Legal Talent Manager

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP•New York, NY

2d•$160,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

At Cravath, the Legal Personnel Department serves as a trusted advisor to Firm leadership and a strategic partner to our attorneys across the full lifecycle—from recruiting, onboarding, integration, professional development through key career transitions. Working closely with senior leaders and cross‑functional teams, the Legal Talent team within the Legal Personnel Department helps ensure that attorney employment changes are managed thoughtfully, consistently, and with the highest level of professionalism. We are seeking a Legal Talent Manager to lead the Firm’s attorney status‑change and transition function across New York, London, and Washington, D.C. This is a highly visible role requiring exceptional judgment, discretion, and the ability to drive well‑communicated, high‑touch processes in close partnership with Firm leadership and key administrative stakeholders. The Legal Talent Manager will oversee a broad range of attorney status changes, serving as a primary point of contact and resource to attorneys on sensitive and complex matters. This role combines strategic oversight with hands‑on execution and is well‑suited for an experienced legal talent professional who is comfortable advising senior stakeholders and managing nuanced employment‑related processes in a high‑standards environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least 8 years of legal talent or related experience in a service industry firm, with at least 1-2 years in a people management position
Customer service mindset and ability to partner successfully with attorneys at all levels
High social and emotional intelligence, with experience leading and mentoring team members and cultivating strong relationships
Excellent organization and communication skills, in addition to superior judgment
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, as well as the ability to learn and use legal talent and recruiting applications built internally
Strong problem solving skills and ability to work well under pressure and coordinate several activities at one time
Ability to deal discreetly with confidential information
Ability to work additional hours, including business-related travel, as needed

Responsibilities

Manages logistics for attorneys transitioning to alternative work arrangements
Partners closely with the Benefits department to support attorneys navigating life‑event related leaves, including births and adoptions, and to provide clear, timely, and supportive communication throughout those processes
Upholds and communicates Firm policies relating to various forms of leave, exercising sound judgment and discretion in sensitive circumstances
Manages legal staff departures with a highly individualized and thoughtful approach to ensure a positive experience
Provides high‑touch coordination of partner retirements
Manages office transfer logistics including related policies across New York, London, and Washington, D.C.
Oversees logistics related to promotions, including partnering with internal teams and Firm leadership with regard to related trainings
Oversees the Firm’s legal staff part‑time program and works closely with the Managing Partners on administration and execution
Supports consistency and alignment of attorney status‑change processes across U.S. and London offices
Maintains and continuously improves internal tracking, documentation, and communications across key administrative departments
Collaborates with broader Legal Personnel teams on associate matters, special projects, and cross‑department initiatives
Assesses, refines, and helps implement policies, procedures, and practices related to attorney employment changes to ensure consistency, clarity, and strong communication
Responsible for oversight of two direct reports
For direct reports, establishes weekly meetings and quarterly development goals tied to specific competencies and tracks progress via documented check-ins and tangible deliverables
Prioritizes relationship building within the Legal Personnel Department and across other departments at the Firm, as well as with associates and Partners
Conducts effective staff evaluations and provides regular mentorship to team
Maintains a hands-on management approach with readiness to jump in and work alongside the team as needed
Identifies specific training needs and coaches team accordingly to develop technical, functional and interpersonal skills
Performs other duties, as assigned