Team Leader, Legal Support

The Role

Clyde & Co is seeking a Team Leader, Legal Support (Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver) to ensure the legal support team meet the demands of the firm and its clients. This role will be responsible for the successful delivery of a high-quality, client-focused legal support service for the Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver offices' practice areas including commercial litigation, insurance litigation, insurance defence disputes, construction, professional liability, risk management, personal injury, etc. through the operational day-to-day management of Legal Assistants, Paralegals and Law Clerks while continuing to offer direct legal support to lawyers as needed. They will work closely with all members of the team and other Team Leaders focusing on understanding the business and practice needs, working with the Workplace Services & Legal Support Manager and fee earners to deliver appropriately excellent client focused support services.

This is an exempt position (not overtime eligible); supervisory and hands-on as needed.  

This role involves working onsite at the office a minimum of 3 days per week.

Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

People Management

• Manage individual performance of allocated support resources including regular progress meetings and career conversations.

• Ensure the smooth induction of new starters and supporting Workplace Services & Legal Support Manager in ensuring awareness and understanding of HR department and client specific policies, procedures, and information.

• Act as a coach to develop the team to the highest standards.

• Identify appropriate training to support personal development through feedback, performance management and continued assessment of training needs.

Management of Support Services

• Manage legal support teams with a focus on service delivery and excellence; coordinate and resolve issues relating to workflow to ensure deadlines are met, resource availability, working relationships, service delivery and people-related matters.

• Manage resource allocation following vacation or leaves of absences etc. to ensure service levels are maintained with a fair distribution of workload and cover.

• Work closely with other Team Leaders and the Workplace Services & Legal Support Manager to support wider group. Ensure full understanding of the group's aims and objectives.

• Develop relationships and proactively manage services around agreed SLAs, and ensure successful team management and workflow allocations.

• Responsible for ensuring the prioritization of work appropriately, liaising with other Team Leaders and Workplace Services & Legal Support Manager on embeds and flows of activity.

• Identify headcount issues to Workplace Services & Legal Support Manager and work to create effective solutions and work-sharing.

• Participate in the recruitment and selection process for team members.

• Keep abreast of issues, anticipate changes in demand/regulatory changes and effect timely interventions to address the changes, working with the Workplace Services & Legal Support Manager to introduce these into the service.

• Proactively and flexibly work with the other Team Leaders to improve the quality and efficiency of legal support services provided to the business, ensuring consistency of approach.

• Participate in legal support team meetings.

• Maintain appropriate statistics to fit the requirements of SLA report monitoring.

• Approval of time off, absences, overtime etc.

• Develop and manage the current services being provided as well as considering future changes in line with technology changes and the changing needs of our clients/the business and liaise with other Team Leaders and Workplace Services & Legal Support Manager on suggested adjustments.

• Liaise with other Team Leaders and Workplace Services & Legal Support Manager to co-ordinate desk allocations, moves and changes in conjunction with IT and Workplace Services.

• Ensuring high standards of service are consistently maintained and developed.
   

Quality of Service

• Drive the delivery of exceptional client service, quality and consistency across team members and ensure processes are developed positively, with best practice shared with other Team Leaders, Legal Support Managers, and colleagues across the region.

• Ensure full compliance by the legal teams of our policies and procedures (e.g. Compliance, ISO, Finance), engaging with other offices/regions where appropriate.

• Actively support and be a champion for department/firm initiatives, engaging with other offices/regions where appropriate and driving implementation of changes.

• Participate in department projects, adopting common project methodologies from initiation to completion and ensuring business requirements, objectives and anticipated benefits are understood and achieved.

• Any other duties as required, commensurate with the level of the position.

Qualifications

• Legal Assistant Certification from an accredited educational institution or the equivalent.

• A minimum of 5 – 7 years relevant experience in a law firm setting.

• Ability to lead, motivate and develop employees as well as acting as a role model.

• Impeccable English grammar with knowledge and understanding of the Ontario Court Rules.

• Knowledge and understanding of the Alberta and British Columbia Court Rules an asset.

• Confidential and discreet but able to redirect information when appropriate to ensure areas of concern are resolved efficiently and effectively.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to quickly establish credible relationships at all levels.

• Ability to balance conflicting priorities, be alert to potential problems and challenge working practices.

• Being proactive and collaborative.

• Ability to work within and manage effective working processes, excellent service delivery.

• Attention to detail and the highest quality standards.

• Resilient with the ability to manage or escalate difficult situations effectively and stay calm under pressure.

• Good influencing skills.

• Customer service focused.

Why Join Us?

At Clyde & Co, we believe in supporting your professional growth while ensuring you have the flexibility and benefits you need to thrive. Here's what you can look forward to:

• Hybrid Work Flexibility – Enjoy a perfect balance between remote and in-office work.

• Generous Paid Time Off – Generous paid time off, holidays, plus an annual "wellbeing" day.

• Comprehensive Health Benefits – Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.

• Robust Disability Coverage – Comprehensive short-term and long-term disability plans.

• Referral Rewards – Earn generous bonuses for introducing talented colleagues to our team.

• Mentorship & Career Growth – Access strong mentorship, global training programs, and career development support.

• Engaging Culture – Participate in exciting social events, volunteer and community service initiatives, and professional development opportunities.

• Inclusive Parental Leave – Six months fully paid, for all parents regardless of gender or path to parenthood.

The Firm

When you work at Clyde & Co, you join a team of 500 partners, 2,400 lawyers, 3,200 legal professionals and 5,500 people in nearly 70 offices and associated offices worldwide. Our values are the principles that guide the decisions we make, unite us in our endeavours and strengthen our delivery, for both our clients and our firm. We work as one, excel with clients, celebrate difference and act boldly. We are committed to operating in a responsible way by progressing towards a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities and clients it serves. We are devoted to providing an environment in which everyone can realise their potential, using its legal and professional skills to support its communities. We do this through pro bono work, volunteering and charitable partnerships, and minimising the impact it has on the environment, including through our commitment to the SBTi Net-Zero standard and the setting of ambitious emissions reduction targets.

Our Commitment

Clyde & Co is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Our values encourage us to support fairness, celebrate diversity and prohibit all forms of discrimination in the workplace to allow everyone to excel at work. Therefore, we welcome and encourage all applications from suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background or identity. Learn more about our interview process.

A Note on Privacy

Please take a moment to read our privacy notice.. This describes what personal information Clyde & Co (we) may hold about you, what it's used for, how it's obtained, your rights and how to contact us as a data subject.

If you are submitting a candidate as a Recruitment Agency Partner, it is an essential requirement and your responsibility to ensure that candidates applying to Clyde & Co are aware of this privacy notice.

This is the job description as constituted at present; however, Clyde & Co reserves the right to reasonably amend it in accordance with the changing needs of the business.