PURPOSE OF JOB:

In conjunction with the Head of Practice Support, the Practice Support Manager will help to ensure that all Partners and Fee Earners receive exceptional, efficient and consistent support from the Practice Support Team. The Practice Support Manager will work in close liaison with key stakeholders and other business services teams to align support needs to the firm’s strategic objectives, continually evolving processes and support in line with client and business needs.

SPECIFIC PEOPLE & OPERATIONAL DUTIES:

• Responsible for the overall practice support service delivered to their Practice Support Group(s), acting as the escalation point for any issues relating to practice support
• Line-management responsibilities for PEs, PAs and PAAs, supporting team members to ensure that they understand the expectations of their roles and how their roles contribute to the success of the firm
• Responsibility for the 6-monthly check-in process for their direct reports, in line with the firm’s policy. Ensuring feedback has been gathered in relation to performance, supporting with career development, managing expectations and challenging views where needed
• Upskilling PEs, PAs and PAAs by identifying skills gaps and training requirements; implementing training and actively mentoring team members
• Workflow coordination across Practice Support – ensuring that the right tasks are being delegated appropriately and completed by the right roles. Reviewing processes, with a view to streamlining and making efficiencies to all practice area non-chargeable administrative tasks
• Reviewing support allocations and practice support capacity, making changes as necessary
• All elements of recruitment, including ensuring job descriptions are regularly reviewed and updated. Onboarding new members to the team, ensuring inductions and training are put in place and effectively monitoring probationary periods.
• Contributing to salary review and bonus discussions, budget planning, assessing resourcing needs and drafting business proposals as required with support from the Head of Practice Support
• Working closely with PALs and People Partners to provide necessary updates and garner and share feedback
• Working closely with the Head of Practice Support and Finance Partners ensuring that fee earners are receiving support in all areas of financial discipline
• Responsibility for ensuring PEs, PAs and PAAs support fee earners with practice compliance for all People & Culture, Risk and Professional Standards policies and training
• Working closely with C&LO and Innovation teams to build an understanding of new technology and assist with the roll out of updates and new equipment/software where PA support is required, alongside the PEs
• Participating in / taking the lead on ad hoc project work in conjunction with the Head of Practice Support
• Liaising closely with business services teams across the firm to align support needs, to include: BD & Marketing, Finance, People & Culture, IT, Legal & Commercial Operations, Business Acceptance Team, Office Services & Building Wellness Team, Innovation