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COO/PLA
Glendale, CA
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About the Role

We are seeking a seasoned Director of Legal Operations to serve as the operational

backbone of our growing law firm. This is a senior leadership role responsible for

ensuring the firm runs efficiently, profitably, and with intention—every single day.

The Director of Legal Operations oversees firm-wide systems, policies, people, and

infrastructure, allowing attorneys to focus on practicing law while the business operates

smoothly behind the scenes. This role partners closely with the Owner and leadership

team to drive growth, accountability, and continuous improvement across the firm.

If you thrive on building systems, leading teams, and turning strategy into execution, this

role was built for you.


What You’ll Be Responsible For

Firm Operations & Strategy

● Design, implement, and continuously improve firm-wide policies, procedures,

systems, and technologies

● Lead operational projects tied to firm growth, including software and technology

implementations

● Develop, manage, and forecast the firm’s operations budget

● Identify inefficiencies and reduce operational overhead without compromising

service quality or compliance

● Create disaster preparedness and business continuity plans


People & Leadership

● Oversee the HR function, including hiring processes, onboarding, training,

development, and performance reviews

● Supervise all non-attorney staff, including reception, paralegals, legal secretaries,

and HR

● Ensure non-attorney staff consistently meet performance and billable

expectations

● Roll out and maintain a comprehensive firm-wide training and development

program

● Drive accountability and compliance with firm policies and procedures


Data, Finance & Reporting

● Partner with finance to build dashboards and reporting that give leadership near

real-time visibility into firm performance

● Track KPIs related to staffing, retention, billables, and operational efficiency

● Maintain metrics that measure progress toward firm goals


Technology, Vendors & Risk Management

● Oversee IT vendors and technology tools, including selection, deployment, and

optimization

● Review and manage firm contracts and identify cost-savings opportunities

● Oversee firm insurance policies and ensure coverage evolves with firm needs

Communication & Culture

● Develop and manage an internal communication strategy, including meeting

cadence and firm-wide updates

● Lead executive meetings with the Owner and Director of Marketing

● Host quarterly firm-wide town halls


Success in This Role Looks Like

● A well-run firm with clear systems, documented processes, and consistent

execution

● Engaged, trained, and accountable non-attorney staff

● Leadership has real-time insight into firm performance through dashboards and

metrics

● The firm scales without chaos, burnout, or breakdowns in service


Ideal Candidate Profile

● Proven experience in legal operations and law firm management

● Demonstrated HR leadership experience, including hiring, onboarding,

performance management, employee relations, and compliance

● Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage, coach, and hold teams

accountable

● Highly systems-oriented with a track record of building scalable processes

● Comfortable with data, dashboards, KPIs, and financial collaboration

● Confident working with ownership and exercising delegated authority

● Calm, organized, and decisive in a fast-moving environment


Why Join Us

● Direct access to firm ownership and decision-making

● Ability to truly shape how the firm operates and grows

● Leadership role with real authority and impact

● Opportunity to build systems that support both profitability and people


If you are a strategic, organized, and people-focused leader ready to make a tangible

impact on a growing law firm, we want to hear from you. Join us and help shape the

systems, culture, and operations that allow our attorneys and staff to excel while

delivering exceptional service to our clients.


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