Manager, Legal Talent Acquisition

DLA Piper is a bold, exceptional, collaborative, and supportive firm. Our people are the backbone, heart, and soul of our organization. This role offers the opportunity to engage in meaningful work and grow your career within a dynamic professional environment.

About the role

The Manager, Legal Talent Acquisition collaborates with and supports the firm’s strategic initiatives by creating and implementing effective processes for recruiting and hiring talented experienced client-facing time-keepers.

Location

Preferred locations for this role are Austin and Chicago, but there is flexibility to base the position in any of our offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Boston, Miami, New York, Short Hills, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Northern VA, Raleigh, Wilmington, Washington D.C., or Baltimore. We offer a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities

• Partner with hiring managers to understand role requirements and deliver a high standard of service excellence, developing tailored sourcing strategies aligned to business and practice group needs.
• Lead lateral hiring efforts for partner and non-partner roles within assigned practice groups, delivering a strategic approach to talent acquisition while ensuring exceptional service for all stakeholders.
• Assess candidates using structured evaluation methods, ensuring a high-quality, consistent, and stakeholder-focused selection process aligned to skills and experience.
• Design and implement recruitment programs and initiatives, ensuring effective communication strategies and delivering exceptional service to stakeholders throughout execution.
• Conduct interviews and evaluate candidates with a commitment to fairness, consistency, and a superior candidate and stakeholder experience.
• Lead offer management, including creating, negotiating, and finalizing offers.
• Oversee new hire/rehire screening processes, including background and reference checks, ensuring timely communication and adherence to compliance and service excellence standards.
• Collaborate with the digital marketing team on recruitment-related social media outreach, enhancing employer brand with consistent, stakeholder-aligned messaging.
• Prepare and oversee all communications related to legal hires, handling the coordination of interviews, relocation arrangements, bar exam assistance, and onboarding logistics to ensure an exceptional, personalized experience at every stage.
• Work in close collaboration with hiring partners throughout the offer process and integration, fostering a seamless transition for new team members.
• Maintain strong stakeholder engagement, providing proactive updates, gathering feedback, and advising on hiring strategies with responsiveness and professionalism.
• Collaborate with the Student Recruitment Manager to support summer programs (budget, programming, assignments, evaluations), ensuring an outstanding experience for all participants.
• Monitor market trends and partner with leadership to provide insights on compensation, bonuses, and development to inform decision-making.
• Oversee recruitment administration, including systems tracking, data integrity, audits, and referral processes, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
• Manage the full requisition lifecycle, including creation, approvals, postings, and closure, maintaining transparency and high service standards.
• Plan and execute recruiting events and initiatives, strengthening the firm’s brand and enhancing stakeholder experience.
• Provide reporting and insights to business and HR leadership, delivering clear, timely, and actionable information.
• Manage recruiting budgets and resources, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and efficient use of funds.
• Participate in staff meetings and cross-functional initiatives, contributing to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Develop and execute short- and long-term workforce planning strategies, aligned to business objectives and practice group priorities.
• Provide leadership and development to team members through coaching, mentoring, and continuous feedback, fostering a high-performing team culture.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED (Bachelor’s Degree preferred).
• Minimum of 5 years’ recruiting experience in a law firm or legal/professional services environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and handle difficult situations professionally and tactfully.
• General knowledge and understanding of the US Visa process and requirements.
• Creative, detail-oriented, and proficient in MS Word and MS Excel.
• Ability to solve problems, multi-task, and manage projects.
• Ability to treat confidential information in a professional manner.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Essential Job Expectations

• Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties.
• Produce deliverables, answer phone calls, and reply to correspondence in an efficient and responsive manner.
• Provide timely, accurate, and quality work product.
• Successfully meet deadlines, expectations, and perform work duties as required.
• Foster positive work relationships.
• Comply with all firm policies and practices.
• Engage in both physical and sedentary activity, such as working at a computer for extended periods, participating in digital/virtual conference calls, and attending meetings as needed.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Perform all other duties, tasks, or projects as assigned.
• Embrace and uphold the firm’s values as part of DLA Piper’s culture, committed to excellence in representing clients and developing people.

Physical Demands

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.

Work Environment

The individual selected for this position may have the opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement comprised of remote and in-office work, the requirement for which will be determined in coordination with the hiring manager or supervisor.

Pay

The firm’s expected hiring range for this position is $129,808 - $197,799 per year, depending on the candidate’s geographic market location. Compensation will also depend on factors including the candidate’s experience, skills, educational and professional background, and overall qualifications.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision insurance, and 401(k).