Practice Support Manager

I am working with an international law firm and they are looking for an experienced Practice Support Manager to join their London office on a fixed-term contract until December 2025. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing support within their respective teams, being aligned to practice groups and business services support teams (Practice Support Executives ("PSE"), Administration, Document Production etc.) ensuring support is being provided at the highest level.

Key Responsibilities

Management and Strategic Responsibilities:

• Oversee PSE support delivery and ensure high performance standards.
• Collaborate with the Head of Practice Support on new initiatives.
• Utilize data to understand support, resource, and recruitment needs.
• Proactively pilot new technology and innovative work methods.
• Encourage continuous development of structures and processes.
• Engage in business development initiatives with Practice Group and legal Team Leaders.

Team Management and Development:

• Lead recruitment processes for new support joiners.
• Utilize BigHand reporting for insights and improvements.
• Promote best practices and ensure high-quality standards.
• Ensure team members attend relevant training and apply new knowledge.
• Conduct performance reviews, set SMART objectives, and monitor progress.
• Identify and address skill gaps and training needs.
• Handle capability issues and employee relation matters in conjunction with HR.
• Provide PSE support when necessary.

General Approach:

• Ensure technical skills and knowledge meet team requirements.
• Serve as the go-to contact for knowledge and information.
• Lead a motivated support team delivering high-quality services.
• Develop strong communication links with fee earners and partners.
• Exercise confidentiality, discretion, and personal sensitivity.
• Support and build collaborative working relationships within and beyond the team.
• Commit to upskilling teams through regular training sessions.
• Provide real-time developmental feedback to staff.

Person Specification

Skills and Experience:

• Proven line management experience across different teams.
• Strong adaptive management and leadership skills.
• Experience in performance and salary review processes.
• Embrace and promote the use of technology.
• Experienced in implementing initiatives and securing its success across teams
• Experienced in supporting PSE development and supporting new ways of working
• Confident in dealing with difficult / challenging conversations
• Ideally from a legal background with similar experience