What does a Legal Department Manager do?
Legal department manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real legal department manager resumes:
- Prepare and distribute payroll manage daily office operations and equipment and maintain supplies for office to run effectively.
- Coordinate with litigation department on state and federal government subpoenas on customer account activity.
- Provide expert testimony at NASD/NYSE arbitration hearings.
- Handpick arbitration ready accounts and oversee the legal department.
- Review and analyze third-party subpoenas, garnishments and other document requests and coordinate require responses.
- Work hand-in-hand with legal representation in litigation discovery process, development of legal arguments and exhibits as well as deposition preparation.
- Field billing questions pertaining to probate notices.
- Scan and file documents, schedule client appointments, new client intakes, Westlaw research, Internet research, notary.
- Develop novel anti-trafficking training program, involving prosecutors, criminal investigators and NGOs.
Legal department manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Legal Department Managers are proficient in Litigation, External Counsel, and Risk Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Problem-solving skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Legal Department Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Litigation, 12%
Worked hand-in-hand with legal representation in litigation discovery process, development of legal arguments and exhibits as well as deposition preparation.
- External Counsel, 9%
Worked independently with both internal and external counsel to manage the reassignment of patent prosecution responsibility.
- Risk Management, 8%
Provide legal protection and risk management to ensure documents meet company retention standards.
- Due Diligence, 5%
Enhanced Due Diligence risk review of high risk clients, specifically located in South America and Asia.
- Legal Issues, 5%
Advised clients on domestic and international legal issues as business unit commercialized internally-developed software products and services.
- Legal Research, 5%
Performed numerous administrative tasks including copying, faxing, directing emails, patent legal research, mail distribution and data entry.
Common skills that a legal department manager uses to do their job include "litigation," "external counsel," and "risk management." You can find details on the most important legal department manager responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a legal department manager to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "lawyers interpret the law as it applies to their client’s case." Legal department managers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "maintain and manage a comprehensive litigation database, including updating case summaries and statuses, calendaring and adhering to critical deadlines. "
Problem-solving skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling legal department manager duties is problem-solving skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "lawyers must evaluate information to propose viable solutions, mediate disputes, and reach agreements or settlements for their clients." According to a legal department manager resume, here's how legal department managers can utilize problem-solving skills in their job responsibilities: "provided customer service to home owners during the legal process to avoid foreclosure and bring resolution, minimizing additional costs. "
Research skills. Another common skill required for legal department manager responsibilities is "research skills." This skill comes up in the duties of legal department managers all the time, as "lawyers need to find laws and regulations that apply to a specific matter in order to provide appropriate legal advice for their clients." An excerpt from a real legal department manager resume shows how this skill is central to what a legal department manager does: "performed extensive legal research using lexis. "
Communication skills. Lastly, "communication skills" is an important element of what a legal department manager does. Legal department manager responsibilities require this skill because "lawyers must be able to clearly present and explain information to clients, opposing parties, and other members of the legal community." This resume example highlights how legal department manager duties rely on this skill: "managed campaign communications and provided strategic policy and legal advice. "
The three companies that hire the most legal department managers are:
- AAmeriprise Financial2 legal department managers jobs
- EExpeditors2 legal department managers jobs
- UUrban One2 legal department managers jobs
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Compare different legal department managers
Legal department manager vs. Staff attorney
Staff Attorneys are legal employees who work for a variety of organizations, often as full-time employees. They use their legal expertise to help deal with day-to-day legal issues with which their organization needs regular assistance.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between legal department managers and staff attorney. For instance, legal department manager responsibilities require skills such as "external counsel," "risk management," "excellent organizational," and "process improvement." Whereas a staff attorney is skilled in "legal services," "juris," "appeals," and "administrative agencies." This is part of what separates the two careers.
The education levels that staff attorneys earn slightly differ from legal department managers. In particular, staff attorneys are 6.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a legal department manager. Additionally, they're 35.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Legal department manager vs. Attorney
Generally, an attorney's responsibility is to advise the client with an ongoing lawsuit on the legal procedures and provide strategies to resolve the case as early as possible. An attorney compiles necessary documents or any records for appeal and client's defense. Attorneys must acquire strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to mediate disputes and settle pending litigation for the client's best interest. In some cases, an attorney's procedure depends on any evidence and research presented during the trial period. An attorney is expected to present clients on legal proceedings, seeking justice and justifying the law.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real legal department manager resumes. While legal department manager responsibilities can utilize skills like "external counsel," "risk management," "excellent organizational," and "legal support," attorneys use skills like "juris," "legal services," "appeals," and "trial preparation."
Attorneys earn lower levels of education than legal department managers in general. They're 5.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 35.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Legal department manager vs. Corporate counsel
A Corporate Counsel, also known as a corporate lawyer, works for a business or company providing legal advice to the employer. They usually work in the employers main office, but also can travel to participate in meetings, trials, and other legal proceedings.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from legal department manager resumes include skills like "external counsel," "excellent organizational," "real estate," and "process improvement," whereas a corporate counsel is more likely to list skills in "intellectual property," "internal clients," "in-house counsel," and "legal services. "
Corporate counsels typically earn similar educational levels compared to legal department managers. Specifically, they're 3.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 29.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Legal department manager vs. Associate attorney
An associate attorney's role is to provide legal counseling to an individual or business entity, resolve legal disputes through crafting agreements and negotiating contract terms, and serving as an advisor or advocate. Most associate attorneys work at law firms or government agencies, supervised by more experienced personnel. Among the duties of an associate attorney includes conducting extensive research on every case, presenting factual evidence and statements, producing the legal and necessary documentation, and representing clients in formal settings.
Types of legal department manager
Updated January 8, 2025
