Talent Acquisition Manager, Partners & Counsel

Build your big career with the firm that does Big Law, Better. McDermott Will & Schulte is a leading global law firm that brings together more than 1,700+ lawyers and 1,400 business professionals. We celebrate excellence, collaboration, and community and have been recognized as a top workplace by USA Today, Fortune, The American Lawyer, Vault and others. We are also certified by Great Place to Work. 

At McDermott, we don’t just invest in your future, we accelerate your career – wherever it may lead. That includes supporting you both in and outside of the office. 

With us, you’ll find: 

• A firm where everyone belongs: Our award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity — we encourage you to be yourself!  

• Enthusiasm for all perspectives: We’re smarter and stronger when everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. We welcome unique viewpoints and ideas, and we make opportunities for you and your career to thrive.  

• Support to feel your best and do your best: Wellness is integral to building a successful career and a rich life. That’s why our benefits program supports your physical, emotional, mental, and financial health, with an emphasis on work-life balance.  

• Real rewards for real work: We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence.   

Job Description:

Position Summary:

The Talent Acquisition Manager, Partners & Counsel works closely with Firm leadership to identify and execute upon global lateral partner recruitment strategies. This position utilizes best in class intelligence and market research to ensure McDermott attracts and secures top partner level talent. The Talent Acquisition Manager, Partners & Counsel relies on experience and judgment, along with a deep understanding of Firm objectives, to achieve lateral partner hiring and performance goals.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

- Manage the full lifecycle of lateral partner and counsel recruiting processes across multiple offices, departments, and administrative teams. 
- Collaborate with the Director and recruiting team to maintain and strengthen relationships with legal search firms and external recruiting contacts. 
- Oversee all aspects of candidate interviews 
- Support recruiting-related due diligence processes 
- Identify opportunities to enhance recruiting operations, reporting, workflows, and processes, including leveraging technology, data analytics, and emerging AI tools. 
- Manage special projects, including oversite of other team members 
- Ability to quickly perform other related duties as assigned 

Job Specifications:

- Bachelor’s degree required. 
- Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in recruiting or talent acquisition, preferably within a law firm, legal recruiting agency, or professional services environment; or background practicing law with significant involvement in firm recruiting initiatives. 
- Strong understanding of legal recruiting processes, law firm partnership structures, and the broader legal market strongly preferred. 
- Proven experience managing complex, fast-paced processes or operational functions within a client-service environment. 
- Ability to build credibility and trusted relationships with firm leadership, displaying high executive presence, sound judgment, and absolute discretion with confidential matters. 
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and applicant tracking systems (e.g., viDesktop or similar database platforms); experience leveraging data, reporting tools, or emerging AI capabilities is preferred. 
- Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills. 
- Willingness and desire to work with innovative technology platforms 
- Ability to work under tight deadlines and prioritize responsibilities

Successful candidates will be provided with outstanding career opportunities and will receive a competitive total rewards package with the opportunity to earn performance-based bonuses. 

Target Hiring Range $130,000 - $170,000

Please note that quoted salary ranges are not guarantees of what final salary offers may be. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. Base pay is only one part of the Total Rewards that MWS provides to compensate and recognize our staff professionals for their work. Full time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package. 

#LI-JL1 #LI-Hybrid #PartnerRecruiting #LegalRecruiting #AmLaw100

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk and hear

• Employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds

Work Environment:

Typical indoor office environment

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people within this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this job.