Knowledge Resources Manager – BIG law – Downtown Houston
Position Summary:
The Knowledge Resources Manager plays a key role in both the daily operations and long-term planning of the Research Department. This position requires a deep understanding of the Firm’s practice areas and the research tools that support them. The Manager will collaborate closely with Research Analysts to deliver high-quality research and analysis for client matters, business development, the Office of the General Counsel, and other internal departments.
This role requires a proactive, innovative, and collaborative leader who is detail-oriented, resourceful, and committed to excellence in service delivery.
Core Responsibilities
Research Operations
- Conduct and oversee legal, industry, and analytical research requests.
- Monitor team workloads and provide support to ensure timely and accurate responses.
- Synthesize research findings into clear, actionable reports.
- Mentor and guide research staff through performance feedback, coaching, and identifying training needs.
- Promote research services across the Firm and manage expectations for service delivery.
- Lead the development and organization of research content on the Firm’s SharePoint portal.
- Ensure appropriate staffing and timely completion of research requests using tools like Quest and other platforms.
- Work with practice leadership to ensure we are providing relevant and timely research and resources to support their strategic initiatives.
- Deliver training on research strategies and tools.
- Stay current on industry trends, technologies, and best practices in legal research.
- Develop and maintain practice-specific toolkits and resource pages (e.g., via Searcy).
- Create and present updates on research tools and current awareness topics.
Strategic & Administrative Support
- Partner with the Director and Firm leadership to manage departmental costs, including vendor negotiations, usage analysis, and trend evaluation (e.g., AALL and peer firm benchmarks).
- Support knowledge management initiatives and promote effective use of internal and external knowledge resources.
- Assist with client billing and resource renewals as needed.
- Participate in collection development and evaluation of new databases, websites, and print materials.
Training & Onboarding
- Design and deliver training programs for attorneys and Firm professionals.
- Lead planning and execution of Fall Associate training, including content development, scheduling, and coordination with Professional Resources.
- Oversee the knowledge resources portion of onboarding for new attorneys, including scheduling vendor-led sessions.
- Plan and deliver recurring KR department trainings (e.g., Bankruptcy Basics, KR Overview).
- Coordinate after-hours and weekend research support coverage.
Team Leadership & Collaboration
- Assist in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding new KR staff.
- Meet individually with KR team members to provide guidance and support.
- Lead KR department meetings and contribute to long-term planning, including AI and research innovation initiatives.
- Serve as liaison to other departments and practice groups, promoting KR services and participating in firmwide communications (e.g., Monday Morning Meetings).
- Collaborate with the Office of the General Counsel on special projects and risk-related initiatives.
- Coordinate with Professional Resources on attorney onboarding needs and resource access.
- Communicate with HR regarding hiring and take a lead role in candidate interviews.
- Support the Director in managing vendor relationships and subscription administration.
- Work with the KR admin team to manage print collections and office copies.
Education and Experience:
- Juris Doctor required
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in legal research
- Law firm experience highly desired
- Ability to drive results through effective leadership of a team
- Understanding of technologies and usage to optimize user experience
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability to build credibility and relationships across the firm
- Interest in technology
- Highly organized with attention to detail
- Ability to provide excellent customer service