Talent Acquisition Specialist; Partner

The role

This is a unique opportunity to join Shoosmiths's Talent Acquisition team specialising in Partner recruitment. If you are passionate about the legal market, motivated by building influential relationships, and excited by the opportunity to directly contribute to the growth of a leading law firm, we'd love to hear from you.

You will be at the forefront of the firm's ambitious 2030 growth strategy with the chance to help drive innovation in lateral recruitment through the use of AI, market insights and inclusive hiring practices.

The position of Talent Acquisition Specialist (Partner Recruitment) will play a critical role in supporting the delivery of Shoosmiths’ partner hiring strategy, working closely with the head of the Experienced Hire TA team to identify, attract and secure high-quality lateral partner and senior legal talent aligned to the firm’s 2030 growth ambitions.

The role combines market insight, proactive talent mapping, direct sourcing, and end-to-end recruitment delivery, alongside coordination of complex hiring processes and stakeholder engagement at senior level.

This role is pivotal in ensuring a data-led, inclusive and innovative approach to partner recruitment, leveraging market intelligence and emerging technologies, including AI, to support decision-making and outcomes.

• Support with a caseload of Partner search mandates in line with the firm’s 2030 strategy - both direct and via agency in respect of existing office locations or planned international growth
• Schedule interviews and manage senior stakeholder diaries
• Prepare briefing instructions and candidate profiles
• Facilitate interview feedback and debrief sessions
• Assist with management of Business Case drafting process
• Ensure a seamless and professional candidate experience throughout.
• Maintain accurate tracking of candidates and activity within the firm’s reporting tools.

• Develop a keen understanding of the Firm’s strategy, chosen markets and expertise
• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and influence up to Partner level.
• Act as a professional ambassador for the Talent Acquisition team and the Shoosmiths brand
• Present market intelligence and recruitment insights to support hiring decisions.
• Collaborate and engage confidently with senior law firm professionals, business leaders and external search partners.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage competing priorities while delivering an exceptional stakeholder and candidate experience.

• Review and/or produce market mapping exercises to identify target firms, teams, and individuals aligned to strategic hiring priorities.
• Analyse legal market trends, competitor movement, and sector growth areas to inform hiring strategies.
• Produce high-quality market intelligence reports, including candidate longlists, diversity insights, and competitor benchmarking.
• Support the refinement of search strategies through iterative mapping and stakeholder feedback.

• Proactively identify, approach and engage potential partner and senior legal candidates through targeted headhunting and networking.
• Build and nurture long-term relationships with high-calibre legal professionals.
• Develop and maintain talent pipelines for key practice areas and chosen markets.
• Ensure all candidate engagement reflects Shoosmiths’ brand, culture and values.
• Utilise multiple sourcing channels, including Linked In, legal directories, events and referrals.
• Actively drive diverse talent pipelines through targeted sourcing and market mapping.
• Monitor and report on diversity metrics within partner hiring activity.

• Support the instruction and management of external search firms and recruitment agencies.
• Provide clear, structured briefs aligned to hiring requirements, including role scope, cultural fit and diversity considerations.
• Monitor agency performance and ensure high-quality candidate delivery.
• Maintain strong, collaborative relationships with agency partners while ensuring cost-effective and strategic use of agencies.
• Ensure agencies and stakeholders align with Shoosmiths’…