Manager, Legal Talent Acquisition

About the role

The Manager, Legal Talent Acquisition plays a crucial role in supporting DLA Piper's strategic initiatives by creating and implementing effective processes for recruiting and hiring talented experienced client-facing time-keepers. This role is flexible, with preferred locations in Austin and Chicago, and can be based in any of our offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, or Baltimore. A hybrid work schedule is offered.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with hiring managers to understand role requirements and delivers high-standard service excellence, developing tailored sourcing strategies aligned to business and practice group needs.
• Leads 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.
• Assesses candidates using structured evaluation methods, ensuring a high-quality, consistent, and stakeholder-focused selection process aligned to skills and experience.
• Designs and implements recruitment programs and initiatives, ensuring effective communication strategies and delivering exceptional service to stakeholders throughout execution.
• Conducts interviews and evaluates candidates with a commitment to fairness, consistency, and a superior candidate and stakeholder experience.
• Manages offer management, including creating, negotiating, and finalizing offers.
• Oversees new hire/rehire screening processes, including background and reference checks, ensuring timely communication and adherence to compliance and service excellence standards.
• Collaborates with the digital marketing team on recruitment-related social media outreach, enhancing employer brand with consistent, stakeholder-aligned messaging.
• Prepares and oversees 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.
• Works in close collaboration with hiring partners throughout the offer process and integration, fostering a seamless transition for new team members.
• Maintains strong stakeholder engagement, providing proactive updates, gathering feedback, and advising on hiring strategies with responsiveness and professionalism.
• Collaborates with Student Recruitment Manager to support summer programs (budget, programming, assignments, evaluations), ensuring an outstanding experience for all participants.
• Maintains awareness of market trends and partners with leadership to provide insights on compensation, bonuses, and development to inform decision-making.
• Oversees recruitment administration, including systems tracking, data integrity, audits, and referral processes, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
• Manages the full requisition lifecycle, including creation, approvals, postings, and closure, maintaining transparency and high service standards.
• Plans and executes recruiting events and initiatives, strengthening the firm’s brand and enhancing stakeholder experience.
• Provides reporting and insights to business and HR leadership, delivering clear, timely, and actionable information.
• Manages recruiting budgets and resources, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and efficient use of funds.
• Participates in staff meetings and cross-functional initiatives, contributing to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Develops and executes short- and long-term workforce planning strategies, aligned to business objectives and practice group priorities.
• Provides leadership and development to team members through coaching, mentoring, and continuous feedback, fostering a high-performing team culture.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to work in a fast-paced environment; have general knowledge and understanding of US Visa process and requirements; must be creative and detail-oriented; knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel; ability to handle difficult situations professionally and tactfully; ability to solve problems; ability to multi-task and manage projects; must be able to treat confidential information in a professional manner.
• May need to travel on occasion.
• Minimum Education: High School Diploma or GED.
• Preferred Education: Bachelor's Degree.
• Minimum Years of Experience: 5 years’ recruiting experience in a law firm or legal/professional services environment.

Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment;
• General knowledge and understanding of US Visa process and requirements;
• Must be creative and detail-oriented;
• Knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel;
• Able to handle difficult situations professionally and tactfully;
• Able to solve problems;
• Able to multi-task and manage projects;
• Must be able to treat confidential information in a professional manner.

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical/dental/vision insurance, and a 401(k).

Pay

The compensation offered for employment will also be dependent on other factors including the candidate’s experience, skills, educational and professional background, and overall qualifications. The firm’s expected hiring range for this position is $129,808 - $189,199 per year depending on the candidate’s geographic market location.

Schedule

The position can be based in any of our offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, or Baltimore, and a hybrid work schedule is offered.