Lateral Recruiting Manager

FBT Gibbons; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

FBT Gibbons LLP, a national law firm with a strong presence across the Midwest, is seeking a Lateral Recruiting Manager to lead experienced attorney recruiting and attract top legal talent. This role partners with firm leadership, practice groups, and administrative teams to support hiring strategies across multiple offices.

The ideal candidate has law firm recruiting experience, strong judgment, and a commitment to delivering an exceptional candidate and stakeholder experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; JD preferred.
• Minimum of three years in a law firm recruiting environment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office, recruiting platforms, sourcing tools, and AI-enabled recruiting technologies.
• Maintain high confidentiality and professionalism.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of legal employment issues and travel across footprint.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Department Chair, Practice Group Leaders, and Recruiting Director to identify staffing needs and recruit experienced attorneys.
• Manage lateral recruiting cycle: posting, sourcing, interviewing, feedback, and decision-making.
• Develop and implement creative sourcing strategies to build a candidate pipeline.
• Oversee onboarding, background checks, conflicts, and orientation scheduling for lateral hires.
• Prepare communications and offer letters for lateral candidates.
• Stay informed on industry trends and maintain a professional network.

Skills

Attention to detail

Project management

Interpersonal communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

viDesktop Recruiting Module

LinkedIn

Firm Prospects

viRecruit

Microsoft Office

Job description

FBT Gibbons LLP is a national law firm focused on serving companies operating and investing in the middle market. With nearly 1,500 employees across 26 offices, we support clients ranging from large multinationals to mid-sized businesses and growth-oriented startups across the United States. Our teams collaborate across departments and geographies to deliver excellent service to our clients, colleagues, and the communities we serve.

At FBT Gibbons, diversity enriches our vibrant culture and empowers our teams to achieve more together. We welcome talented professionals who bring valuable skills, a collaborative mindset, and a shared commitment to helping our firm and clients thrive. Here, you’ll make meaningful contributions, collaborate with exceptional colleagues, and build a career that grows with your skills and ambitions.

We are currently seeking a Lateral Recruiting Manager to lead experienced attorney recruiting efforts and help attract top legal talent to the firm. This role offers the opportunity to partner closely with firm leadership, practice groups, and administrative teams to support strategic hiring needs across the firm’s footprint.

The ideal candidate is a proactive, collaborative recruiting professional with law firm experience, strong judgment, and a commitment to delivering an exceptional candidate and stakeholder experience.

This position can be based in Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Indianapolis, IN; Louisville, KY; or Nashville, TN.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the assigned Department Chair, Practice Group Leaders, and the Attorney Recruiting and Acquisition Director to identify staffing needs and implement appropriate recruiting searches for experienced attorneys in accordance with firm priorities.
• Proactively manage all aspects of the lateral recruiting cycle, including posting openings, sourcing candidates, reviewing resumes, coordinating interviews, collecting feedback and facilitating decision-making.
• Gain a thorough understanding of the duties of the various attorney positions and what is required to be successful in those positions.
• Develop and implement creative and innovative sourcing strategies and techniques to build a pipeline of qualified candidates.
• Manage the data entry of attorney resumes, confirm accuracy of online resume applications, and run reports as needed using viDesktop Recruiting Module.
• Maintain recruiting data, analyze statistics, and identify trends for consideration.
• Focus on quality improvement methods to enhance recruitment strategies and onboarding processes over time.
• Identify and leverage technology tools to enhance effectiveness of lateral recruiting including robust use of LinkedIn, Firm Prospects and viRecruit.
• Manage the onboarding process for lateral associate hires including processing of background checks, conflicts, onboarding documents, overseeing setting of orientation schedules, etc.
• Oversee preparation of communications and offer letters for all lateral candidates.
• Provide back-up support to members of the Attorney Recruiting Team as needed.
• Stay abreast of industry trends through professional reading, attending webinars and conferences, and developing/maintaining a professional network with peers at other firms.
• Effectively hire, train, coach, and manage team members to cultivate a high-performance culture and ensure alignment with firm goals.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with the firm’s administrative departments.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required; JD preferred.
• Minimum of three years of experience working in a law firm required. Internal or external legal recruiting experience preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, recruiting platforms, sourcing tools, and AI-enabled technologies that support efficient recruiting workflows.
• Possess a high-level of confidentiality and professionalism.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and thoroughness.
• Knowledge of legal employment issues.
• Cultural awareness and the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve buy-in and results.
• Ability to understand unconscious bias and its effect on recruiting and hiring.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to prioritize multiple tasks, maintain accurate records, collect data, and meet deadlines under time constraints.
• Strong interpersonal skills to communicate professionally and effectively by e‑mail, telephone, and in person.
• Ability to travel as needed across the firm’s footprint. Travel time estimates are moderate (10‑20%).

FBT Gibbons is fully committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. It is the policy of FBT Gibbons to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, military status, veteran status, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability or any other protected status.

FBT Gibbons offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including health care coverage (medical, dental, and vision), life insurance, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, employee wellbeing and EAP programs, paid time off, and a 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching and profit-sharing. Benefit offerings and eligibility vary by location and are subject to applicable plan terms and legal requirements.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship. FBT Gibbons does not provide visa sponsorship for this position.