Senior Project Manager - Practice Technologies

You're looking for a change, and so are we. At Venable, we know that every new hire brings valuable experience, new perspectives, and a chance to raise the bar on our approach to Practice Technologies. That's why we're looking for a Senior Project Manager - Practice Technologies to manage complex discovery projects through the entirety of the litigation lifecycle.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for...

• Managing and providing in-house litigation support for current litigation support technology to legal teams; addressing case management needs with focus on electronic discovery; coordinating collection of discovery related documents from clients, including vendor, client, and attorney resources for collection of data.
• Managing litigation support projects. Working with legal teams to define the requirements, organization, and management of data for litigation and related investigations. Providing on-going advice on best and most efficient practices to process, review and manage data.
• Working with legal teams to prepare documented electronically stored information (ESI) protocols in litigation. Ensuring all ESI protocols are followed and conforms to firm systems. Providing consulting support and/or troubleshooting issues/problems.
• Evaluating costs of ESI management, developing processes, checklists, timelines and forms to provide overall guidance to legal teams. Preparing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to vendors. Evaluating and analyze vendor responses to RFPs. Preparing recommendations, budgets and project plans for acquiring and implementing recommended solutions.
• Developing project design specification in coordination with RFP guidelines and in consultation with legal team. Acting as primary contact for legal team and vendors during the lifecycle of project and assisting legal teams through all stages of litigation lifecycle for the project. Developing, monitoring, and providing comprehensive reporting to legal team, including project metrics; Preparing and maintaining case documentation, including logs, vendor analysis spreadsheet and all department required documentation from inception until the matter is closed.
• Managing vendor relations (for such tasks as collection, ESI processing, document coding, imaging, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) conversion, custom software development, hosting, production and/or trial support), including comparing services to contract, monitoring volume of vendor work. Ensuring charges are accurate prior to approving expenses; overseeing work in progress; reviewing work performed and approving invoices.
• Coordinating presentations for clients, trial, arbitration or mediation, including developing PowerPoint slides and researching vendors to assist with graphics; Coordinating in-trial support, including locating vendors to assist during trial with wire/cable setups. Supporting trial and deposition teams in use of firm technology, and or client/vendor hardware necessary for trial.
• Reviewing and loading data into litigation databases and troubleshoot errors/technical issues. Troubleshooting litigation support applications. Serving as a technical liaison with vendors or the firm's Information Technology (IT) Department to resolve issues.
• Assisting in developing/maintaining and adherence to best practice and workflow procedures for the department. Assisting in preparation of manuals and instruction materials for training personnel in litigation tools and processes. Providing training as needed. Providing change management support to affected practice groups, including making recommendations to legal personnel on implementation of technology changes and practice group utilization.
• Travel to firm offices to attend meetings and provide support as needed.

The successful candidate will demonstrate...

• A bachelor's degree in related field or education/experience equivalent required
• Minimum of five years' litigation support or similar legal experience required, including previous experience working independently with clients and litigation teams.
• In-depth knowledge of electronic data discovery procedures, Sedona principles, Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) and a minimum of three years of previous experience managing litigation data discovery projects.
• In-depth experience (use and troubleshooting) with litigation support software (primarily Relativity Server and RelOne; secondarily, Concordance, Text Map, LAW, IPRO, and other similar litigation support software), eDiscovery applications, network environments, word processing, relational database, and spreadsheet applications to coordinate technical resources for practice group support projects, including equipment, staffing and software/applications.
• Requires expertise to specifically define requirements for defensible litigation support and prepare ESI protocols and make recommendations for use; requires ability to develop related implementation plans, including developing specifications and time requirements for changes and/or developments in firm software and hardware applications
• Innovative experience using advance analytics, email threading, search-term authoring, advance data analysis strategies, including TAR protocols and Active Learning.
• Demonstrated practical experience with managed document review setup, strategy planning, oversight, and management including demonstrated critical thinking of security issues related to the care and maintenance of client data.
• Expertise of various data storage methodologies, including effective methods for extracting information from source data using evidentially defensible methods; strategies for converting extracted data to reviewable form; various review methodologies and systems, including vendor-hosted solutions; and methods of effective electronic production.
• Strong communication and customer service skills, with the ability to engage effectively with individuals at all organizational levels through both verbal and written communication; Experience managing sensitive inquiries or complaints with efficiency and timeliness, maintaining consistent follow-through.
• Ability to present information to small and large groups; Ability to conceptualize and communicate to non-technical audiences the lifecycle of litigation information and data, determine the feasibility of automating matters, and implement recommended solutions.
• Persuasive and insightful negotiation skills for working with vendors to develop purchasing bids and agreements.
• Ability to be on-call for emergency support, including providing telephone and/or on-site support on emergency basis. Travel to firm offices to attend meetings and provide support as needed.

Pay Range for Candidates in Los Angeles:

$130,000 - $160,000 per year

The range provided is the minimum and maximum salary that Venable in good faith believes at the time of this posting that it is willing to pay for the advertised position. Exact compensation will be determined based on individual candidate qualifications and location.

Committing your time and talent is no small matter-at Venable, we know that superior client service begins with an investment in our people. Our competitive compensation, robust benefits, and programs that support our employees' well-being, families, and futures reflect our dedication to prioritizing the whole person, not just the professional.

Venable's benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flexible spending and healthcare savings accounts, 401(k) with firm profit share, paid time off, firm paid holidays, wellness and personal advocacy programs, family planning resources and leave programs, tuition reimbursement, and more. New employees are provided a detailed orientation to the firm's benefit offerings upon hire.

Here, we strive to offer the kind of care that radiates, from our colleagues to our clients, to our communities, so that success finds everyone.

Applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Material job duties for this role include having access to privileged and confidential firm and client information, firm employees, and the firm's premises. This role requires the hired individual to perform the material job duties outlined in this job posting. If the firm reasonably believes an applicant's criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with the material job duties required by the role, a conditional offer of employment may be rescinded.