Manager, Lateral Partner Recruitment

WilmerHale; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

WilmerHale is seeking a Manager, Lateral Partner Recruitment to drive strategic growth by identifying, recruiting, hiring, and integrating lateral partners and partner groups. You will partner with the Director of Lateral Partner Recruitment and collaborate with practice group leaders, finance, conflicts, and external search consultants.

The role requires 5–8 years of experience (2+ in legal recruiting) and a Bachelor’s Degree, with a focus on delivering high-quality service and maintaining

Qualifications

• 5–8 years experience, including 2+ years in legal recruiting.
• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Experience with the partner recruitment lifecycle and driving strategic hiring initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Identify strategic hiring opportunities with practice group leaders.
• Coordinate with search firms for candidate submissions and interviews.
• Oversee candidate communications and maintain professionalism and confidentiality.
• Schedule interviews across multiple offices and practice groups.
• Maintain pipeline and market intelligence on partner movements and trends.
• Produce pipeline metrics and support leadership with reports.

Skills

Executive recruitment

Communication skills

Discretion

Project management

Analytical skills

Team collaboration

Law firm knowledge

Attention to detail

Adaptability to AI tools

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Job Description

WilmerHale is a leading, full-service international law firm with 1,000 lawyers located throughout 12 offices in the United States and Europe. Our lawyers work at the intersection of government, technology and business, and we remain committed to our guiding principles of providing quality, excellent legal and client services; developing diversity among our lawyers and staff and cultivating an environment that promotes an ambitious spirit, collaboration and collegiality by drawing on the extraordinary talents and dynamic experience of our lawyers. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our clients and the communities in which we practice.

About The Role

The Manager, Lateral Partner Recruitment, is responsible for partnering with the Director of Lateral Partner Recruitment to drive the firm's strategic growth through the identification, recruitment, hiring, and integration of lateral partners and partner-level groups. Working closely with the Director, firm leadership, practice group leaders, finance, conflicts, business development, and external search consultants, this position manages all aspects of the lateral partner recruitment lifecycle and serves as a trusted advisor on partner hiring initiatives.

Demonstrates a strong commitment to professionalism by setting clear expectations and ensuring the delivery of high-quality service. Fosters and reinforces a positive, solution-oriented (‘can-do’) approach across the team. Ensures effective support of internal departments, external clients, and vendors by modeling and requiring clear, courteous communication through electronic correspondence, telephone, and in-person interactions.

What You Will Be Doing

• Partners with Director, practice group leaders and firm management to identify strategic hiring opportunities. Coordinates targeted partner outreach initiatives.
• Manages relationships with preferred legal search firms. Engages with search firms to coordinate candidate submissions, interview scheduling, and feedback loops.
• Manages communication among candidates, recruiters, and firm leadership. Ensures recruiting processes are executed with a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Coordinates and owns the scheduling of candidate interviews, across multiple practice groups and offices, often involving complex, multi-party calendars.
• Maintains awareness of partner movement trends and legal market developments. Manages a robust pipeline of qualified candidates using market intelligence, legal directories, alumni networks, and firm relationships.
• Tracks scheduling and pipeline metrics (e.g., time-to-schedule, interview volume) and report status to the Director. Tracks and analyzes lateral market trends, competitor moves, and practice group growth opportunities.
• Manages the end-to-end lateral partner recruitment process, ensuring a smooth, high-touch candidate experience.
• Assists in preparing materials for Partner Admissions/Management Committee presentations.
• Maintains accurate records in the firm's recruiting CRM/database; produces regular pipeline and metrics reports for firm leadership.
• Supports budget tracking related to search firm fees and recruiting expenses.
• Assists the Director with basic research on prospective candidates, practice groups, and market trends.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated ability to pivot with last minute scheduling issues and multitask in stressful situations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High degree of discretion with sensitive and confidential matters.
• Exceptional project management and organizational abilities.
• Strong analytical and business judgment skills.
• Strong teamwork skills with a collaborative approach to working with others at all levels of seniority.
• Extensive knowledge of recruiting, law firms and practice of law.
• Detail oriented and high attention to quality.
• Remains open to technological change as generative AI becomes more integrated into the firm’s practice, actively develop comfort with new tools, and adapt how work is performed to support efficiency and innovation.

Required Experience

• 5–8 years of experience, including 2+ years in legal recruiting.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree required.

Why Join Us?

• A values‑driven firm that fosters collaboration and respect
• The hiring range for this position is $155,000 - $193,000 annually, with final compensation based on experience, qualifications and internal equity.
• This position is eligible for a Hybrid Schedule
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match and profit-sharing options
• Paid time off and holidays

Our Commitment

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale) is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to compliance with all applicable laws prohibiting employment discrimination. It is our policy to take all employment actions and make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, disability, military status, status as a disabled or other protected veteran, or any other protected status under applicable law. WilmerHale will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and otherwise as required by applicable law. This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by employees in the position. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills for positions. The firm reserves the right at all times, in its sole discretion, to add or subtract duties and responsibilities, as it deems necessary.