Lateral Program Manager

Essential Functions

• Design, manage, and deliver a consistent nationwide onboarding and integration program for senior-level lateral attorneys.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition and office leadership during the recruiting and pre-boarding process to ensure a smooth and coordinated introduction to the Firm.
• Manage the Lateral Partner Questionnaire process, including communications with candidates and Firm leaders, and ensure relevant information is shared with appropriate stakeholders.
• Develop tailored integration plans that align with the needs of incoming attorneys, offices, practice groups, and business services teams.
• Provide a high-touch, concierge onboarding experience by coordinating office leadership, practice group leaders, and other key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Chiefs, business services teams, and the Office of the General Counsel to support compliant and effective onboarding and offboarding processes.
• Coordinate offboarding activities for departing lateral attorneys, ensuring key stakeholders are aligned on communications, client transition considerations, knowledge transfer, and required administrative steps.
• Partner with Firm leadership, business services teams, and the Office of the General Counsel to identify offboarding risks, capture feedback, and recommend process improvements that support consistency and retention insights.
• Work with the Communications team to develop meaningful messaging and introductions for senior attorney arrivals.
• Partner with Learning and Professional Development to ensure new attorneys have timely access to learning content, Firm resources, and role-specific support.
• Coordinate with HR Operations to confirm start dates, once candidates have completed the pre-boarding process.
• Coordinate Day 1/week 1/month agendas to ensure stakeholder meetings are scheduled and introductions are made. Ensure onboarding roles, tasks, meetings, and follow-up actions are assigned, scheduled, and completed in a timely manner.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for key stakeholders, ensuring departments and leaders understand and fulfill their onboarding commitments.
• Align cross-functional teams on expectations, desired outcomes, and a shared definition of successful integration.
• Develop, document, and refine tools, templates, resources, and processes that support consistent onboarding, integration, and offboarding outcomes.
• Monitor onboarding progress, proactively communicate status updates, and escalate risks, delays, or gaps to appropriate stakeholders.
• Establish and track metrics to evaluate program effectiveness, analyze feedback and trends, and implement continuous improvements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for lateral attorneys during onboarding, helping identify resources and resolve issues as they arise.
• Analyze exit and integration trends and recommend actionable strategies to improve retention, reduce turnover, and strengthen the lateral attorney experience.

Qualifications/Skills

• Six or more years of experience leading and coordinating programs across a large national organization with multiple offices.
• Experience in Human Resources, Professional Development, or Talent Acquisition preferred.
• Experience developing and delivering onboarding and integration programs in a large law firm environment preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with demonstrated presentation and facilitation abilities.
• Ability to influence attorneys and employees at all levels of the organization, including office leadership.
• Passion for enabling others and creating engaging, high-impact employee experiences.
• Strong multitasking, prioritization, and organizational skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to responsive, client-focused service.
• Flexible, self-starting, results-oriented approach with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, stakeholders, and priorities with sound judgment and a strong sense of urgency.

Qualifications/Skills Preferred

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Juris Doctorate a plus.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan.
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Account.
• Firm-paid holidays, vacation and sick time.
• Employee assistance program and other firm benefits.