Lateral Recruiting Specialist, Lateral Associate Recruiting

K&L Gates; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 75,000 - 141,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan and Profit Shar

Paid Time Off (25-30 days per year)

Hybrid/Remote Work Opportunities

Job summary

K&L Gates is seeking a Lateral Recruiting Specialist to lead and advance lateral associate/counsel recruiting across U.S. practices.

The role operates as the primary contact for candidates, search firms, hiring stakeholders, and internal teams, driving sourcing, screening, interviews, offers, and onboarding with a focus on quality and efficiency. Ideal candidates will have at least five years in recruiting, preferably within a law firm or professional services, strong project management and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience preferred; advanced degree a plus.
• Minimum of five years of recruiting, talent acquisition, program management, or related experience, preferably within a law firm, law school, or professional services environment.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage defined recruiting programs, searches, projects, and stakeholder relationships within established priorities and approval frameworks, with limited supervision.
• Strong project management, organizational, written and verbal communication, relationship-building, and client-service skills.
• Sound judgment and the ability to identify issues, recommend solutions, and determine when escalation is appropriate.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, responsiveness, and timely follow-through.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a matrixed and geographically dispersed team.
• Proficiency with applicant tracking systems, recruiting platforms, spreadsheets, presentation software, and standard business applications.
• Ability to work outside regular business hours and travel periodically when business needs require.
• Must be able to manage the demands of a fast-paced work environment, including multiple priorities and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned lateral searches within defined strategies, timelines, and approval frameworks.
• Partner with Legal Recruiting team and stakeholders to understand hiring priorities and candidate profiles.
• Manage candidate progression through sourcing, screening, interviews, feedback, offer coordination, and transition.
• Maintain productive relationships with candidates, search firms, and internal stakeholders.
• Review candidate submissions, facilitate evaluation and feedback, and support competitive recruiting and offer-related matters.
• Provide timely pipeline and search updates.
• Maintain accurate candidate, interview, offer, and activity information in recruiting systems.
• Maintain reports, trackers, templates, guides, and documentation; monitor data quality and process compliance.
• Facilitate handoff of accepted candidates to Human Resources, Integration, and onboarding stakeholders.
• Provide guidance and day-to-day support to coordinators and recruiting support resources.
• Lead or contribute to projects, training, policy reviews, and process enhancements.

Skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Written and verbal communication

Relationship-building

Client-service skills

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience preferred; advanced degree a plus.

Tools

Applicant tracking systems

Recruiting platforms

Spreadsheets

Presentation software

Business applications

Job description

Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us. Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

We are seeking a Lateral Recruiting Specialist to join K&L Gates. The Legal Recruiting Specialist, Lateral Associate Recruiting, independently manages and advances lateral associate and counsel recruiting initiatives across all U.S. practices.
The Specialist serves as a primary contact for assigned candidates, search firms, hiring stakeholders, and internal teams, and supports team development through knowledge sharing, cross-training, project leadership, and workflow coordination.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Manage assigned lateral associate and counsel searches within established strategies, timelines, and approval frameworks.
• Partner with Legal Recruiting team and stakeholders to understand hiring priorities and candidate profiles.
• Manage candidate progression through sourcing, screening, interviews, feedback, offer coordination, and transition.
• Maintain productive relationships with candidates, search firms, and internal stakeholders.
• Review candidate submissions, facilitate evaluation and feedback, and support competitive recruiting and offer-related matters.
• Provide timely pipeline and search updates.
• Maintain accurate candidate, interview, offer, and activity information in recruiting systems.
• Maintain reports, trackers, templates, guides, and documentation; monitor data quality and process compliance.
• Facilitate handoff of accepted candidates to Human Resources, Integration, and onboarding stakeholders.
• Provide guidance and day-to-day support to coordinators and recruiting support resources.
• Lead or contribute to projects, training, policy reviews, and process enhancements.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

EXPERIENCE SKILLS REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience preferred; advanced degree a plus.
• Minimum of five years of recruiting, talent acquisition, program management, or related experience, preferably within a law firm, law school, or professional services environment.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage defined recruiting programs, searches, projects, and stakeholder relationships within established priorities and approval frameworks, with limited supervision.
• Strong project management, organizational, written and verbal communication, relationship-building, and client-service skills.
• Sound judgment and the ability to identify issues, recommend solutions, and determine when escalation is appropriate.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, responsiveness, and timely follow-through.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a matrixed and geographically dispersed team.
• Proficiency with applicant tracking systems, recruiting platforms, spreadsheets, presentation software, and standard business applications.
• Ability to work outside regular business hours and travel periodically when business needs require.
• Must be able to manage the demands of a fast-paced work environment, including multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Must be able to exercise sound judgment, adapt to changing priorities, and communicate effectivey with individuals at all organizational levels.
• Must be able to accommodate a flexible work schedule that may require extended hours and occasional weekend work.

ADDITIONAL ABILITIES REQUIRED

Compensation Salary $75,000 - $141,000 / year

The compensation salary for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors.

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world. We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world.

The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.

Please be advised that this position requires successful completion of a background check. In accordance with the Washington State Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act, and applicable law qualified California and Washington State applicants with criminal history records will be considered. A criminal history will not categorically exclude a candidate from employment, and the Firm will consider relevant factors before making employment decisions based on criminal history information.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

BENEFITS

K&L Gates offers our personnel a comprehensive suite of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time personnel include:

• Medical/Prescription Drug Coverage (including a Health Savings Account feature)
• Back-up Child/Elder Care and access to a caregiving concierge
• Dental Insurance
• Wellness Program
• Vision Insurance
• Pre-tax Commuting Benefits
• 401(k) Retirement Plan and Profit Sharing
• Business Travel Accident Insurance
• Short- and Long-term Disability Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Life Insurance (including Basic, Supplemental, Spouse, Child, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment)
• Health Advocacy Services
• Paid Time Off (25-30 days per year)
• Identity Protection/Restoration and Fraud Insurance
• Parental Leave (18 weeks of which 12 are paid; short-term disability may provide additional paid time off)
• Student loan refinancing options and access to a student loan concierge service
• Paid Holidays (12)
• Addiction Resources
• Family Building Benefits
• Breast Milk Delivery and Lactation Support Services
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employees also may be eligible to receive bonuses and certain expense reimbursements
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional Development and CLE Credit Opportunities
• 529 Deductions
• Relocation
• Accident Insurance
• Employee Referral Program
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Hybrid/Remote Work Opportunities
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Perks including: Technology, Entertainment, and Travel Discount Programs
• Bereavement Leave
• All other benefits (such as leaves of absence) required by law

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment, and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact [e-mail].