Legal Talent Specialist

Position Summary

The Legal Talent Specialist is responsible for independently coordinating local legal talent efforts, with a heavy emphasis on law student and attorney recruiting. The role includes managing the full recruiting cycle, supporting summer programs, and ensuring a smooth onboarding process for new hires.

• Lead interview processes for law student and lateral recruitment – review applications, narrow pools, schedule interviews, compile feedback.
• Draft offer memos and assist with recruiting follow‑up, including correspondence and closing efforts.
• Accurately enter all search firm, direct apply, and on‑campus applicant data into the attorney recruiting database; update files and reports consistently.
• Monitor recruiting expenses and work with Legal Talent assistants to process reimbursements.
• Coordinate organization of applicant files and seasonal office files; set up new databases or record books annually.
• Support summer associate recruitment by collaborating with the Recruiting Committee, managing recruitment strategy, and providing candidate updates.
• Travel with the Regional Legal Talent Manager for law school outreach and overnight stays as required.
• Lead the Summer program: work with Partners, hiring committees, and Regional Legal Talent Manager to plan activities, handle vendor contracts, assist with housing, and distribute letters and questionnaires.
• Coordinate summer associate orientation, assignments, and the Summer Associate Directory; track program expenses and oversee evaluation processes.
• Establish and maintain contacts with headhunters, law schools, minority law groups, and other recruitment professionals; prepare statistics and assist with firm‑sponsored receptions.
• Finalize and distribute new associate letters, questionnaire, conflict checks, bar information, and relocation policy; coordinate bar activities and licensing matters.
• Prepare status reports, assist with interviewer‑training seminars, and maintain current forms and documents.
• Support occasional administrative projects and ensure data entry accuracy.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, iManage, and firm applications.
• Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours and travel as required.
• 4+ years of recruiting experience.

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Knowledge of current hiring, staffing, and termination trends in law firms.
• HR software experience (particularly in a law firm environment).
• Experience in a law firm setting.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and with others.
• Strong knowledge of the firm’s practice areas and staffing needs.
• Organizational ability to juggle multiple tasks.
• Self‑motivated with demonstrable accountability.
• Reliability and cooperativeness.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Strong leadership skills.

Cooley offers a competitive compensation and excellent benefits package and is committed to fair and equitable employment practices. EOE.

The expected annual pay range for this position with a full‑time schedule is $85,000 - $105,000. Final offer will depend on geographic location, applicable experience, and skill set.

We offer a full range of elective benefits including medical, health savings account (with applicable plan), dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, pre‑tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long‑term care coverage, backup child or adult care, and other parental support benefits. Firm‑paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short‑term medical benefits, 21 days of Paid Time Off (PTO), and 10 paid holidays each year are also provided.

Generous parental leave and fertility benefits are available. New employees receive a detailed benefit orientation to learn more about our benefits and resources.