Director of Associate Recruitment

Ladders; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 254,000 - 358,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Eligibility for annual discretionary 2

Job summary

Ladders in Washington, DC, a leader in the Legal & Accounting space, seeks a Director of Associate Recruitment to shape strategy for law school and lateral hiring, building a high-quality pipeline in a competitive market. This role focuses on candidate experience, brand strengthening, and program enhancements.

Key responsibilities include partnering with law schools, internal stakeholders, and recruiting teams to deliver consistent experiences and robust pipelines, and expanding summer associate

Qualifications

• 10+ years of legal recruitment experience in large law firms or related fields.
• Management experience with a team of at least two direct reports.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Skilled in recruitment software and legal technology.
• Highly networked and knowledgeable about law firm recruiting.
• Demonstrated innovation in recruitment practices.
• Proficient in data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement law school recruitment strategies and initiatives
• Maintain strong relationships with law schools and the legal community
• Direct candidate decision-making and events for law student recruitment
• Oversee lateral hiring programs and ensure effective processes
• Manage U.S. associate recruitment policies and operational procedures
• Lead the development of the U.S. recruiting brand and online presence
• Evaluate and improve summer associate program experiences

Skills

10+ years legal recruitment experience

Team management

Data-driven decision making

Strong networking in law firm hiring

Innovative recruitment practices

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Recruitment software

Legal technology

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Director of Associate Recruitment to join the team of a leader in the Legal & Accounting space. This leader will shape associate recruitment strategy across law school and lateral hiring efforts, with a strong focus on building a high-quality talent pipeline in a competitive legal market. The role will partner closely with law schools, internal stakeholders, and recruiting teams to deliver a consistent and compelling candidate experience. This position also plays a key role in strengthening the firm's recruiting brand, improving processes, and enhancing summer associate programming. Location: Washington, DC. Compensation: $254,000 – $358,000 annually.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement law school recruitment strategies and initiatives
• Maintain strong relationships with law schools and the legal community
• Direct candidate decision-making and events for law student recruitment
• Oversee lateral hiring programs and ensure effective processes
• Manage U.S. associate recruitment policies and operational procedures
• Lead the development of the U.S. recruiting brand and online presence
• Evaluate and improve summer associate program experiences

Qualifications

• 10+ years of legal recruitment experience in large law firms or related fields
• Management experience with a team of at least two direct reports
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
• Skilled in recruitment software and legal technology
• Highly networked and knowledgeable about law firm recruiting
• Demonstrated innovation in recruitment practices
• Proficient in data-driven decision making

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid time off
• Eligibility for annual discretionary bonuses
• Access to employee benefits subject to plan terms

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.