Attorney Recruiting Manager

WSGR; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 132,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

Wilson Sonsini in San Francisco seeks an Attorney Recruiting Manager to own the local summer associate program and entry‑level hiring, while leading integration initiatives for new associates. You will partner with firm leadership, Career Development, and Diversity teams to hire, integrate, and retain top legal talent.

The role offers a hybrid work schedule, reporting to the Senior Manager of Entry‑Level Recruiting, supervising an Attorney Recruiting Coordinator, and coordinating with partners,

Qualifications

• 7+ years law firm recruiting experience, including supervising or mentoring staff.
• Knowledge of the attorney recruiting process and legal employment issues.
• Ability to prioritize, work independently, and meet deadlines.
• Discretion with confidential information.
• Excellent interpersonal skills across all levels and external partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication; analytical, detail-oriented, organized.
• Ability to analyze and report on legal recruiting, diversity, and retention trends.
• Experience using generative AI systems to enhance recruitment programs is a plus.
• Proficiency in MS Office and applicant tracking systems (Workday, viRecruit, FloRecruit).

Responsibilities

• Manage San Francisco entry-level hiring (on-campus interviewing, callbacks, and judicial clerk recruiting) and firmwide groups as needed.
• Advise San Francisco partners, Firmwide Hiring Committee, and Attorney Recruiting Senior Managers on hiring decisions.
• Build strategic relationships with Career Services, student and affinity groups, and educational institutions; plan and execute events to advance recruiting strategies.
• Develop an annual brand-building strategic plan for assigned schools.
• Collaborate with IP Attorney Recruiting team for patent agent recruiting events in SF.
• Manage all aspects of the SF summer program: pre-summer communications, orientation, mentor/advisor assignments, work assignments, evaluations, exit interviews, and offers.
• Develop and manage SF summer program budgets and events.
• Work with practice groups and firm leaders to prepare summer associates to become successful associates and encourage their return.
• Analyze post-season results and recommend improvements.
• Lead integration programs for SF summer, fall, lateral associate, and patent agent hires; onboarding with admin departments.
• Collaborate with Career Development to successfully integrate and retain associates.
• Coordinate integration meetings for visiting partners with Partner Recruiting.
• Partner with Diversity and Inclusion on hiring initiatives.
• Supervise SF Attorney Recruiting Coordinator; mentor junior team members.
• Take lead on firmwide initiatives; maintain recruiting records and reports.

Skills

Law firm recruiting

Staff supervision

Hiring strategy

Relationship building

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Data reporting

Generative AI for recruiting

MS Office

Tools

Workday

viRecruit

FloRecruit

Job description

Wilson Sonsini is the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and other growth enterprises worldwide. We represent companies at every stage of development, from entrepreneurial start‑ups to multibillion‑dollar global corporations, as well as the venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm has approximately 1,100 attorneys in 17 offices: 13 in the U.S., two in China, and two in Europe. Our broad spectrum of practices and entrepreneurial spirit allow exceptional opportunities for professional achievement and career growth.

The Attorney Recruiting team is the engine behind our firm’s growth, ensuring we attract and hire the top legal talent who deliver exceptional work for our clients and shape our culture for years to come. Our team partners closely with attorneys and firm leadership to build sourcing strategies and create an outstanding candidate and integration experience that sets the firm apart in a highly competitive market.

The firm is seeking an Attorney Recruiting Manager for our San Francisco office to own the local summer associate program and entry‑level hiring, while leading integration programs that help new fall and lateral associates hit the ground running. You’ll also support integration meetings for visiting partners, helping them connect with the office and get off to a strong start. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Entry‑Level Recruiting and managing an Attorney Recruiting Coordinator, you’ll partner with the Attorney Recruiting, Professional Development and Diversity teams and work closely with our Firmwide Hiring Chairs and the SF partners and office administrator to ensure we are hiring, integrating, and retaining the best attorneys. If you’re a creative, entrepreneurial self‑starter who thrives in a team, takes ownership of your work, and adapts with ease to shifting priorities, we’d love to hear from you.

This position is available as a hybrid work schedule.

Entry‑Level Hiring and Law School Relations

• Manage San Francisco entry‑level hiring (including on‑campus interviewing, callbacks, and judicial clerk recruiting) and additional firmwide groups as needed.
• Advise San Francisco partners, the Firmwide Hiring Committee, and Attorney Recruiting Senior Managers on hiring decisions.
• Build strategic relationships with Career Services, student and affinity groups, and other educational institutions, and plan and execute events in the office and at assigned schools to advance the Firm’s recruiting strategies.
• Develop an annual brand‑building strategic plan for assigned schools.
• Work with the IP Attorney Recruiting team to help them execute patent agent recruiting events in the SF region.

Summer Program

• Manage all aspects of the SF summer program: pre‑summer communications, orientation, mentor and advisor assignments, work assignments, evaluations, exit interviews, and offer decisions.
• Develop and manage SF summer program budgets and events.
• Work with practice groups and firm leaders to ensure that we prepare summer associates to become successful associates and encourage their return to the firm.
• Analyze post‑season results and recommend improvements.

Integration and Retention

• Lead integration programs for SF summer, fall, lateral associate, and patent agent hires, working with administrative departments on onboarding.
• Collaborate with the Career Development team to successfully integrate and retain associates.
• Coordinate integration meetings for visiting partners in partnership with the Partner Recruiting team.
• Partner with the Diversity and Inclusion team on the Firm’s hiring initiatives.

Reporting and Leadership

• Supervise the SF Attorney Recruiting Coordinator, with potential to manage additional team members.
• Mentor junior team members across the firmwide team.
• Take lead on various firmwide initiatives, as needed.
• Maintain recruiting records and produce reports through various platforms.

Qualifications

• 7+ years law firm recruiting experience, including experience supervising or mentoring staff.
• Knowledge of the attorney recruiting process and legal employment issues.
• Ability to prioritize, work independently, and meet deadlines.
• Sound judgment and discretion with confidential information.
• Excellent interpersonal skills across all levels of the firm and with external partners such as search firms and vendors.
• Strong written and verbal communication; analytical, detail-oriented, and well organized.
• Ability to analyze and report on legal recruiting, diversity, and retention trends.
• Experience using generative AI systems to enhance recruitment programs is a plus.
• Proficiency in MS Office and applicant tracking systems (such as Workday, viRecruit and FloRecruit).

The primary location for this job posting is in San Francisco. The actual base pay offered will depend upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to the selected candidate’s qualifications, years of relevant experience, level of education, professional certifications and licenses, and work location. The anticipated pay range for this position is as follows: $131,750 – $178,250 per year.

The compensation for this position may include a discretionary year‑end merit bonus based on performance. We offer a highly competitive salary and benefits package.

Benefits information can be found here . Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).