Legal Support Manager

PA Response Team (PART) Manager

McGuireWoods is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking PA Response Team (PART) Manager to lead one of the firm's most innovative and rapidly growing administrative support models. PART is a dynamic, team-based service delivery model that provides high-quality legal administrative support to attorneys across multiple offices, practices, and time zones. The PART Manager will oversee the daily operations, performance, and strategic direction of the PART program, ensuring exceptional service delivery while driving scalability, efficiency, growth, and continuous improvement.

This role is responsible for leading a large team of PART Specialists, managing resource allocation, optimizing workflows, and maintaining consistent service standards across litigation and transactional practices. Working closely with the Regional Administrative Directors, Office Administrators and attorneys, the PART Manager will play a critical role leading a rapidly growing and highly visible team.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative and a proven service-focused leader with strong legal administrative experience, exceptional judgment, and a passion for developing talent. They thrive in a fast-paced environment, embrace change, and are motivated by the opportunity to lead a high-performing team that is redefining how administrative support services are delivered.

McGuireWoods, one of the world's leading law firms, has provided legal solutions to corporate, individual and nonprofit clients since 1834. Along with excellent benefits, McGuireWoods offers most employees a hybrid remote option allowing flexibility and work-life balance. Our Applicant Disclosures describe your rights. Our Privacy Statement describes how we will process and safeguard your personal data.

Supervision & Leadership

• Develops firmwide workforce plans and succession strategies within PART to support long-term growth, evolving legal practice needs, and the implementation of alternative support models as opportunities are identified across offices.
• Leads organizational change initiatives related to administrative functions, ensuring PART team alignment and readiness through change planning, communication, and training.
• Directs the daily work of PART Specialists, providing guidance, training, coaching, and mentorship.
• Oversees performance management including hiring, onboarding, setting goals, conducting evaluations, and implementing improvement plans as needed.
• Serves as a resource to staff and attorneys, resolving issues and proactively identifying opportunities for improved efficiency.

Operational Management

• Leverages analytics and performance metrics to inform strategic decisions on staffing models, resource deployment, and workflow design.
• Partners with RADs to forecast and manage PART team budget to include staffing costs and needed resource investments.
• Develops staffing strategies to ensure adequate PART coverage across practice areas, including trial teams, transactional projects, and overflow assignments.
• Reviews and assigns incoming requests, ensuring timely and accurate completion.
• Coordinates with Office Administrators, Regional Administrative Directors (RADs), and firm resources to balance workloads and manage assignments across multiple offices.
• Maintains staffing ratios, monitors overtime, approves time and attendance, and manages leave scheduling.
• Analyzes PART program utilization and worklogs to identify operational trends, resource needs, and opportunities to optimize team performance. Evaluates how the program is structured and managed to ensure effective alignment with departmental goals. Provides strategic recommendations related to training, technology, and process improvements based on data-driven insights.

Training & Development

• Designs and implements leadership development initiatives to build future administrative leaders and deepen the PART team's capabilities.
• Identifies opportunities for automation and operational innovation, collaborating with IT and other departments to implement scalable solutions.
• Establishes key performance indicators and benchmarks to measure team performance, productivity, and service excellence.
• Designs and implements training programs to enhance Specialist skills in litigation, transactional support, technology, and client service.
• Supports cross-training to ensure flexibility and depth within the PART team.
• Provides regular feedback and career development opportunities to Specialists.
• Identifies, develops, and implements training programs within PART as well as within the larger Practice Assistant/Practice Administrative Assistant teams to help ensure the teams remain up to date on the latest technology, practices, and procedures.

Process & Quality Improvement

• Monitors and reviews workflow processes to ensure best practices and consistent service delivery.
• Partners with IT, Records, and Business Resource Centers to streamline processes and leverage available tools.
• Serves as a change agent in adopting firm initiatives and ensuring operational excellence.

Collaboration & Communication

• Prepares strategic briefings and presents performance trends, staffing risks, and operational recommendations to RADs.
• Builds and maintains strategic relationships with practice group leaders, attorneys, and administrative departments to anticipate and respond to evolving service demands.
• Acts as the primary liaison between PART Specialists, attorneys, and administrative leadership.
• Communicates firm policies, updates, and expectations to the team.
• Prepares and distributes reports on workload, performance metrics, and staffing needs.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; bachelor's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 8-10 years' progressive services administration, with 3-5 years in a senior leadership or strategic operations role, or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of litigation procedures and litigation support best practices.
• Proved ability to lead cross-functional teams, drive organizational change, and align operational functions with strategic business goals.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience managing budgets and resource forecasting.
• Advanced skills in data analysis, performance management and project execution.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop staff.
• Strong knowledge of legal administrative processes, litigation and transactional support functions, and firm operations.
• Excellent planning, organizational, and project management skills.
• Proficiency with firm-provided software systems and workflow tools.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across offices and practice groups.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, manage competing priorities, and make decisions under pressure.
• Professional demeanor and commitment to client service excellence.