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Job outlook for legal department managers in the United States
Are legal department manager jobs in demand?
Legal department manager job and salary trends over time
Legal department manager jobs over time
Legal department manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,784 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,691 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 2,687 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,628 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,569 | 0.00% |
Average legal department manager salary over time
Legal department manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $66,307 | $31.88 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $64,233 | $30.88 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $63,162 | $30.37 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $62,295 | $29.95 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $61,725 | $29.68 | +2.0% |
Legal department manager jobs by state
Most common states for legal department managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 117 | 17% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 129 | 10% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 63 | 9% |
| 4 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 289 | 8% |
| 5 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 81 | 8% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 80 | 8% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 46 | 8% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 446 | 7% |
| 9 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 436 | 7% |
| 10 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 213 | 7% |
| 11 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 90 | 7% |
| 12 | Delaware | 961,939 | 67 | 7% |
| 13 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 646 | 6% |
| 14 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 541 | 6% |
| 15 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 442 | 6% |
| 16 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 347 | 6% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 339 | 6% |
| 18 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 330 | 6% |
| 19 | Vermont | 623,657 | 36 | 6% |
| 20 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 472 | 5% |
Most common cities for legal department managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Gatos | 1 | 3% | $99,358 |
| 2 | Torrance | 1 | 1% | $90,066 |
| 3 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $65,461 |
| 4 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $64,633 |
| 5 | New York | 1 | 0% | $103,545 |
| 6 | Scottsdale | 1 | 0% | $67,933 |
Legal Department Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of legal department manager experts
University of Akron
Highline College
Berkeley College
Catholic University of America
Berkeley College
University of Hartford
Prairie View A&M University
Alisa Benedict O’Brien
Assistant Dean for Career Services, Strategic Initiatives & External AffairsUniversity of Akron
Dispute Resolution
What general advice would you give to a Legal Department Manager?
Alisa Benedict O’Brien: Make yourself indispensable to your employer. Be timely and demonstrate your enthusiasm for your job and your work ethic. Offer to jump in on a project or stay late to get your work done. Get involved in your community and network. Getting out and building relationships will lead to clients and generate business. Never stop learning and asking questions as your goal is to become an expert in your field; this includes attending continuing legal education programs, seminars, lunch and learns, webinars, writing a blog post or article, etc.
What will help Legal Department Managers increase their earning potential?
Alisa Benedict O’Brien: Make yourself indispensable to your employer. Be timely and demonstrate your enthusiasm for your job and your work ethic. Offer to jump in on a project or stay late to get your work done. Get involved in your community and network. Getting out and building relationships will lead to clients and generate business. Never stop learning and asking questions as your goal is to become an expert in your field; this includes attending continuing legal education programs, seminars, lunch and learns, webinars, writing a blog post or article, etc.
What skills stand out on Legal Department Manager resumes?
Che Dawson J.D.: The most important is technology and writing skills, in that order.
What soft skills should all Legal Department Managers possess?
Che Dawson J.D.: Willingness to learn, professionalism (punctuality, collegiality), ability to work independently and take the initiative.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Legal Department Managers?
Che Dawson J.D.: Technology/computer skills, legal research skills, attention to detail, and writing skills.
What skills will help Legal Department Managers earn the most?
Che Dawson J.D.: Technology! Most attorneys aren't outstanding with technology. They really value assistants who are!
Richard Olivieri
Professor, Legal StudiesBerkeley College
School of Professional St
What skills stand out on Legal Department Manager resumes?
Richard Olivieri: Over the past decade, legal specialists have assumed a combination of responsibilities historically handled by legal secretaries, paralegals, office managers, and, in some law firms, the accounting and billing departments. As a result, when a law firm partner or hiring committee reviews resumes of prospective legal specialists, they typically focus on the experience and education backgrounds of candidates to ensure that they possess excellent communication and critical thinking skills. Legal specialists should also be proficient in legal technology. In addition to having knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, and Clio. Legal specialists should be familiar with time tracking and billing software (e.g., TimeSlips).
What soft skills should all Legal Department Managers possess?
Richard Olivieri: As in most professions, legal specialists must possess soft skills. Soft skills such as being a team player, the ability to multitask, and the capability of interacting on a personal level with staff and clients are expected. Furthermore, since lawyers and clients typically serve as a buffer, legal specialists must exhibit empathy and patience when communicating with clients.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Legal Department Managers?
Richard Olivieri: Hard skills are essential to working in a legal environment. Proficiency in legal technology such as how to eFile documents with state and federal courts, experience with the drafting of pleadings and discovery documents, and the ability to conduct legal research via free resources available on the internet, as well as subscription databases (e.g., Westlaw Edge and Lexis+), is important. There has also been an increased demand for legal specialists with knowledge of eDiscovery platforms, such as Relativity and Capterra. As evidenced by legal employers increasingly requesting that candidates produce a writing sample along with their resume, it is clear that legal specialists must have excellent writing skills.
What skills will help Legal Department Managers earn the most?
Richard Olivieri: Proficiency in technology and excellent writing skills are the two skills that will likely result in higher earnings for legal specialists.
Chad Smith
Director of Legal ProgramsCatholic University of America
Legal Research And Advanced Professional Studies
What skills stand out on Legal Department Manager resumes?
Chad Smith: Skills that stand out are those that point directly to a professor's ability to teach, present, and explain. Multifaceted. Personable. Memorable. So, I generally look for public speaking experience, trial experience, excellent communication, writing, and legal research skills.
What soft skills should all Legal Department Managers possess?
Chad Smith: Soft skills are those intangibles that every great professor has- a dynamic presenter that commands the attention and interest of their class/audience. These are the professors that intuitively know how to communicate lessons and convey meaning. Strong reasoning, problem-solving, critical thinking, and flexibility. Last, is leadership as every great professor needs to lead their class and be comfortable being the center of attention.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Legal Department Managers?
Chad Smith: Most important would have to be strong computer and related technology skills. In today's world, more and more professors are having to rely on the use of technology and platforms such as Zoom, Blackboard, and Canvas for remote/online learning. Professors today need to be able to convey information in-person and online.
What skills will help Legal Department Managers earn the most?
Chad Smith: I do not think there is a particular skill or set of skills that allows a professor to earn the most. Rather, it is a combination of everything from skills, legal knowledge, ability to teach dynamically, positive attitude, etc. In order to earn the most, you really have to be very good at all aspects of the job and a very strong educator that positively impacts student learning.
What soft skills should all Legal Department Managers possess?
Traci Dingle Ph.D.: Important soft skills include emotional intelligence and attention to detail. Working in the legal field, you may interact with attorneys, clients, or the public during stressful times. Accordingly, it is crucial to have self-awareness to be able to understand and control your emotions. It is also essential to gauge the feelings of others to provide the needed resources to support them and to show empathy, as working through the legal process may be emotional for some. Lastly, it is vital to exercise attention to detail when drafting documents or when talking with clients, as errors or not remembering important information about the client may imply that you or the office does not care about the client. Remember, you are a representative of the office, and your actions also reflect back on your colleagues.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Legal Department Managers?
Traci Dingle Ph.D.: The most essential hard or technical skills needed for Legal Specialists are computer skills. Learning or improving on these capabilities through formal training, certifications, or even free online courses is wise if you are unfamiliar with trending programs or suites. COVID-19 has shown how essential it is to have technological skills since traditional workspaces have shifted into working from your home space.
What skills will help Legal Department Managers earn the most?
Traci Dingle Ph.D.: Skills that will help you earn the most include effective communication, time management, and open-mindedness. It is essential to continue to improve your oral and written communication skills. Communication includes interpersonal communication, small-group communication, and intercultural communication. In addition, time management is vital to allow time to review documents before submitting them to the courts or to your boss. Being open-minded means being open to positive feedback and to criticism. Try not to take criticisms personally, but as a learning experience for overall improvement.
What skills stand out on Legal Department Manager resumes?
Traci Dingle Ph.D.: Skills that stand out on a Legal Specialist's resume include legal research and writing, analytical and logical skills, and time management. Prior experience with legal research and writing tells your future employer that you know or are familiar with the research and writing process. Moreover, it would be helpful to be familiar with at least one legal database, like Westlaw or LexisNexis. Analytical and logical skills warrant that you may reasonably use critical thinking and reasoning to solve problems that may arise in your day-to-day operations. Lastly, demonstrated skills in time management imply you can multi-task, prioritize, and meet deadlines while producing quality work.
What soft skills should all Legal Department Managers possess?
Regina Graziani: Soft skills can be referred to in generic groups: employability skills, interpersonal skills, transferable skills, and people skills. Some of these skills overlap with technical skills. The five most important soft skills for a successful legal professional are organization, communication (written and oral), the ability to multitask, continuously pay attention to detail, and the ability to work as part of a team. Of course, skills such as being professional, pleasant, and punctual are important, as well.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Legal Department Managers?
Regina Graziani: Again, there is a long list of technical or hard skills important for a legal professional. Some depend on the practice area, but some are generic. Five of the most important hard skills that a successful paralegal should have are computer skills (ability to use software relevant to the practice area, word processing, eFiling, digital organization, document management, and digital conferencing, to name a few), research (online and print), communication (written and oral), critical thinking, and resourcefulness.
What skills will help Legal Department Managers earn the most?
Regina Graziani: Much of this answer depends on the practice area. Knowing the technology, processes, and the ability to research the law in a particular area of law are extremely important. Also important are professionalism, the ability to work independently and anticipate what is needed, always seeking to learn more and streamline processes, and is conscientious about their work.
Richard McWhorter Ph.D.
Adjunct InstructorPrairie View A&M University
Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Human Ecology
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Legal Department Managers?
Richard McWhorter Ph.D.: Due to an almost global impact the majority if not all certifications/licenses/courses will need to be reviewed and reevaluated to better address the wide ranges of impacts and deficiencies discovered. From these analyses, any deficiencies discovered in services and deliveries of training will need to be addressed and changes made in trainings for helping professionals public servants knowledge and abilities. These need to better address a pandemic level situation and the victims of a pandemic.
Therefore, all certifications/licenses/courses requirements for all levels of a population. These need to be reviewed, re-evaluated and if needed, modified or changed including being more adequate including diverse and possibly cross educations, trainings and experiences to qualify for different certifications/licenses/course completions.
In the areas of human science, the areas needing to be addressed include stress management issues, victimization, various personality disorders, post traumatic stress. disorders to grief responses. Some of the professional preparations needing to be reviewed with possible modifications might include specific trainings and experiences.
Especially focus on self care and support, especially for those who are the professionals who encounters the suffering public. Trainings on how to interact effectively with pandemic victims, both primary and secondary victims.