When people think about a law office, they are usually picturing lawyers in courtrooms, client meetings, or preparing for Trial late into the evening. What many don’t see is what is happening behind the scenes.
As an operations manager in our firm, my role is divided between the legal side, the business side and people management side. Every day is a bit different, but the end result is the same: allowing our licensees to focus on practicing law so our clients receive the same professional service they have come accustomed to, while I help take care of the day-to-day operations.
Most mornings begin with reviewing emails and the calendar for the day. I check in with our amazing law clerks and support staff to see how their day is shaping up and I keep on an eye on workflow to ensure that no one is feeling overwhelmed. Law offices can be high-pressure environments. Deadlines are firm, clients are often experiencing stressful situations, and workloads fluctuate quickly. A strong office culture and strong communication helps everyone perform efficiently.
Clients rarely see the administrative work happening behind the scenes, but they don’t need to. All they need to know is that their calls are returned promptly, documents are accurate, invoicing and trust accounts are transparent, and communication is clear.
Licensees practice law, but a law office runs like a business. Behind every successful law firm are team members ensuring that deadlines are met, systems work, and everyone in the office is supported.
I could not be a successful operations manager without the licensees, law clerks, and support staff that I work with – we all work hard so that our clients continue to be happy and have peace of mind that their matter is well taken care of.
Christine Allan, Sr. Law Clerk and Firm Operations Manager