Legal Project Manager

Location: Essex County, NJ (Hybrid)
Salary Range: $145,000 – $165,000 annually, depending on experience

Overview

Our client, an established law firm, is seeking an experienced Legal Project Manager. This role partners with attorneys, clients, and cross-functional teams to ensure matters are planned, executed, monitored, and delivered efficiently and consistently. The position is ideal for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, enjoys improving processes, and can bring structure and clarity to complex legal projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with matter teams to support efficient engagement management throughout the full matter lifecycle, identifying opportunities to enhance service delivery through people, process, and technology.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on project planning, budgeting, fee estimating, scope management, reporting, outside counsel guideline compliance, and project management technology.
• Act as an on-demand consultant within matter teams, focusing on service quality, efficiency, and client satisfaction.
• Liaise between the firm and external clients to ensure compliance with outside counsel guidelines, including staffing, reporting, and billing coordination with Finance.
• Support the implementation and continuous improvement of legal project management and knowledge management tools (e.g., Clocktimizer, viGlobal, Kira, Intapp, HighQ).
• Contribute to building legal project management methodologies and tools through collaboration with internal teams, clients, and vendors.
• Provide training and mentorship on project management and process improvement across the firm.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement through effective communication, constructive feedback, and innovative thinking.

Minimum Qualifications

• 3+ years of substantive project management or relevant legal/practice experience within professional services, consulting, corporate legal departments, or similar environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated ability to implement creative, practical solutions that improve client satisfaction, financial performance, and compliance.
• Experience with project management and process improvement methodologies.
• Familiarity with project management and collaboration technologies such as document management systems, extranets, SharePoint, Smartsheet, HighQ, or Microsoft Project.
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to collaborate across all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to recognize and apply metrics that drive operational improvements.
• Willingness to question assumptions and propose innovative solutions.
• Flexibility to work extended hours as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Paralegal Certificate, MBA, and/or JD.
• Experience working with high-profile client teams or legal operations professionals on complex portfolios.
• Experience with project management platforms such as SharePoint, Smartsheet, HighQ, or Microsoft Project.
• Familiarity with change-management methodologies (e.g., Prosci).
• Project management certifications (PRINCE2, PMP, etc.).
• Understanding of emerging trends in legal service delivery and project management.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $145,000 – $165,000 annually, depending on experience.
• Eligibility for a discretionary annual bonus.
• Comprehensive benefits package

Master Search Solutions is a direct hire recruiting firm that specializes in the New Jersey marketplace. We have nearly 30 years of experience connecting top talent with leading businesses. We are committed to (and celebrate) diversity, equity, and inclusion.