuses of active matters in a timely and efficient manner. Set department and team structures, organise and chair weekly capacity meetings and weekly/monthly partner meetings. Co-ordinate data for dissemination to wider team. Approve access to various department mailboxes. Approve holiday requests.

2.5

People and Performance Management

: Assist the HOD with data and feedback related to performance management of the teams. Have a constant eye on relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that reflect operational, financial, client-related, and employee-related goals of the firm. Provide support, discuss issues and manage complaints. Gather and analyse data for informed decision-making and continuous improvement.

2.6

Recruitment:

Assisting the HOD and COO in agreeing trainee, apprentice and NQ numbers for recruitment.

2.7

Training and Guidance

: Manage the training programme for the legal departments to ensure all staff understand the firm-specific metrics (e.g. target billable hours, realisation rates etc) to promote consistency and efficiency, and reduce errors in billing, client intake, and other financial and operational activities.

2.8

Partner onboarding and offboarding:

Co-ordinate the onboarding of new partners to include the completion of all relevant legal paperwork, and the onboarding of their clients and matters. Co-ordinate the offboarding of leaving partners to include agreeing lists of clients and matters that they will be taking with them, agreeing succession, and the transfer of the files to the leaving partner's new firm.

2.9

Department / Team Co-ordination

: Ensure a co-ordinated approach across the legal departments and the business support teams. Escalate support issues, particularly those with the Risk, Finance and IT teams and provide feedback where appropriate. Co-ordinate re implementation of new IT programmes and platforms.

3 Key Requirements

3.1

Essential Skills and Experience

Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to manage diverse teams and engage stakeholders at all firm levels.

Adaptable, detail-oriented, with sound judgment in decision-making, with a commercial mindset.

Experience in leading professional services teams, with previous experience at a law firm highly desirable.

Proficiency with software generally but specifically in financial software (Elite 3E) and document management software (iManage, NetDocs), along with solid skills in Microsoft Office, and a willingness to learn bespoke software.

3.2

Hours

9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday with one hour for lunch. There may be occasions when reasonable additional hours may be required.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 80,000.00-90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Referral programme Work from home
Work Location: In person