Hiring a Legal Management Professional
Compensation
How much a legal manager should be paid depends on the size of the firm, the geographic location and the scope of the position to be filled. There are a number of surveys and studies that can help you determine a compensation package, including ALA’s annual Compensation and Benefits Survey, which provides data from hundreds of firms across the country and covers more than 60 administrative/managerial positions found in law offices. The survey is available for purchase online.
Law firms should expect their legal manager to perform at a professional level — and the compensation should match. A legal manager's earnings are often
Acceptance and Feedback: The Keys to Success
Once you’ve hired a legal manager and that person has been on staff for a few months, plan to conduct performance reviews at regular intervals. Performance feedback is extremely important for the legal managers, and the review process should culminate in a face-to-face meeting that provides an opportunity for candid discussion between the legal manager and the managing partner or a person in a similar capacity. This process will help legal managers better serve the firm and adapt to your needs — after all, a clear understanding of expectations will yield a more beneficial relationship
Additionally, the management or executive committee and all lawyers in your firm must accept the legal management professional — both the position and the person — and view that role as vital to the firm’s success. If lawyer support is lacking, there will be a corresponding lack of support from the staff. The partners or shareholders of a firm must also be willing to accept the notion of someone other than a partner or shareholder making recommendations, participating in their meetings and contributing to the agenda.