Job Description

Manager Legal Dispute - Large Law Firm - Sandton

The Role

The Manager, Legal is a senior and experienced qualified attorney, who works closely with the Head of Legal Process Outsourcing, Johannesburg and the Heads of Disputes UK, US & EMEA, LPO and other Senior Managers to train and supervise the disputes team in Johannesburg. The team comprises both qualified lawyers and legal analysts participating in a 14-month International Legal Development Programme ("the programme").

The role involves the day-to-day line management and supervision of project teams on fee earning matters. Project teams are resourced on a global basis and may include lawyers and legal analysts in the Johannesburg office or part of the wider network. The Manager, Legal role involves supporting with the supervision and training teams of Senior Solicitors/Senior Former Practising Barristers ("FPBs"), Solicitors/FPBs, trainees and legal analysts.

Key responsibilities

• Conducting and managing the delivery of fee-earning work including large scale document review.
• Supervising teams conducting fee earning projects and conducting fee earning work themselves, particularly of a complex nature.
• Scoping, set-up, training, and pricing in relation to fee earning projects which are often complex and large scale.
• Supporting pricing, managing costs, WIP and billing, as required.
• Supporting the development of workflow for specific projects, including drafting relevant sections of case and client manuals or review guides and supporting our instructing teams generally with the drafting of project instructions.
• Prepare, manage and report on project plans to internal and client matter teams.

• Monitor project budgets and report on costs and fees on an ongoing basis both internally and externally.
• Conducting quality control (i.e. to check all fee earning work is being conducted accurately).
• In addition, this role will be responsible for the performance management, pastoral care and training of the lawyers and legal analyst team, including:

• Conducting mid-year and annual performance reviews.
• Coaching and mentoring team members to ensure high performance.

Qualifications and skills
Essential

• Admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa (other jurisdictions may be considered).
• 5+ year's PQE in commercial litigation, exceptional candidates with less than 5 years' relevant experience will be considered (candidates should explain why they consider their experience is exceptional in a cover email when submitting their CV).
• Strong IT literacy, including an aptitude for learning (and becoming proficient in) the use of software and IT applications.
• Experience of managing more junior lawyers or legal staff.

Desirable

• Experience working in a commercial legal environment, ideally a private practice law firm.
• Experience of managing project teams including direct reports.
• Experience in managing large scale disclosure exercises in litigation or contentious regulatory matters.
• Proven experience of designing volume claims delivery including processes and workflows and managing delivery teams.
• Experience in the use of document review software and case management software.

Salary: Market Related

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