Manager, Career Strategy - Paralegal Services

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Jenner & Block LLP is a law firm with a fearless reputation and global reach, high-level problem solvers in litigation, government controversies, investigations, regulatory challenges, and complex corporate transactions. With offices in Century City, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, the firm represents a wide range of clients, counseling Fortune 100 companies, large privately held corporations, major nonprofits, top universities, private equity investors, and Native American tribes. Consistently recognized as a firm that stands up for its values with its commitment to justice and community service, Jenner has been named the No. 1 pro bono firm 13 times in the United States by The American Lawyer.

POSTION SUMMARY

As a leader within the career strategy function, the Manager, Career Strategy – Paralegal Services champions the professional growth, long-term development, and career advancement of paralegal professionals across the firm. This role partners closely with the Director, Career Strategy as well as the paralegal supervisors across offices and serves as a trusted advocate and advisor to paralegals at all levels, designing and driving career pathways, development programming and training, and identifying resources to allow paralegals to meaningfully contribute to their matter teams.

In addition to its career development focus, this individual plays a key role in talent management, resource planning, and innovation. The Manager ensures high levels of client satisfaction, team performance, and cross-office collaboration to support firmwide goals and legal service delivery.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Career Strategy & Development

• Design and implement a firmwide career development framework for paralegals, encompassing structured career pathways, competency models, and clear advancement criteria that align individual growth with firm strategy.
• Lead end-to-end paralegal talent management — from recruitment and onboarding through ongoing development — identifying opportunities that serve both individual career goals and firm needs.
• Oversee the performance evaluation process and establish benchmarking standards that drive consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the paralegal population.
• Ensure all paralegals have the resources, tools, and support needed to deliver responsive, high-quality, client-focused service.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and all applicable professional development requirements, including CLE obligations and technical competency standards
• Lead regular meetings across the paralegal population to share updates on firm news and active matters, align on priorities, and drive ongoing training and professional development conversations.

Resource Management

• Optimize resource allocation, project staffing, and workflow processes to maximize efficiency and ensure the right talent is deployed to the right matters.
• Monitor performance metrics and workload distribution to ensure billable hour targets are consistently met, making proactive adjustments as needs shift.
• Serve as a strategic liaison between attorneys, legal teams, and administrative leadership to ensure seamless integration of paralegal resources within case teams and drive opportunities for improved service delivery and efficiency.
• Provide leadership and advocacy for paralegal professionals, aligning team goals with firm priorities, ensuring staffing levels meet business needs while promoting a collaborative, high-performance culture.

Change Management & Innovation

• Champion the use of new technologies and practice-specific tools to enhance productivity and collaboration.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, best practices, and innovations in legal service delivery; serve as a thought leader within the department and broader firm.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of five (5) years as a practicing paralegal with a strong preference for trial experience; law firm, government agency, or investigations background also highly valued.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced legal education or training — including a J.D. welcomed.
• Periodic travel to regional offices to support collaboration and projects.
• Proven leadership experience managing legal support teams or paralegal departments in a fast-paced, service-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence, deliver results, and lead high-performing teams.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and legal technology platforms, including SharePoint, Relativity, Opus 2, Lexis/Westlaw, and other trial support software.
• Must be able to work in a hybrid office setting and meet the physical demands of the position.
• Committed to maintaining confidentiality and upholding the highest standards of professional ethics.

Disclaimer

Additional Duties

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the primary duties and responsibilities for the position. It is not an exhaustive list of all tasks or responsibilities that may be assigned. The role may include additional duties, specialized projects, and other tasks as required. The firm reserves the right to modify or adjust the responsibilities to meet business needs.

Physical Requirements

Candidates must be able to meet the physical demands of the position, including the ability to commute to the office as required on designated in-office days based on the position. The firm is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for qualified individuals with disabilities.

EEO Statement

Jenner & Block LLP is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment and employment decisions are not made on the basis of an individual’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability or medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity and/or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions, arrest record, matriculation, personal appearance, political affiliation, marital, parental, veteran, military, or order of protection status, or any other protected status or that of their relatives, friends, or associates.

Jenner & Block is proud to offer a competitive total rewards package, including comprehensive health & well-being benefits and 401k profit sharing. The anticipated pay range for this role is $175,000 to $200,000 in Chicago. The actual offered rate for this position will be determined based on several factors, including qualifications and experience, geographic location, education, external market data, and consideration of internal equity.