Professional Development Manager – Attorney Training (Litigation & Trial)

Latham & Watkins LLP • New York, NY

23d • $170,000 - $200,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Latham & Watkins is seeking a Professional Development Manager – Attorney Training to join their Human Capital & Talent team. This role is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive lawyer training programs firm-wide. The manager will collaborate with senior leaders, committees, and stakeholders to enhance curricula and support training initiatives. They will also serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, including Global Department Chairs (GDCs), Practice Group Chairs (PGCs), and Practice Group Management Teams (PGMTs), offering strategic expertise on lawyer training priorities, resource allocation, and alignment with firm and practice group goals. This position will specifically support the TACE Committee and Litigation & Trial Department GDCs and PGCs in developing and executing Litigation & Trial-related training, which may include boot camps, practice group retreats, and controversy skills programs like persuasive writing, e-Discovery, deposition training, and trial advocacy. This role can be based in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, or the Global Services Office in Los Angeles, and may be eligible for a hybrid working schedule.

Requirements

• Exceptional and professional interpersonal skills (e.g., active listening), including superior written and verbal communication skills and the ability to interact with people at all organizational levels.
• Ability to take initiative and work both independently and in a team environment with a customer-service focus.
• Ability to undertake large, long-term projects, develop alternative methods to complete them, and implement solutions.
• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• A J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Experience as an associate in a relevant department in a large law firm, preferably.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in a legal or professional services environment.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of cumulative experience.

Responsibilities

• Driving the design, development, and implementation of training curricula in collaboration with the Training and Career Enhancement (TACE) Committee, ensuring consistency, quality, and integration across practice groups and platforms.
• Furthering the progress of the TACE Committee, including preparing meeting agendas and retreats, tracking and implementing action items and new initiatives.
• Drafting a wide variety of training related communications for both internal and external audiences, including a variety of Latham news articles.
• Conducting research and staying abreast of the latest developments in training, ensuring continuing enhancements through benchmarking with law firm peers and evaluating ways in which existing programs can be improved.
• Overseeing the firm’s relevant accreditation and compliance processes for the training programs of the relevant lawyer departments or practice groups.
• Acting as a strategic project and program manager for major training initiatives and special projects, working closely with other key stakeholders and colleagues across the firm to ensure training effectiveness.
• Developing relationships with external subject matter experts, consultants, and speakers.
• Contributing to performance evaluations, working with Human Capital & Talent to recruit, hire, train, coach, and manage the performance of employees.
• Protecting and maintaining any highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information that Latham & Watkins retains.

Benefits

• Healthcare, life and disability insurance
• A generous 401k plan
• At least 11 paid holidays per year
• A PTO program that accrues 23 days during the first year of employment and grows with tenure
• Well-being programs (e.g. mental health services, mindfulness and resiliency, medical resources, well-being events, and more)
• Professional development programs
• Employee discounts
• Affinity groups, networks, and coalitions for lawyers and staff

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level