How to Hire a Law Office Manager

Law office managers play a crucial role in holding a law firm together, beyond simply managing case flows. They bridge the gap between legal expertise, administrative work, and technological prowess, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

Curious about how to find the perfect fit for your team? This post takes an in-depth look at how to hire a law office manager. We’ll dive into what makes these employees the backbone of a law firm and how to spot a star candidate.

Let’s get started.

What Does a Great Law Office Manager Do?

Law office managers work with firm partners to handle daily business operations. Though some law office managers have a law degree or ABA-approved paralegal certificate, many reached their posts through industry experience.

Law office managers wear many hats in the workplace. They’re responsible for things like:

Overseeing administrative tasks
Recruiting attorneys and support staff
Handling budgeting, billing, and collections
Managing technology needs and implementing/maintaining software
Scheduling appointments
Interfacing with clients
Organizing attorney calendars
Maintaining office equipment

Moreover, law office managers lend critically important support when necessary, assisting attorneys, paralegals, legal secretaries, and other personnel.

Law office managers also help manage firm employees, including:

Filing clerks
Secretaries
Administrators
Paralegals

Law Office Manager Job Description

An effective job description for a law office manager highlights the importance of work delegation. Office managers assign responsibilities to employees, delegating work accordingly. They’re also tasked with the coordination of meetings, travel plans, and interactions with numerous parties outside of the firm. Managers often interact with court personnel to schedule hearings, trial dates, and more.

Firm managers can be the quality control of the enterprise, guiding others to advance the interest of the collective and tying up loose ends to push cases forward.

The best law office managers are especially skilled at quickly evaluating the urgency of problems and then making prudent decisions accordingly.

Though most law office managers don’t have law degrees, they often train attorneys on office systems, including case management systems. Managers regularly use such case management systems to manage electronic data, generate reports, and get valuable insights.

Law Office Manager Pay

According to Talent.com, the average salary for law firm office managers in the United States is $62,500. Those starting their roles as law firm managers make an average annual salary of $50,000, but managers with experience can make upwards of $93,500 per year.

What to Look for When Hiring a Law Office Manager

The key attribute for a law office manager? A can-do attitude. This leadership post is for those with a passion for work, people, and justice. Successful law office managers are problem-solvers who eagerly take on new challenges and responsibilities without a second thought.

While some firms prefer applicants with a bachelor’s degree, particularly in fields like human resources, communication, or business administration, the standout candidates often have years of experience in law firms (and perhaps a couple of certifications) to their name.

Choosing the Right Law Office Manager

The right law office manager has the potential to elevate the firm to new heights. Hiring a great law office manager will unify attorneys and support staff, maximizing law firm efficiency for a better bottom line!