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Posted: 20-Aug-24
Location: Houston, Texas
Type: Full Time
Required Education:
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. We are currently seeking an Attorney Recruiting & Development Manager for the Houston office, reporting to the Director of Attorney Recruiting and Office Hiring Partner.
The role will reside in the Houston office with hybrid work capabilities and will be responsible for managing all aspects of the Houston office’s attorney recruiting and development functions including lateral associate and Summer Associate hiring, overseeing the annual Summer Associate program, collaborating with the Human Resources department on attorney new hire onboarding and integration, participating in Hiring Committee meetings, implementing firm training programs, and supervising assigned department staff. The Attorney Recruiting & Development Manager is expected to serve as a positive role model and mentor, and to perform all responsibilities with a commitment to providing superior service to the firm’s attorneys, advisors and staff, efficient and effective departmental operations, and an atmosphere of teamwork and continuous improvement. Above all, the Attorney Recruiting & Development Manager must fulfill the needs of the firm in a manner which is consistent with the Firm’s Core Values.
Key responsibilities of this position include:
- Oversee law student recruiting process for both 1L and 2L candidates. Manage recruitment for the scholarship programs for the Houston office.
- Collaborate with Office Hiring Partner to lead office Hiring Committee meetings and prepare hiring recommendations.
- Plan, organize and administer the Summer Associate Program. Duties include, participating and managing events, organizing orientation, integration, and mentoring activities, planning training programs, managing the Summer Associate assignment and evaluation process, and other tasks.
- Manage all aspects of the lateral associate recruitment and integration program, ensuring appropriate communication and coordination with candidates, firm attorneys, administrative management, and any third-party recruiters. Oversee attorney position postings and due-diligence process for attorney candidates.
- Meet with Practice Group Leaders and/or their designees to determine hiring requirements for lateral attorney openings. Secure approval of openings and offers from the Chief Legal Talent Officer.
- Establish, maintain and build relationships with third-party recruiters and execute standard search firm agreements.
- Identify and manage outreach and sponsorship activities with law schools throughout the year.
- Establish, maintain and build relationships with top-tier law schools.
- Identify opportunities to support and enhance the firm’s recruiting and development initiatives. Develop engagement strategies for associate retention.
- Participate in Diversity Committee and Women’s Initiative Committee meetings and assist with programming, projects and initiatives.
- Assist with programming, projects and initiatives associated with the office Associates Committee.
- Prepare relevant reports and presentations.
- Prepare and monitor office recruiting and retention statistics.
- Coordinate attorney arrivals/departures with the Human Resources department.
- Participate in new hire orientation for all incoming attorneys.
- Conduct lawyer exit interviews and collaborate with the firmwide team to compile and analyze the exit data quarterly for firm and office leadership.
- In collaboration with the attorney training team, oversee implementation of firmwide training programs for Houston attorneys.
- Provide guidance regarding state bar dues, bar admissions and continuing education requirements for Houston attorneys.
- Serve as a trusted resource for Houston summer associates and attorneys.
- Participate in scheduled Attorney Recruiting & Development Department calls and meetings.
- Develop and maintain departmental budget in consultation with Director of Attorney Recruiting.
- Supervise assigned department employees.
Qualifications (Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Minimum of seven years’ experience in legal recruiting in a law firm required, with at least three years in a managerial role desired
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- High proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Outlook and Excel. Experience in working with attorney recruiting databases required.
- Strong service orientation and an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers; attorneys; office, firm and practice management; and outside business partners
- Ability to work effectively and efficiently under pressure
- Ability to manage multiple projects with specific deadlines and adjust to changing priorities in a professional manner
- Strong organizational and project management skills
- Ability to use initiative and judgment to accomplish results
- Ability to work independently and with a team
- Ability to delegate and manage resources effectively
- Ability to read, comprehend and follow instructions
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to use critique of work to improve performance
- Commitment to professional growth and development