Associate Director of Legal Project Management

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Carlton Fields is seeking an Associate Director of Legal Project Management.

The Associate Director of Legal Project Management works closely with attorneys, clients, and firm leadership to improve delivery of legal services. This is a broad and highly visible role that spans LPM, pricing, and technology innovation. You will work on some of the firm’s most significant matters as you support our profitable delivery of high value and efficient legal services.

Key responsibilities:
Legal Project Management

• Provide LPM support across the firm to help define scope, assumptions, risks, milestones, and staffing models for new, existing, and prospective engagements.
• Prepare, monitor, and manage legal expense budgets. Monitor progress against plans and budgets; work closely with lead attorneys to keep matters on track and plan.
• Monitor realization, write offs, and profitability; identify trends and recommend adjustments in scoping, staffing, or fee design to protect and improve profitability.
• Support client facing reporting requirements for major matters and portfolios, ensuring delivery of timely and accurate information on progress, cost, and value.
• Assist with matter close out activities, including confirming final billing, capturing lessons learned, and preserving key data and documents for future pricing and planning.
• Provide training and guidance to support cultural adoption and implementation of LPM skills, tools, and approaches throughout our work.

Pricing and Rate Management

• Work closely with firm attorneys and clients to develop and implement value-based pricing with innovative alternative fee agreement options.
• Provide pricing support for pitches, proposals, and Requests for Proposal.
• Participate and lead on-line bidding and reverse auction pricing events.
• Support rate management activities including periodic calibration of standard hourly rates and management of existing rate agreements.
• Coordinate with Finance and Billing to ensure agreed rates and fee terms are correctly implemented in firm systems and accurately reflected on invoices and reporting.
• Support accurate task code and time entry practices.​
• Prepare concise dashboards and status reports for partners and, as appropriate, clients, covering scope, timetable, key risks, and financial position (including explanations of any variances).

Innovation and Technology

• Support assessment, testing and deployment of legal technology used in the delivery of legal services including artificial intelligence.
• Serve as a business lead and power user for LPM and budgeting tools.
• Develop and maintain practical templates and playbooks for matter intake, scoping, budgeting, variance review, and client reporting that can be applied consistently across practice groups and clients.
• Develop and manage content of LPM intranet site.

Qualifications:

Experience

• 5–8+ years’ experience in a law firm or professional services environment in one or more of these disciplines: legal project management, pricing/revenue management, practice management, financial analysis, or matter management.
• Direct experience supporting partners or senior professionals on complex, multi stakeholder engagements, ideally including alternative fee or portfolio arrangements.
• Demonstrated track record improving financial outcomes, process consistency, or client reporting (for example, better realization, fewer write offs, or more predictable delivery).

Skills and attributes

• Strong financial acumen, including understanding of realization, margin, leverage, and the impact of staffing and scope decisions on profitability.
• Practical project management skills: planning, tracking, risk identification, and facilitation tailored to a law firm environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and presence; able to work closely with partners, raise difficult issues, and influence decisions in a constructive, solution-oriented manner.​
• Highly proficient with data and technology (Excel, BI dashboards, budgeting tools, and AI enabled reporting), and able to translate data into clear, business oriented narratives.
• Highly organized, with strong follow through and the ability to manage multiple matters and stakeholders simultaneously.​

Education and credentials

• J.D. strongly preferred. Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in business, finance, or a related field is a plus.
• Formal project management training or certification is beneficial but not required where experience demonstrates equivalent capability.

The salary range for this role in Connecticut is $120,000 - $150,000. Actual salaries will vary depending upon various factors, including relevant experience and skillset. The salary range listed is just one component of the Carlton Fields total compensation package for employees. Other monetary rewards include annual discretionary bonuses based on performance and profit-sharing contributions based on eligibility and firm profitability.

Additionally, Carlton Fields provides a comprehensive suite of benefits to promote health and financial security, including medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as life, accident, and disability insurance plans. The firm also provides the opportunity to participate in 401(k) retirement benefits, commuter benefits, and well-being programs.

Carlton Fields is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, or conditions of employment on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable laws. Please click here to view the EEO is The Law poster and supplement. We also participate in the E-Verify program. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Carlton Fields is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with Carlton Fields and need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website or applicant tracking system, please request assistance by e-mailing [email protected]. When contacting us, please provide your contact information and state the nature of your accessibility issue. We will only respond to inquiries concerning requests for reasonable accommodation.