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Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Onsite
Join Goodwin’s Global Operations Team, and make a real impact on a global scale. At Goodwin, we work with some of the world’s most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. As part of the Global Operations Team – all business professionals at the firm – you’ll collaborate with colleagues from varied backgrounds and experiences, fostering an environment where cross-functional learning, networking, and collaboration are at the core of what we do.
Here, we’re not just supporting a law firm; we’re partnering with attorneys and clients to deliver cutting-edge solutions in high-stakes litigation and dispute resolution, world-class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex transactions. Our commitment to integrity, ingenuity, agility, and ambition drives us, and we’re proud to have been recognised as the “Best Business Team” by The American Lawyer.
This is your opportunity to grow professionally in a dynamic, global environment, surrounded by forward-thinking peers.
As Director, Paralegal Services, Legal Delivery and Talent, you will lead the continued evolution of how paralegal services are designed, delivered, and managed across Goodwin.
This role extends beyond traditional paralegal leadership focused on staffing, supervision, and administration. We are seeking a forward-looking legal services leader who will challenge conventional approaches and develop service models around the needs of our attorneys, practices, and clients.
Effective paralegal service delivery requires different approaches across a complex law firm. Litigation and transactional practices, as well as individual practices within them, may require distinct models for specialization, staffing, workflow, technology, talent, and management. You will partner with practice leaders, partners, associates, and firm leadership to understand those needs and translate them into practical, scalable solutions.
You will have end-to-end responsibility for the paralegal function, including service delivery strategy, operating model, talent, technology enablement, performance, and execution. Supported by paralegal managers and other delivery and operational roles, you will be accountable for delivering excellent service while advancing how the function supports attorneys, practices, and clients.
What You Will Do:
Design and Evolve Differentiated Service Delivery Models
You will lead the evolution of how paralegal services are delivered across Goodwin. Recognizing that a single operating model will not meet the needs of every practice, you will develop approaches that reflect differences in legal work, attorney expectations, demand patterns, expertise, and client needs. Your responsibilities include:
Develop a deep understanding of how attorneys across practices use paralegal support, where their needs differ, and where opportunities exist to improve service, quality, efficiency, and value
Design and evolve differentiated delivery models that reflect the needs of each practice, including specialization, team structure, staffing, workflow, technology, geography, talent, and management
Determine where firmwide consistency and standardization create value and where practice specific approaches better serve attorneys and clients
Partner with practice leaders, partners, associates, and GO (Global Operations) Team leaders to translate attorney and client needs into practical, scalable service delivery models
Establish clear roles, handoffs, service expectations, quality standards, and accountability across delivery models
Challenge legacy processes and organizational assumptions to identify better ways to organize, manage, and deliver work
Use performance data, attorney feedback, and evolving practice needs to measure effectiveness and refine service delivery over time
Own the Talent Development Strategy
You will ensure that the talent strategy for paralegal services supports the work the firm needs today while building the skills and capabilities required for the future.
You will own the full talent lifecycle for the paralegal function and ensure the organization attracts, develops, and retains exceptional talent. This includes:
Drive the talent development roadmap in collaboration with Human Resources through clear career paths, advancement opportunities, and skill development programs
Define the capabilities, skills, and expertise required to support different practices and service delivery models
Develop managers who actively coach, provide feedback, and manage performance effectively
Foster a culture of continuous learning, engagement, inclusion, and professional growth
Ensure team members understand expectations and receive consistent feedback, coaching, and support
Drive the Service Evolution Roadmap
You will define and execute the strategic roadmap for the paralegal function, balancing operational excellence, process improvement, and innovation. This includes:
Prioritize and lead initiatives that improve service delivery, efficiency, quality, and scalability
Leverage data, metrics, and stakeholder feedback to identify opportunities for improvement and inform decision-making
Shape priorities based on firm strategy, business objectives, attorney feedback, and emerging trends in legal services
Lead the adoption of enabling technologies, including generative AI and workflow automation, where they create meaningful value
Operational Leadership and Performance
You will provide executive oversight of the day-to-day operation of the paralegal function and ensure services are delivered efficiently and consistently. Your responsibilities include:
Establish and monitor key metrics for demand, capacity, utilization, quality, responsiveness, and attorney satisfaction.
Use data to guide decisions on staffing, specialization, workflow, technology, and talent.
Deploy resources effectively while accounting for practice and geographic needs
Set clear expectations for managers and hold the leadership team accountable for service and performance
Serve as the senior escalation point for significant staffing, performance, and service issues
Establish and maintain appropriate quality standards and service expectations
Oversee the case assistant team and evolve its services based on attorney and practice needs
Develop tools and guidance that help attorneys use paralegal resources effectively
Lead with Clarity and Accountability
You will lead a high-performing team responsible for executing the strategic and operational priorities of the paralegal function. Your responsibilities include:
Build trusted relationships with partners, practice leaders, associates, paralegals, and GO Team leaders
Engage attorneys in designing and improving services to reflect how practices work
Communicate changes, expectations, and their impact clearly
Anticipate and address barriers to adoption
Equip managers to reinforce new expectations and ways of working
Drive progress while recognizing the realities of a partnership environment
Create feedback channels to identify issues and improve services
Who You Are:
You are a forward-looking legal services leader who is curious about how legal work gets done and looks for better ways to deliver it. You question traditional structures and role definitions and recognize that different practices may require different approaches.
You combine strong operational and people leadership with the ability to rethink how services are designed and delivered. You bring:
A service mindset that starts with the needs of attorneys, practices, and clients.
The ability to design different approaches to staffing, specialization, workflow, technology, and talent based on practice needs.
A track record of challenging established ways of working and turning new ideas into practical solutions.
Strong knowledge of legal workflows and sound judgment about when work should be standardized, specialized, centralized, automated, or delivered differently.
Curiosity about how technology, including AI and automation, can reshape legal work and service delivery.
Strong analytical skills and the ability to use data and feedback to improve performance.
Credibility with partners and practice leaders, including the ability to understand their needs, challenge assumptions, and build support for change.
Strong people leadership skills, including developing managers, managing performance, and creating opportunities for paralegals to grow.
The ability to move between strategy and execution and lead change through sustained adoption.
Clear communication, sound judgment, and a willingness to test new approaches and learn from results.
You are motivated by building better ways to deliver paralegal services and increasing the function’s contribution to attorney effectiveness, client service, and the firm’s success.
Qualifications:
Hold a bachelor's degree; advanced degree is a plus but not required
Bring significant progressive leadership experience in a large law firm setting, with preference for AmLaw 100 experience
Demonstrate experience transforming a legal function, including designing and implementing new operating models
Manage the full talent lifecycle
Maintain strong familiarity with legal industry trends, legal technology, and the evolving role of non-attorney timekeepers
Build relationships and navigate complex stakeholder dynamics in a professional services environment
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Benefits and More
At Goodwin, you will discover your next career opportunity with a rewarding compensation package and comprehensive benefits, including:
Health, dental, and vision insurance
Life and disability insurance
Retirement & Savings Plan
Emergency back-up child and adult care
Paid vacation, sick time off, and holidays
Professional development and career advancement opportunities
Employee recognition and reward programs
Employee wellness and assistance programs
Employee discounts and perks
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