Practice Manager/Advisor - 9 month FTC

This is an opportunity to join our Practice Management team and support the running of some of our largest practice groups as well as contributing to firmwide strategic projects and the smooth running of the practice as a whole. The work is varied and collaborative, involving regular interaction with partners, lawyers and colleagues across Business Teams. You’ll help drive effective operations, support key processes, and contribute to improvements in how the practice functions day to day.

The role

The Practice Manager will support the Practice Director in providing business management support to our practice groups and progressing some key projects. The work is varied, differs between groups, and involves close collaboration with lawyers and colleagues across Business Teams.

This is a 9 month fixed‑term contract, starting in October.

Supporting the Practice Director with business management across the firm’s largest practice groups, including:

• Partners' meetings: provide high-level coordination and support for partner meetings, including the preparation of agendas and papers, note taking, management of actions and decisions and coordination of attendees and guest speakers to ensure meetings are delivered efficiently and effectively.

• Department meetings: Coordinate department/team meetings (inc. preparing agendas; inviting and briefing guests from other teams).

• Work allocation: Coordinate work allocation within the firm’s larger practice group as and when requested to balance workloads and maximise efficiency.

• Onboarding: Ensure a smooth onboarding of new joiners by delivering practice group inductions and collaborating with HR.

• Process improvement: working with Practice Support Managers and other Business Teams.

• Supporting delivery of aspects of the practice group’s business plans, and overseeing aspects of the practice group’s budgets.

• Supervision arrangements: co‑ordinating and documenting changes for new joiners, promotees, returners etc., liaising with HR.

• Collaborating closely with HR on people matters across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment and development, gathering feedback for appraisal and supporting effective objective setting aligned to business plans

• Team updates: preparing updates for the department on joiners, leavers, secondments etc.

• Managing client secondment requests end‑to‑end, including reverse secondments, liaising with the practice and other Business Teams, as well as with clients where appropriate.

• Coordinating fee earner resource‑sharing requests across the firm’s practice groups, e.g. during busy periods or absence cover.

• Monitoring utilisation across the practice, identifying trends and concerns to raise with supervisors or Heads of Departments.

• Identifying reporting errors and working with the relevant teams to resolve them.

• Responding to queries from lawyers and partners about individual or team utilisation.

• Supporting understanding of and adherence to the time recording policy.

• Maintaining and improving the Practice Management team’s intranet pages.

Supporting the Practice Director on projects, including:

• Working with key stakeholders in the practice and the Business Team to develop and implement a new pro bono strategy

• Working with the Emerging Talent Manager on paralegal role design and resourcing

• Streamlining communications from Business Teams to the practice.

Key experience

• You will have experience working as a Practice Manager or Practice Advisor (or an equivalent functionally broad role), ideally gained within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Proactive self-starter with a can-do attitude.
• Well organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Comfortable navigating new areas and working fluidly with colleagues across functions.
• Able to build effective and trusting relationships quickly at all levels, from partners and directors to early career colleagues.
• Strong influencing skills, including the confidence to provide constructive challenge where appropriate and the openness to adjust approaches based on feedback.
• You share our values and want to make a difference.
• You want to feel that you are a part of the Bates Wells experience and ‘belong”

Impact-Driven Purpose
We align profit with social purpose to create lasting positive impact for our people, communities, and planet.

Committed to the Climate
Through our Climate Programme, we reduce environmental impact and drive a just transition to net zero.

Championing Inclusion
We foster a diverse, inclusive culture where creativity and innovation thrive.

Flexible and Hybrid Working
Our hybrid model supports balance, with part-time options and at least two office days weekly.

Progressive Benefits
We offer green pensions, IVF support, private healthcare, and more for your well-being and growth.

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