Chief of Talent Strategy

Our client, a growing and entrepreneurial professional services organization with a strong legal platform, is seeking a strategic and relationship-driven Chief of Talent Strategy to lead attorney talent management, recruiting, and retention initiatives.
This individual will play a critical leadership role in attracting top legal talent, strengthening the firm’s talent pipeline, supporting attorney development and career progression, and fostering a culture of professional excellence. The Chief of Talent Strategy will serve as a trusted advisor to firm leadership and collaborate closely with practice group leaders and administrative teams to ensure talent strategy aligns with both current needs and long-term growth objectives.
This is an exceptional opportunity to shape and build a comprehensive legal talent strategy within a fast-growing organization.
Key Responsibilities

Legal Recruiting & Talent Acquisition

Refine and execute a strategic attorney recruiting plan across all practice areas and offices
Lead full-cycle recruitment for partners, associates, counsel, and other legal professionals
Build and maintain strong relationships with legal recruiters, search firms, and industry contacts
Proactively identify and engage high-performing legal talent in target markets and practice areas
Partner with practice group leaders to assess current and future hiring needs
Oversee candidate sourcing, interviewing, evaluation, offer negotiation, and onboarding processes
Deliver a high-touch, professional candidate experience aligned with the firm’s culture and values
Develop recruiting metrics and reporting to track effectiveness, hiring trends, and competitiveness
Monitor legal market conditions, compensation trends, and competitor hiring activity
Law School & Industry Relationship Management

Develop and maintain relationships with leading law schools, career services teams, faculty, and student organizations
Design and manage summer associate, internship, and entry-level recruiting programs
Represent the organization at law school events, career fairs, networking functions, and industry conferences
Establish partnerships with bar associations, legal organizations, and professional groups to strengthen the talent pipeline
Build connections with affinity organizations that support attorney recruiting and development
Coordinate attorney involvement in recruiting, mentorship, and campus engagement initiatives
Enhance the organization’s brand as an employer of choice within the legal community
Attorney Talent Management & Retention

Develop and implement strategies to support attorney engagement, retention, and career growth
Partner with practice leaders on succession planning and identification of high-potential attorneys
Lead processes related to performance feedback, career development, and advancement planning
Support the integration of lateral hires to ensure long-term success
Build programs that strengthen mentorship, engagement, and professional satisfaction
Advise leadership on attorney development, performance, and career progression matters
Training & Professional Development

Oversee attorney training and development programs across all career stages
Partner with leadership to define competency models and development pathways
Manage continuing education and professional development initiatives
Coordinate external speakers, workshops, and training resources
Evaluate training effectiveness and drive continuous improvement
Collaboration

Partner closely with practice group leaders, executive leadership, and administrative teams
Collaborate with Human Resources, Marketing, and Operations on firmwide initiatives
Promote a culture of professionalism, collaboration, accountability, and continuous development
Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be:
A highly credible relationship builder with strong connections across the legal industry
Well-networked within law schools, bar associations, and recruiting communities, particularly in key strategic markets
A strategic thinker who is also hands‑on in execution
Passionate about talent development and attorney success
Skilled at balancing business priorities with people-focused leadership
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, growing organization
Committed to delivering an exceptional experience for candidates and internal stakeholders
Required

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
7–12+ years of experience in legal recruiting, attorney development, talent management, or a related professional services environment
Strong understanding of law firm economics, practice group structures, and attorney career progression
Demonstrated success recruiting legal talent across practice areas and experience levels
Established network within the legal recruiting and law firm community
Experience working directly with senior leadership and practice group leaders
Strong project management and organizational skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
Preferred

Experience in a mid‑sized or large law firm environment
Experience managing law school recruiting or summer associate programs
Background in attorney training, leadership development, or mentoring initiatives
Familiarity with performance management and succession planning processes
Relevant certifications (e.g., SHRM, HRCI, coaching or attorney development credentials)

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