Senior Talent Acquisition Coordinator, Law Students

McDermott Will & Schulte; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 83,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

McDermott Will & Schulte in Chicago seeks a Senior Talent Acquisition Coordinator for Law Students to run the law school recruiting program and the 10-week summer associate schedule across offices. You’ll partner with partners, career services, and committees to optimize outreach and interview logistics.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree and 3+ years in law firm recruiting (or 4–5 years in professional services), strong communication, organizational skills, and proficiency with ATS

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 3+ years focused on law firm recruiting.
• Experience with law school outreach and summer programs.
• Experience with applicant tracking systems, viRecruit preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop relationships with law schools and student organizations at assigned feeder schools.
• Coordinate firm participation in outreach activities throughout the year.
• Manage full-cycle 1L/2L recruiting for assigned offices; schedule interviews; gather feedback; manage callbacks and offers.
• Provide regular updates to internal stakeholders on recruiting progress and pipelines.
• Plan and execute the 10-week summer associate program for assigned offices; manage work assignments, events, and logistics.
• Coordinate with TA leadership on budgeting for summer programs and events.
• Maintain the applicant tracking system (ATS) data integrity for all applicants and activities.
• Process payments, invoices, and reimbursements related to recruiting efforts and onboarding.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Client service

Discretion & confidentiality

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

viRecruit

MS Office

Job description

Build your big career with the firm that does Big Law, Better. McDermott Will & Schulte is a leading global law firm that brings together more than 1,700+ lawyers and 1,400 business professionals. We celebrate excellence, collaboration, and community and have been recognized as a top workplace by USA Today, Fortune, The American Lawyer, Vault and others. We are also certified by Great Place to Work.
At McDermott, we don’t just invest in your future, we accelerate your career – wherever it may lead. That includes supporting you both in and outside of the office.

With Us, You’ll Find

• A firm where everyone belongs: Our award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity — we encourage you to be yourself!
• Enthusiasm for all perspectives: We’re smarter and stronger when everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. We welcome unique viewpoints and ideas, and we make opportunities for you and your career to thrive.
• Support to feel your best and do your best: Wellness is integral to building a successful career and a rich life. That’s why our benefits program supports your physical, emotional, mental, and financial health, with an emphasis on work-life balance.
• Real rewards for real work: We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence.

Job Description

The Senior Talent Acquisition Coordinator, Law Students executes the law school student recruiting process and summer associate programs for one or more assigned offices, under the supervision of the Senior Talent Acquisition Manager. This position coordinates with team leadership, hiring partners, and recruiting committee members to implement recruiting strategies, administer recruiting process and summer program logistics, and attract top-tier law student talent.

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with law school career services offices and student organizations at assigned key feeder schools
• Coordinate Firm participation in, and sponsorship of, outreach activities throughout the calendar year
• Manage the full cycle 1L and 2L law student recruiting process for assigned office(s), including coordinating with the law school, on campus interview logistics, creating interview schedules, gathering interviewer feedback, and facilitating the callback interview and offer process
• Provide regular updates to internal stakeholders regarding recruiting progress and candidate pipelines
• Plan and execute the full 10‑week summer associate program for assigned office(s), including the work assignment and evaluation processes, events and other day‑to‑day logistics
• Coordinate with Talent Acquisition leadership on budgeting for summer program events and recruiting activities
• Maintain the applicant tracking system (ATS) and ensure data integrity for all applicants and recruiting activities
• Compile and analyze post‑season recruiting reporting and survey results
• Interface effectively with candidates, provides candidate correspondence and updates, and submits background checks requests and processes conflicts
• Process payments, invoices, and reimbursements related to law student recruiting efforts, the Summer Program, and First Year Associate onboarding
• Contribute to firm‑wide recruiting initiatives by assisting with special projects and identifying opportunities to enhance recruiting workflows
• Keep apprised of market trends, NALP guidelines, and individual school recruiting policies
• Ability to work efficiently both independently and collaboratively as a proactive and reliable team player
• Receptive to feedback and dedicated to ongoing professional development
• Ability to travel and work flexible and/or fluctuating work hours, particularly May – August
• Ability to work in the office 4 days per week throughout the 10‑week Summer Program (typically May – July)

Job Specifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in law firm recruiting, with a focus on summer associate programs and law school outreach, or 4 to 5 years of recruiting experience with a professional services organization
• Experience with applicant tracking systems, viRecruit preferred
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize responsibilities
• Ability to exercise discretion, good judgment, flexibility, and maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the role
• Ability to provide professional, responsive, and high‑quality client service to both internal and external stakeholders in a fast‑paced environment

Successful candidates will be provided with outstanding career opportunities and will receive a competitive total rewards package with the opportunity to earn performance‑based bonuses.
Target Hiring Range $83,000 - $105,000
Please note that quoted salary ranges are not guarantees of what final salary offers may be. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job‑related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. Base pay is only one part of the Total Rewards that MWS provides to compensate and recognize our staff professionals for their work. Full time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

Physical Demands And Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk and hear
• Employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds

Work Environment

Typical indoor office environment

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people within this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this job.