Director of Talent

Hawthorne Lane; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Comprehensive benefits

100% on-site in Alexandria

Job summary

Hawthorne Lane, a boutique law firm, is seeking a Legal Recruiting Manager to lead the firm’s attorney talent acquisition strategy and full lifecycle recruitment. This on-site role in Alexandria requires proactive sourcing, market mapping, and managing search firms to secure top-tier legal talent.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of law firm recruiting experience, strong sourcing and interviewing skills, and a client-focused, high-touch approach in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of recruiting experience in a law firm.
• Law firm recruitment experience preferred, especially large firms.

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of attorney recruitment across the firm, from needs to offer.
• Source qualified candidates via LinkedIn, databases, directories, and events.
• Manage external search firms, including agreements and communications.
• Review resumes and conduct interviews to assess qualifications and fit.
• Track compensation benchmarks and market data to inform TA strategy.

Skills

Full lifecycle recruiting

Sourcing

Interviewing

Relationship management

Offer negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

LinkedIn Recruiter

Legal databases

Job description

Calling all attorney recruiters! This boutique law firm is seeking a Legal Recruiting Manager to lead the firm’s legal talent acquisition strategy and full lifecycle of attorney recruiting. This role is for a proactive and experienced recruiter eager to own every phase of the hiring process, from creative sourcing, market mapping, and search firm management to conducting screenings, aligning with firm leadership, and structuring and closing competitive offers. Combining strategic market insight with an engaging, high-touch approach, the Legal Recruiting Manager will serve as a key ambassador dedicated to attracting, engaging, and securing top-tier legal talent to support the firm’s rapid growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the full life cycle of attorney recruitment across the firm, from identifying hiring needs and candidate sourcing to offer extension.
• Serve as the firm’s ambassador to prospective attorneys, building strong talent pipelines through networking and attending career events to ensure an engaging, discreet, and responsive recruitment experience from initial touchpoint through acceptance.
• Actively source qualified candidates using platforms like LinkedIn Recruiter, legal databases, industry directories, law school career events, and direct outreach.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external legal search firms; managing search agreements, fee structures, resume submissions, and recruiter communications.
• Review resumes, coordinate and conduct candidate interviews to evaluate qualifications, credentials, cultural alignment, and career motivations.
• Track lateral movement trends, competitor hiring, and compensation benchmarks to inform talent acquisition strategies.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

• Firm culture is intellectually rigorous, dynamic, and deeply collaborative, prioritizing precision, a proactive drive, and dedication to excellence.
• Employees receive competitive pay alongside a comprehensive benefits package.
• This position is 100% on-site in Alexandria, Virginia, where reliable personal transportation is strongly encouraged due to limited public transit access.

What We’re Looking For:

• Education and experience. You are degreed and a minimum of five years of recruiting experience, specifically in a law firm environment, is required. Candidates with recruiting backgrounds from large law firms.
• Agile and team first. You embrace being a member of a team and are always willing to be available outside of core work hours if urgent needs arise. Flexibility to attend work events after hours is essential to this role.
• Self-starter. You are highly motivated and eager to own the entire attorney recruiting process and implement effective and efficient processes, easily managing a wide range of tasks that recruiting encompasses.
• Personable. You are seeking an opportunity that is people-centered and enjoy the relationship-based nature of the role and overall hustle of everyday recruiting in a fast-paced law firm environment.

The salary listed reflects the anticipated compensation range for this position. Actual compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, qualifications, location, business considerations, and internal equity. Final offer amounts are determined at the employer’s discretion.

Essential to Hawthorne Lane’s successis our ability to attract talent from a range of backgrounds. Our network reflects the diverse community around us, and we believein a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed. Applicants will not be discriminated againston the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.