What a COO Actually Does in a Law Firm (And Why You Probably Need One)

Ask most law firm owners what a COO does, and you’ll hear something like:

“They manage the operations.”

True—but that barely scratches the surface.

A great COO doesn’t just keep the trains running. They decide where the tracks go.

So, What Does a COO Actually Do?

At a high level, your COO is responsible for:

• Turning your firm’s vision into reality

• Building the systems that support growth

• Keeping people accountable

• Aligning team performance with business goals

• Solving operational bottlenecks before they explode

They bridge the gap between strategy and execution — and they do it every single day.

What That Looks Like in Practice

A law firm COO:

• Leads team meetings and sets the agenda

• Owns hiring plans and performance reviews

• Builds workflows, KPIs, and dashboards

• Manages tech systems and vendor relationships

• Keeps the owner focused on the big picture — not chasing follow-ups

They aren’t just working ON the business. They’re also working IN it — side-by-side with you.

Why Dallas Firms Are Turning to Fractional COOs

The Dallas legal market is fast-moving, competitive, and filled with firms scaling rapidly.

That means:

• Your margins for error are smaller

• Clients expect responsiveness and clarity

• Great talent won’t stick around for chaos

If you’re trying to grow without strong systems or leadership support, it’s only a matter of time before things break.

Fractional COOs offer growing firms a high-impact solution without the full-time cost.

How ING Collaborations Helps

We’ve supported Dallas-based law firms across practice areas by:

• Leading CRM and billing system transitions

• Restructuring teams for growth

• Building performance dashboards

• Clarifying partner roles and leadership structure

• Coaching and implementing — not just advising

This isn’t coaching. This is ownership of execution.

If you’re the owner, the strategist, and the fire-putter-outer, it’s time for a change. Let’s talk about what a COO can take off your plate — so you can lead your firm forward.