Job Title: Legal Operations Lead, Rate & Vendor Management
Location: New York, NY 10036
Duration: 9 Months (Extension Possible)
Pay Range: $50/hr. – $53/hr.
Key Responsibilities:
Vendor Management, Rate Review & Harmonization

• Manage law firm and vendor rate cards; review and approve rate changes and new rate proposals in alignment with internal policies.
• Perform rate analysis and approval, ensuring alignment with internal policies and compliance with agreed terms.
• Track and verify correct rate billing across all legal vendors, ensuring accuracy and alignment with agreed-upon terms and billing guidelines.
• Maintain records of engagement contracts, billing arrangements, rate structures, and vendor profiles.
• Assist with firm harmonization and panel optimization efforts
• Support rate harmonization initiatives to drive consistency and cost optimization across outside counsel.
• Address timekeeper rate increases requests by assessing their impact on legal spend and ensuring proper justification and approval.
• Assist with ad hoc data requests, system data cleanup, and special projects as needed.

Invoice Approval

• Oversee high-volume invoice review and approval workflows, ensuring accuracy aProductst PSKY billing guidelines and managing exceptions and appeals.
• Collaborate with outside counsel and internal attorneys to ensure matters are accurately established for invoice submission and to address issues that may impede timely submission.
• Respond to law firm inquiries and resolve rate and invoicing concerns.
• Coordinate with intercompany AP departments to ensure timely payment release and investigate and resolve unpaid invoices in SAP and Oracle.
• Collect monthly accruals from outside counsel and follow up with non-compliant firms.

Technology & Process Optimization

• Support legal technology platforms (eBilling, matter management, iManage) and contribute to system enhancements.
• Identify and implement process improvements focused on automation and scalability.
• Ensure data integrity across systems and assist with system integrations where necessary.
• Liaise between legal, finance, IT, and procurement teams to streamline processes and ensure alignment.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor s degree in Business, Finance, or a related field.
• 5 years of experience in legal operations, with specific experience in rate management, outside counsel management, or a related role within a corporate legal department or law firm.
• Experience with SAP or Oracle.
• Hands-on experience administering eBilling platforms (e.g., CounselLink, Collaborati, TeaClientonnect, eCounsel).
• Experience managing high-volume invoice review and approval processes, with a strong understanding of the end-to-end invoice lifecycle, including work in progress, invoicing, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
• Knowledge of timekeeper rate cards.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or similar tools.
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced environment where you ll work on multiple projects at the same time, while meeting tight deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative mindset.