Job description
We are currently recruiting for a Legal Process Improvement Manager to join our London office to work with the Head of Legal process improvement and Legal Process Improvement Senior Manager to deliver client facing legal function projects. In addition, the role will also lead the delivery of internal projects as required.
Legal Process Improvement (LPI) is a market differentiator for A&O Shearman and a visible expression of our commitment to continuous improvement. Positioned uniquely at the intersection of legal, business and technology, the capability gives us a distinct edge in solving complex, cross‑disciplinary challenges and delivering measurable change and impact. LPI has both internal and client facing value propositions.
Internally, we enable the firm to continually improve and deliver more effective, efficient and consistent services, improving profitability and client experience:
- Service delivery excellence: streamline processes to reduce friction, cost and risk, drive adoption of technology, process, and resource solutions, matter by matter, partner by partner.
- Strategic enablement: lead, plan and deliver business transformation initiatives e.g AI Adoption.
- Capability building on project, uplift teams in ways of working, technology, automation and create a culture of continuous improvement.
Externally, we partner with clients off matter on legal function transformation to address operational challenges and deepen strategic relationships, bringing insights from our own transformation journey.
- Relationship building: Off matter discussions to define initiatives, identify pain points or shape strategies.
- Legal 4.0 – becoming AI native: we help clients transform operating models to become smarter, more agile and AI native.
- Workflow and process optimisation: we partner with clients to optimise how legal services are delivered
- Technology/AI adoption: we advise clients on how to adopt technology effectively to get the greatest impact for least effort.
ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
Client-Facing Responsibilities
- Lead and deliver client‑facing Legal Function Transformation projects, working directly with clients to diagnose challenges, define objectives, and scope work off‑matter.
- Facilitate strategic client conversations to identify operational pain points, co‑create improvement initiatives, and shape transformation strategies.
- Run discovery phases, including interviews, data analysis, workflow review, and maturity assessments to understand client current state and improvement opportunities.
- Design and present solutions, including optimised workflows, operating model changes, AI/technology adoption pathways, and process enhancements.
- Manage the end‑to‑end delivery of client transformation projects, ensuring high‑quality outputs, stakeholder alignment, and measurable value.
- Advise clients on Legal 4.0 / AI‑native approaches, helping define adoption strategies and integrate AI, automation, and digital tooling effectively.
- Strengthen client relationships through consistent communication, insight‑led discussions, and trusted advisor positioning that supports long‑term partnership growth.
Internal Legal Process Improvement Responsibilities
- Plan and deliver internal process improvement and transformation projects, supporting firmwide strategic initiatives and operational excellence.
- Analyse data, legal workflows, and operational models to diagnose inefficiencies and hypothesise opportunities for improvement.
- Apply structured process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, hypothesis‑driven problem‑solving) to redesign legal processes end‑to‑end.
- Build compelling business cases for change to secure support and sponsorship from senior stakeholders.
- Partner with practice groups to understand their work, define improvement opportunities, and support adoption of new tools, processes, and resourcing models.
- Design and run workshops to gather insight, align stakeholders, and build consensus on priorities and target states.
- Coordinate with Advanced Delivery & Solutions (AD&S) to integrate their services, expertise, and technology into redesigned legal processes.
- Support pilots and change adoption, helping matter teams test, refine, and embed new ways of working.
- Lead adoption and change management activities, including communications, enablement, training, and long‑term behavioural change support.
- Measure and track impact, refining solutions as needed and monitoring medium‑ to long‑term effectiveness.
Collaboration & Leadership
- Develop close working relationships with practice groups to champion continuous improvement and innovation.
- Draw on capabilities from across the firm to deliver – Alternative legal service providers, Project Management, Technologists, Data science, our Markets Innovation Group and AI advisory teams.
- Influence and engage stakeholders at all levels, ensuring buy‑in, clarity, and alignment throughout project delivery.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement, modelling best practice and supporting capability uplift across teams.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
- Strong consultancy skills gained from either working internally or through formal consultancy experience.
- Desirable to have Lean Six sigma training and accreditation, Black Belt preferable.
- Significant experience of working in a professional services environment, leading delivery of multiple operational excellence, lean or business transformation projects.
- Experience working on legal process improvement and change management, incorporating new technology and digital processes.
- Strategic thinker, able to analyse both qualitative and quantitative data and quickly draw conclusions and recommendations.
- Self‑starter that possesses a high degree of initiative and independent judgment with excellent troubleshooting, decision‑making, and follow‑through skills.
- Proven ability to manage multiple work‑streams and projects at once, delivering tangible results across multiple change/transformation projects either for external or internal clients, ideally within a law firm or in house legal.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills, with attention to detail and a focus on delivering results.
- Understanding of AI and automation technologies, how they work, their limitations, capabilities and applications.
- Strong technology skills with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Power Platform, MS Excel, Visio and Project.
- Excellent organisational, attention to detail, and ability to multi-task in a fast‑paced, detail‑oriented environment.
- Strong influencing, ability to build consensus and buy in at all levels and flexes style appropriately.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders.
- High‑level interpersonal skills to facilitate communication in person, by email, and telephone with professionalism and diplomacy.
- Very strong facilitation and presentation skills.
Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.
We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back‑up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.
Our approach to hybrid working seeks to combine and maximise the benefits of effective remote working with the benefits of being in the office. Our current hybrid working arrangements require office based working for a minimum of 60% of your time (i.e. three days per week for a full time role) in accordance with our hybrid working policy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE - A&O Shearman does not accept unsolicited CVs. For further information, please see our UK Recruitment Agency Policy and our commitment to direct sourcing here.
A&O Shearman is a global industry‑leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in nearly 30 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.
We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world’s leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.
Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth‑running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first‑rate training and development, we are committed to an inclusive environment, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.
What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.
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