Managing Human Resources

One of the primary functions of a firm administrator is managing the human resources of the firm. This includes the secretaries, paralegals, marketing and other staff. It may include monitoring the attorney staff and even focusing on work-load and if time is entered into the time management system. An administrator makes sure that there is coverage for attorneys when staff is on vacation and that staff covers attorneys when they are working late, or during trial.

Hiring, Training and Retaining the Best Staff

It is important to select good people right from the beginning. This means hiring quality candidates right out of the gate. It wastes an enormous amount of time and money when you spend time and energy training staff, only to be forced to let them go later. A good administrator can sense quality candidates and sift them out from the "professional interviewers."

Administrators need to go further and train their staff to understand the rules and regulations of the firm, and to strengthen their skills year after year. Retaining quality staff remains a key component to keeping firms together. Employees require more than just monetary compensation for their services. They want to feel like they are included in the firm's culture and be part of the bigger success plan of the firm.

401k, Healthcare, Cafeteria and other plans.

Benefits packages can be daunting if you don't have any experience dealing with them. Financial compensation is bolstered by 401k and profit sharing plans. Administrators often take the reigns on leading the charge for employees to take advantage of these exceptional opportunities to retire in style. Administrators sift through the red tape and paperwork to make joining these and other plans simple to work with. Health care is another plan that administrators will often manage. Administrators must keep up with changes in government health care options as well as the yearly changes in health care coverage.