Practice Manager, Advisor – 9 month FTC

Bates Wells

Practice Manager supporting Bates Wells’ largest practice groups and strategic projects. Coordinating business operations, staffing, utilisation, secondments and process improvements.

Posted 8/25/2026contractLondon • 🇬🇧 United KingdomMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates strong organizational and coordination skills to manage practice group operations, including meeting facilitation, resource allocation, and process improvement. Exhibits the ability to build effective relationships and influence stakeholders while supporting strategic projects and adherence to policies.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Practice Management ExperienceProcess ImprovementBudget OversightStakeholder CollaborationUtilization Monitoring

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Soft Skills

Proactive Self-StarterExcellent Attention to DetailStrong Influencing SkillsEffective Relationship BuildingWell Organized

Industry Keywords

Law Firm ExperienceProfessional Services EnvironmentBusiness ManagementPractice Group CoordinationTime Recording Policy

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support the Practice Director with business management across the firm’s largest practice groups
Coordinate partner meetings, including agendas, papers, minutes, actions, decisions, attendees and guest speakers
Coordinate department and team meetings
Coordinate work allocation within larger practice groups to balance workloads and maximise efficiency
Deliver practice group inductions and collaborate with HR to onboard new joiners
Work with Practice Support Managers and other Business Teams on process improvement
Support delivery of practice group business plans and oversee aspects of practice group budgets
Coordinate and document supervision arrangement changes, liaising with HR
Collaborate with HR on recruitment, development, appraisal feedback and objective setting
Prepare team updates regarding joiners, leavers and secondments
Manage client secondment and reverse-secondment requests end-to-end
Coordinate fee earner resource-sharing requests across practice groups
Monitor utilisation, identify trends and concerns, and resolve reporting errors
Respond to lawyer and partner queries about utilisation
Support understanding of and adherence to the time recording policy
Maintain and improve Practice Management intranet pages
Support projects including a new pro bono strategy, paralegal role design and resourcing, and streamlined Business Team communications
Support the running of large practice groups and contribute to firmwide strategic projects and smooth day-to-day practice operations
Collaborate regularly with partners, lawyers and colleagues across Business Teams

Requirements

What you’ll need

Experience working as a Practice Manager or Practice Advisor, or in an equivalent functionally broad role
Ideally, experience gained within a law firm or professional services environment
Proactive self-starter with a can-do attitude
Well organised with excellent attention to detail
Comfortable navigating new areas and working fluidly with colleagues across functions
Able to build effective and trusting relationships quickly at all levels, from partners and directors to early career colleagues
Strong influencing skills, including confidence to provide constructive challenge and openness to adjust approaches based on feedback
Alignment with the organisation’s values and desire to make a difference
Desire to feel part of the Bates Wells experience and belong

Benefits

Comp & perks

Impact-driven purpose aligned with social purpose
Climate Programme focused on reducing environmental impact and driving a just transition to net zero
Diverse and inclusive culture
Hybrid working model
Part-time options
At least two office days weekly
Green pensions
IVF support
Private healthcare
Well-being and growth support