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:
Summary:
The Law Student Recruiting Specialist executes the law school student recruiting process and summer associate program for one or more assigned offices, under the supervision of the Talent Acquisition Manager, Law Students. This position coordinates with Talent Acquisition leadership, hiring partners, and recruiting committee members to develop and implement recruiting strategies, administer recruiting and summer program logistics, and attract top-tier talent.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain relationships with law school career services offices and student organizations at assigned key feeder schools.
- Coordinate the Firm’s participation in, and sponsorship of, outreach activities throughout the calendar year.
- Manage the full-cycle 1L and 2L law student recruiting process for assigned office(s), including coordinating with the law school, on campus interview logistics, creating interview schedules, gathering interviewer feedback, and facilitating the callback interview and offer process.
- Provide regular updates to internal stakeholders regarding recruiting progress and candidate pipelines.
- Plan and execute the full 10-week summer associate program for assigned office(s), including the work assignment and evaluation processes, events and other day-to-day logistics.
- Coordinate with Talent Acquisition leadership on budgeting for summer program events and recruiting activities.
- Maintain the applicant tracking system (ATS), generate reports, and ensure data integrity for all applicants and recruiting activities.
- Compile and analyze post-season recruiting reports and survey results; identify opportunities to enhance recruiting workflows.
- Contribute to firm-wide recruiting initiatives by leading special projects and supporting process improvements for the team.
- Keep apprised of market trends, NALP rules, and individual school recruiting policies.
Job Specifications:
- Bachelor’s degree
- At least four (4) years of experience in law firm recruiting with a focus on law student recruiting and summer associate programs or four (4) to five (5) years of recruiting experience in a professional services organization
- Knowledge of applicant tracking systems
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines and ability to prioritize responsibilities effectively
- Ability to work efficiently both independently and collaboratively as a proactive and reliable team member
- Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment, and handle and maintain confidential information
- Ability to provide professional, responsive, and high-quality client service to both internal and external stakeholders
- Receptive to feedback and dedicated to ongoing professional development.
- Ability to travel and work flexible and/or fluctuating work hours during peak seasons, particularly May-August
- Ability to work in the office 4 days per week throughout the 10-week Summer Program (typically May – July)
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 $120,000 - $145,000
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 #LegalRecruiting #LLP #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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- At least four years of law firm recruiting experience focused on law student recruiting and summer associate programs, or four to five years of recruiting experience in a professional services organization
- Knowledge of applicant tracking systems
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines and prioritize responsibilities effectively
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a proactive and reliable team member
- Ability to exercise discretion, sound judgment, and maintain confidential information
- Ability to provide professional, responsive, high-quality client service to internal and external stakeholders
- Receptiveness to feedback and dedication to ongoing professional development
- Ability to travel and work flexible or fluctuating hours during peak seasons, particularly May through August
- Ability to work in the office four days per week throughout the 10-week summer program
McDermott Will & Schulte Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about McDermott Will & Schulte and has not been reviewed or approved by McDermott Will & Schulte.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered market-matching at the base, with the firm moving in step with recent BigLaw scale increases. Bonus eligibility and hour-credit rules are clearly described, anchoring expectations around a 2,000-hour target that includes defined buckets for pro bono, professional development, and wellbeing activities.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Incentives are often characterized as a strong point, with opportunities to earn above-market bonuses when targets and performance criteria are met. Industry trackers and firm materials align in describing extra tiers for very high hours and merit, creating meaningful upside for high performers.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Benefits emphasize mental health and overall wellness through a dedicated program offering confidential clinician support and access to mindfulness platforms. Credit for wellness, pro bono, and development time toward targets reinforces a wellbeing-forward approach within a demanding environment.
McDermott Will & Schulte Insights
What We Do
McDermott Will & Emery is now McDermott Will & Schulte. Leading organizations turn to global law firm McDermott Will & Schulte for a better way to address legal challenges, connect with those at the forefront, and drive stronger outcomes. Working across more than 20 offices globally, our 1,750+ lawyers act on data-driven insights, deep relationships, and unmatched industry experience to deliver on our commitment of Always Better.
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