A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 29 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.
We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world’s leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.
Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.
What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.
Context
The Manager of Law School Recruitment for the Texas and California offices reports to the Director of Law School Recruitment, based in New York. The Manager is responsible for leading the recruiting initiatives at target schools, planning and executing the annual summer associate program, scheduling interviews and coordinating follow up for summer associate and entry-level candidates. Collaborating with the Texas and California partners, the Director of Law School Recruitment, and with the wider HR team, the Manager is expected to think strategically about recruiting initiatives and how to help the firm achieve its goals. This role will have one direct report.
Role and Responsibilities
On Campus Recruiting
- Oversee on-campus recruiting efforts at local law schools (UT, UH and SMU) and other target schools, including strategic outreach, designing programming, and increasing student pipeline for recruiting purposes.
- Travel to select schools for interviews, job fairs, receptions and other recruiting events.
- Prepare interview packets, marketing materials, giveaways for hospitality suites and other events.
- Ensure proper staffing for all programs (OCI, 1L/2L receptions, hospitality suites, etc.).
- Coordinate callback interview schedules and “second look” visits; create files for partner review.
- Manage follow-up efforts and ensure candidates receive proper outreach.
- Act as a resource and point of contact for attorneys, candidates and vendors.
- Work with the larger recruiting team to ensure accuracy of information in viRecruit, the applicant tracking system.
- Produce candidate reports to provide updates on the status of outstanding offers.
- Enrich relationships with law schools – career planning centers, law student organizations, etc. – through targeted programs and innovative initiatives.
- Work with HR/Recruiting contacts in New York to ensure accuracy and cohesiveness in the recruiting process.
- Oversees firm’s 1L programming and recruitment including all campus outreach, organization sponsorships and pipeline initiatives to help raise the firm’s profile.
- Work with various firm stakeholders to help develop innovative ways to disseminate the firm’s recruiting message.
Summer Associate Program
- Work with Director and DC Manager to coordinate all aspects of the Summer Program for the Texas and California offices: pre-employment correspondence, planning and execution of summer associate events, monitoring the budget, orientation and onboarding.
- Act as a key point of contact and resource for summer associates before, during and after the program.
- Coordinate with Director on summer practice group placements and advisor assignments.
- Liaise with all relevant departments for summer associate onboarding (e.g. office services, technology and training, payroll, work authorization/visa acquisition)
Miscellaneous
- Stay abreast of changes in the industry and gather market intelligence.
- Participation and involvement in other departmental responsibilities and/or firm-wide projects as is appropriate (e.g. recruiting brochure and website updates, campus relations, diversity & inclusion initiatives, help disseminating information about professional development/CLE programs, etc.).
- Other duties and special projects as assigned.
Key Requirements
- A minimum of 5 years of prior attorney recruiting experience at a law firm.
- A bachelor's degree is required.
- Knowledge of the legal market and current industry is important, as is a willingness to learn.
- Train, supervise and mentor direct report.
- Strong ability to collaborate and engage with students, lawyers and business teams professionals.
- Must be a creative problem solver and possess a high level of self-confidence, maturity and excellent judgement.
- Strong ability to maintain highly confidential and sensitive information.
- High energy with a great deal of enthusiasm and ability to stay calm under pressure.
- Exceptionally strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize a number of responsibilities, while maintaining accuracy.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills – including the ability to tailor the communication style to a specific audience.
- Demonstrates strong customer service orientation.
- Must be willing to work extended hours and travel, including some weekends, particularly during the summer program and the busy recruiting season.
