There are usually several different ways to become a litigation manager, but experience with trials, litigation preparation, and the civil court system is almost always essential. Most litigation managers begin as trial attorneys. Others start out as paralegals, helping lawyers prepare cases and get ready for court appearances. Some managers are simply well-versed in the administrative side of trial preparation without the benefit of specific legal education, but this is unusual. In nearly all cases, the best way to become a litigation manager is to first amass hands-on trial experience, then look for ways of using that experience to direct, support, and oversee litigation groups in corporations and law firms.
Litigation managers generally act as trial coordinators. While it is sometimes possible to successfully coordinate a trial without having ever participated in one, this is rare. Most of the time, extensive litigation experience is one of the most important litigation manager requirements. Finding work as either a trial attorney or a litigation support paralegal is often the best place to begin.
The next thing you must do is thank about the sort of setting in which you would like to become a litigation manager. Many litigation managers work in law firms and split their time between coordinating the firm’s trials and maintaining an abbreviated client roster of their own. Becoming a litigation manager like this is usually best for lawyers who enjoy case management, but are not yet ready to set aside all aspects of their personal practice.
One of the best ways to become a litigation manager in a law firm is to show a keen interest in trial preparation in the course of your everyday work. Take a leadership role in your trial team’s preparation, for starters, and study the way litigation managers direct and work with your team. Speak to your managing partner or paralegal supervisor about different opportunities in litigation management as you grow more advanced, and be sure to express an interest in taking more oversight during trial preparation and review.
Not all litigation manager careers are housed in firms. Almost any company with a legal department has an in-house manager who handles all litigation and litigation-related paperwork, including complaints, threats, and settlements. The best way to become a litigation manager in the corporate world is to look for jobs that match your trial expertise. Companies usually look for managers who are familiar with the precise sort of litigation in which they are likely to be involved. If your experience is in contracts, for instance, look for work in companies that deal heavily in sales and exchanges; if your experience is in patents, a pharmaceutical or scientific manufacturing corporation may be a good fit.
Government agencies and divisions are another place to look. Litigation managers in these settings usually have extensive experience in defending government actors and usually have a firm understanding of government interests. Getting this job often requires at least some prior work as a public interest lawyer or paralegal.
In most places, it is also possible to become a litigation manager independently: that is, to strike out on your own, often providing management services on a consultancy basis. Self-made managers can set their own litigation manager duties and can chose their cases with much more discrimination. Succeeding often depends on selling yourself based on reputation, however. Unless you are certain of your market, this sort of self-made option is usually only viable for individuals who are much later in their careers, with significant experience under their belt.