Chief Attorney Development Officer

Plona Partners; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 375,000 - 425,000; Full time

Job summary

A premier international law firm is seeking a Chief of Attorney Development & Engagement based in California. This C-suite role demands a senior legal executive with over 10 years of experience in attorney development and talent strategy within a sophisticated law firm environment. Key responsibilities include leading initiatives in attorney learning, performance management, mentorship, and culture within a firm of 700+ lawyers. The position involves extensive collaboration with executive leadership, establishing a modern approach to legal talent development.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in attorney development or talent strategy within a law firm.
• Strong understanding of attorney success models across various law practices.
• Ability to lead across offices and constituencies.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy for attorney development and engagement initiatives.
• Develop performance management and promotion infrastructure.
• Establish mentorship and retention strategies.

Skills

Attorney development

Talent strategy

Professional development

Legal learning leadership

Executive presence

Mentoring and coaching

Education

JD (Jurist Doctor)

Job description

Chief of Attorney Development & Engagement

Compensation: $375,000–$425,000 base + annual bonus

We are conducting a highly confidential search on behalf of a premier international law firm for a Chief of Attorney Development & Engagement. This is a rare C-suite leadership opportunity for a senior legal talent executive or former practicing attorney with deep experience building and scaling attorney development, engagement, training, mentoring, performance management, and culture initiatives across a large, multi-office law firm platform.

This individual will play a critical role in shaping the attorney experience across a global organization of 700+ lawyers by leading strategy around:

• Attorney learning, education, and training
• Leadership development and career pathing
• Performance management and promotion infrastructure
• Attorney engagement and opportunity initiatives
• Mentorship, coaching, and retention strategy
• Alumni relations and brand-building efforts
• CLE/MCLE compliance and professional responsibility training
• Pro bono engagement and strategic alignment

The ideal profile will bring:

• 10+ years of experience in attorney development, talent strategy, professional development, or legal learning leadership within a sophisticated law firm environment
• Strong understanding of large law firm practice groups and attorney success models across transactional, litigation, regulatory, and IP practices
• The credibility and judgment to partner with executive leadership, firm management, and board-level stakeholders
• A modern, innovative mindset around legal talent, leadership development, culture, and GenAI-enabled learning strategies
• Exceptional discretion, executive presence, and the ability to lead across offices and constituencies

A JD is strongly preferred, and this role is based in one of the firm’s major U.S. offices with an in-office expectation and some travel. This is an exceptional opportunity to step into a visible, enterprise-wide role at a firm known for strong client service, forward-thinking leadership, and a collaborative cross-disciplinary culture.