Legal Talent Acquisition Specialist

Finnegan•Washington, DC

7d•$90,000 - $105,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Legal Talent Acquisition Specialist plays a central role in Finnegan’s student recruiting efforts, including organizing and executing the summer associate program, supporting campus recruiting and law school relations, and coordinating recruiting support across all firm offices. The position partners closely with the Senior Manager of Legal Talent Acquisition, hiring partners, practice and office leadership, and local office staff to attract, hire, and integrate students. The role also supports lateral attorney and patent agent recruiting. The position is based in the Washington, DC office and requires a hybrid/onsite work schedule. The base annual pay range is $90,000 to $105,000; the actual base pay will depend on skills, qualifications, experience, location, and internal equity. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits dependent on the position will also be offered.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Minimum 3–5 years of legal recruiting experience in a law firm or comparable professional services environment, with significant experience in summer associate programs and law school or campus recruiting.
Working knowledge of NALP guidelines, student recruiting processes, and law school recruiting cycles.
Demonstrated success in event planning and program management, including budgeting and vendor coordination.
Experience with interview techniques, applicant screening, and offer coordination.
Skilled in applicant tracking systems, report writing, and database systems.
Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel; knowledge of SharePoint; and skilled in internet research.
Skilled with Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
Understanding of employment laws and hiring regulations as they relate to student and attorney recruiting.
Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with students, school representatives, and attorneys at all levels.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, seasonal environment; proactive self-starter with attention to detail.
Polished, professional presence suited to representing the firm on campus and at events.
High level of discretion, professionalism, diplomacy, and commitment to confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

Experience with lateral attorney recruiting, including working with search firms and supporting lateral candidates through the offer process.
Experience coordinating recruiting activities across multiple office locations.
Familiarity with intellectual property or technology-focused recruiting.
Experience with Aderant/viRecruit, Dayforce, or Florecruit applicant tracking systems and databases.
Experience with AI-enabled recruiting tools.

Responsibilities

Plan and execute the summer associate program across all offices, including calendars, budgets, orientation, training, mentor assignments, and social and community events.
Coordinate summer associate onboarding and pre-arrival communications, and serve as a firm contact and ambassador throughout the program.
Manage work assignments and feedback collection; coordinate mid-summer and end-of-summer reviews; and prepare evaluation files for offer decisions.
Coordinate post-summer communications, offer letters, acceptances, and engagement with offer recipients and returning students through graduation and bar admission.
Encourage attorney participation to provide summer associates with a high-quality, consistent experience across offices.
Execute campus recruiting strategies under the direction of talent acquisition leadership and hiring partners.
Build and maintain relationships with law school career services offices, faculty, student organizations, and alumni, and develop firm ambassadors at target schools.
Coordinate on-campus, direct application, and callback interview processes, including registrations, scheduling, interviewer preparation, candidate research, travel logistics, and candidate and school follow-up.
Plan and staff campus receptions, networking events, and sponsorships, and represent the firm on campus.
Recruit for 1L and 2L programs and other student pipelines, including students with science and technical backgrounds.
Support campus recruitment of patent agents and technical specialists, and coordinate the IP Summit and other undergraduate programming.
Coordinate on-the-ground student recruiting support across offices with office administrators and local attorney liaisons.
Provide local office personnel with recruiting guidance and tools, including timelines, expectations, and best practices.
Partner with practice group leaders, hiring committees, and office managing partners to understand hiring needs and gather input on candidates, mentor assignments, and program feedback.
Support lateral recruiting for associates, counsel, technical specialists, and patent agents, including sourcing, screening, interview scheduling, and candidate communications.
Maintain search firm relationships and assist with lateral offers and onboarding for incoming attorney hires.
Contribute to attorney integration, including orientation and new-hire check-ins.
Use the applicant tracking system to track candidates, applications, interviews, and offers, and maintain accurate, confidential records.
Produce recruiting reports, analysis, and metrics, and recommend process improvements.
Manage recruiting program budgets, vendor relationships, and event and program invoicing.
Maintain legal recruiting and careers content on the intranet, external website, and recruiting materials.
Participate in NALP and local legal recruiting organizations, complete NALP reporting, and stay current on industry trends, schedules, and best practices.
Use AI and technology to improve recruiting processes and decision-making.
Keep current on legal market trends and assist with special projects and other Talent Acquisition initiatives.