Practice Manager - Appellate & Constitutional Law

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. The firm’s work is distinguished by a unique combination of precision and vision.

Gibson Dunn is looking for a dynamic contributor that is passionate about the subject matter and work of the practice and that can act as an interface not only to the partners and associates at the firm, but also in client-facing scenarios. 

Based in Washington, D.C. or Los Angeles, the Practice Manager (PM), Appellate and Constitutional Law will be responsible for supporting day-to-day business and operational tasks of the practice, as well as the development and implementation of the practice’s strategic initiatives, in collaboration with practice group and firm leadership.  This individual should have a strong working familiarity with the work and procedural posture of an appellate and constitutional law practice, including appellate and Supreme Court practice and procedure, constitutional law, administrative law and agency review, and significant developments before the U.S. Supreme Court, the federal courts of appeals, and state appellate courts.

The PM is a key piece of the firm’s business services function and will join a growing practice management team collectively responsible for supporting practice leaders in the management and development of their groups.  This role will be responsible for (1) strategic planning and management of the practice group; (2) driving talent management initiatives, including supporting the firm’s free market system, pipeline development, and productivity goals; (3)developing practice-specific education and trainings; (4) serving as a primary contact and driver of knowledge management and client development efforts for the group; (5) serving as information conduits to support cross-department and cross-office initiatives and projects; and (6) supporting initiatives and projects in collaboration with a number of firm departments, including Professional Development, Marketing & Client Development, Knowledge Management, Communications, Recruiting, Diversity, Career and Alumni Services, Technology, Human Resources, and Office Administration.

Communication, leadership, subject matter expertise, and emotional intelligence are important skills needed in this role along with an understanding of the life cycle of a matter and how attorneys practice in a law firm setting.

This role reports to the Firm’s Director of Practice Management, US Litigation, under the Chief Legal Operating Officer, and will take daily direction from the Practice Group Leaders, while working closely with the Firm’s other Practice Managers.

 Responsibilities include: 

  Strategy & Planning

• Work with the practice group leadership, in coordination with the practice group management team, to develop strategic business goals, objectives, and tactics in alignment with Firm strategy.
• Assist in the preparation and implementation of the practice groups' strategic goals and objectives, as defined by practice group leadership, including required coordination and execution.

Talent Management & Development

• Work with practice group leadership to manage talent across the groups, including through regular assessments of firm's recruiting and senior talent pipelines, in coordination with Human Resources development of performance improvement plans, and coordination with attorney review teams.
• Support the firm's free market system from both an associate and partner perspective, including by helping lawyers identify appropriate staffing for matters and opportunities for new work.
• Work to manage the associate journey for practice groups, including mentorship, review support, low billing interventions, and other career guidance.
• Work with professional development team to develop practice-specific educational trainings and CLE programming, including development of core expertise developmental goals for junior, mid-level, and senior associates.
• Work cross-functionally with professional development and diversity departments to support and promote attorney development.

Knowledge Management

• Develop, maintain, and publicize, in coordination with Knowledge Management and PG leadership, relevant practice group materials, including forms, templates, interpretation documents, and databases. Act as the central repository for the knowledge of matters and work product developed by the practice groups, including research materials, publications, past articles, newsletters, model briefs, notable decisions, and matter files. Coordinate and distribute periodic practice-specific updates tracking relevant legal developments for internal and external education.
• Monitor relevant legal and news developments for issues relevant to the practice groups. Circulate relevant information from these sources to the practice group and/or clients, including information on their applicability to current matters.

Business Development & Marketing

• Collaborate with marketing, business development, and communications teams to support firm's business development efforts, including managing external events, rankings and awards submissions, client updates, identification of targets for existing clients and more.

Operations & Meeting Management

• Develop agendas and drive follow-up for regular partner and group meetings.
• Manage tracking of all practice specific data including matters, oral arguments, and staffing.
• Work collaboratively with peers across the firm's business support departments to manage initiatives and support business strategies as determined by practice groups.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and drive follow-through on execution.
• Assist with special projects as they arise.

Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of federal and state appellate practice and procedure, constitutional law, administrative law, and U.S. Supreme Court and appellate advocacy.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with the appropriate discretion.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and people skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.  Collaboration and facilitation skills to work with various departments and facilitate their ability to work with each other.
• Ability to work independently and with a team, and to delegate and manage resources effectively.  Strong leadership skills to lead a large and geographically dispersed team.
• Exhibit high degree of initiative and critical-thinking skills in exercising independent judgment and making decisions in managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, detail-oriented work environment.
• Creative thinker who is open to considering multiple approaches to issues and collaborating with other leaders to develop and execute plans.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment. Able to coordinate multiple tasks concurrently and prioritize effectively.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to work concurrently on a variety of projects with changing priorities.  Have meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with Department personnel, Firm management, other attorneys and staff.
• Highly motivated, strategic focus: ability to understand and support Firm goals, services, culture and strategy to present self and the Firm in a positive, professional manner.
• Understands and stays up to date on current legal market trends, news, and innovations.
• Exhibits high degree of initiative in managing multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, high-stressed, detail-oriented work environment.
• Strong knowledge of the legal industry, the relevant laws and regulations, and the best practices and standards.
• Ability to work independently to solve problems relating to both technical issues and situations involving the coordination of, and collaboration with, attorneys, non-attorney staff and different administrative departments.

Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree and J.D. or Bachelor of Laws or equivalent graduate degree with strong academic credentials required.
• Minimum of 5-7 years’ experience directly related to the duties or skills described herein, including at least two years’ experience as a manager of a function.
• Preferred experience in a professional services firm, ideally a law firm.
• Judicial clerkship experience (federal or state appellate) preferred.

 

Gibson Dunn will consider for employment qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of local law.

Compensation & Benefits:

The annual compensation range for this position is $230,000 - $280,000. The salary offered within this range will depend upon qualifications and other operational considerations.

Benefits offered for this position include health care; retirement benefits; paid days off, including sick time, and vacation time; parental leave; basic life insurance; Flexible Spending Accounts; as well as discretionary, performance-based bonuses.