Senior Manager of Attorney Development

Perkins Coie LLP

Phoenix (AZ)

Hybrid

USD 138,450 - 279,380

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Annual discretionary bonus

401(k) plan

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Accrued paid time off starting at 20 days annually

Personal medical and parental leave

Paid holidays

Family care benefits

Job summary

Perkins Coie LLP is seeking a Senior Manager of Attorney Development in Phoenix, Arizona. This hybrid role focuses on designing and delivering strategic training and professional development programs to enhance lawyer engagement and growth. The successful candidate will have significant experience in managing attorney development within a law firm, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to innovative change.

The position requires effective collaboration across various departments and a minimum of five years in a managerial role. The firm offers a comprehensive benefits package and an annual compensation range specific to location.

Qualifications

Minimum five to eight years of manager-level experience in attorney professional development.
Substantial experience in designing and managing attorney development programs.
Exceptional communication skills and experience advising professionals.

Responsibilities

Develop and support firmwide developmental academies and training initiatives.
Manage coaching and mentoring programs for attorneys.
Oversee compliance and tracking of CLE across jurisdictions.

Skills

Training program development

Project management

Collaboration with leadership

Verbal and written communication

Entrepreneurial mindset

Education

JD and prior practice experience

Management experience in a multi-office law firm

Tools

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) platforms

Job description

Job Description:

We are seeking a strategic, creative, and collaborative Senior Manager of Attorney Development to help shape the future of lawyer growth and professional development at our firm. This role will play a key role in the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of a cohesive, forward‑thinking curriculum focused on legal skills, professional and management skills, business development, communication, law firm economics, client service, and emerging areas such as AI in legal practice. The Senior Manager of Attorney Development will also oversee key functions within the department and help build scalable systems and programs that strengthen lawyer engagement, development, and long‑term success across the firm. We are looking for a strong leader, manager, and systems‑builder with significant law firm professional development experience, intellectual curiosity, and enthusiasm for innovation and change as we enter an exciting new chapter through our combination with Ashurst and continued international growth.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Training & Professional Development

Develop and support firmwide developmental academies, retreats, orientations, and attorney training initiatives.
Partner with firm leadership, talent advisors, Knowledge & Innovation, and divisions/practice groups to assess development needs and deliver strategic programming.
Manage training resources and communications with internal and external faculty, coaches, and other training providers.

Mentoring, Integration & Feedback

Manage coaching and mentoring programs; support onboarding and integration programs for new and lateral attorneys.
Foster a culture, through programs and communications, of effective feedback, coaching, and continuous development.

Team Leadership

Provide oversight of firmwide CLE, including compliance, accreditation, reporting, and tracking across jurisdictions and offices.
Supervise and mentor the CLE team.
Oversee, evaluate, and optimize learning management systems (LMS), attorney evaluation and feedback platforms, and other development technologies (e.g., CE Manager, viGlobal).
Manage program budgets, vendor relationships, and multiple simultaneous projects with attention to outcomes, timelines, and resource allocation.

Perform other duties as assigned.

This is a hybrid role with some in‑office expectations.

TRAVEL

This position will require approximately 20 days of travel annually.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

Minimum five to eight years of manager‑level or higher experience in attorney professional development, attorney personnel management, or a closely related field.
Substantial experience in lawyer professional development within a law firm environment, with demonstrated ability to design, build, and manage wide‑ranging programs—including training curricula, mentoring frameworks, integration initiatives, and CLE—across a complex, multi‑office organization.
Strong project management and supervisory skills, with a collaborative, proactive approach and proven ability to build partnerships across departments, offices, and leadership levels.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including experience presenting to and advising professionals at all seniority levels.
Sound judgment, adaptability, and comfort navigating organizational change in a dynamic firm environment.
Entrepreneurial mindset with experience launching new initiatives and scaling programs in a growing or evolving firm environment.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

JD and prior practice experience.
Management experience in a multi‑office law firm environment, with broad responsibility for the design and delivery of attorney development and integration programs.
Experience with attorney development technologies and systems, including LMS and CLE platforms; knowledge of multi‑jurisdictional MCLE compliance.
Professional coaching training or certification.

Benefits