Legal Operation Manager (Data Analyst)

Job Title: Legal Operations Manager (Data Analyst)
Location: New York, NY -10036(Hybrid - Wednesday/Thursday are onsite)
Duration: 9+ Months
Interview: 1st round virtual or 2nd In-person

Position Overview:
We are looking for a Legal Operations Manager (Data Analyst) to join our growing legal operations team. This role will play a critical part in driving the efficiency and effectiveness of the legal department through data analysis, financial management, and process optimization. The ideal candidate has a strong analytical background and experience in managing legal spend, reviewing invoices, performing rate analysis, and supporting vendor management relationships.

Key Responsibilities:
Legal Spend Management:

• Oversee invoice review and approval processes to ensure accuracy, compliance with billing guidelines, and proper allocation to cost centers.
• Manage law firm and vendor rate cards; review and approve rate changes and new rate proposals in alignment with internal policies.
• Assist in budget tracking, variance analysis, and quarterly reporting, ensuring financial alignment with operational goals.

Data Analysis & Reporting:

• Develop and maintain dashboards and reports to track key metrics related to matter status, outside counsel spend, invoice statues, and departmental KPIs
• Perform rate analysis and approval, ensuring alignment with internal policies and compliance with agreed terms.
• Manage rate increase requests, analyzing their impact on overall legal spend and ensuring appropriate justification and approval.

Technology & Process Optimization:

• Support legal technology platforms (e.g., eBilling, matter management, and iManage) and contribute to system enhancements and adoption.
• Identify and implement process improvements across legal operations, with a focus on automation and scalability.
• Ensure data integrity across systems and assist with system integrations where necessary.

Vendor & Outside Counsel Management:

• Serve as a point of contact for law firm inquiries, providing prompt and effective responses to address concerns and resolve issues.
• Track and verify correct rate billing across all legal vendors, ensuring accuracy and alignment with agreed-upon terms and billing guidelines.
• Maintain and update comprehensive records of engagement contracts, billing arrangements, rate structures, and vendor profiles to ensure seamless operations and efficient management.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Serve as a key liaison between legal, finance, IT, and procurement teams to streamline processes and ensure alignment across departments.
• Maintain a tracker for legal department contributions and subscriptions, ensuring accurate records of ongoing costs and usage.
• Assist in creating and maintaining an internal legal website, providing up-to-date and informative content to support the team's efficiency and communication.
• Support ad hoc data requests and special projects as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, or a related field. Advanced degree or certification a plus.
• 5+ years of experience in legal operations, data analysis, or a related role within a corporate legal department or law firm.
• Strong project management, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or similar tools.
• Experience with legal technology platforms such as eBilling (e.g., CounselLink, Collaborati, Simple Legal), and matter management.
• Familiarity with law firm billing practices, legal rate structures, and vendor management best practices.
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced environment where you'll work on multiple projects at the same time, while meeting tight deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative mindset.
• Proven self-starter who can prioritize and manage multiple projects and responsibilities with agility and efficiency, acting as a pivotal contributor to a high-performing team