Strategic Legal Recruiting Lead

Dechert LLP; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 130,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Dechert LLP in Washington, DC seeks a Talent Recruiting Manager to lead the US entry-level associate recruiting strategy, drawing on advanced legal recruiting expertise, market insight, and independent judgment to attract top talent across the firm’s US offices.

You will oversee fall campus and summer associate programs, partner with hiring partners and practice group leaders, ensure a high-quality candidate experience, and mentor recruiting staff while aligning recruiting efforts with the

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or HR certification preferred.
• 7+ years of law firm administration or legal recruiting experience required, with demonstrated experience independently managing complex recruiting programs, advising stakeholders, and improving recruiting processes.
• Systems required Vi, Microsoft Suite, Outlook, WorkDay

Responsibilities

• Oversee and coordinate US fall campus recruiting and summer associate recruitment programs, partnering with other offices as needed to ensure a consistent, high-quality recruiting experience.
• Partner with hiring partners, practice group leaders, and department leadership to anticipate and assess attorney hiring needs, advise on recruiting strategy and market considerations, and align recruiting efforts with the firm’s strategic growth plans.
• Serve as an ambassador of the firm by sharing firm information, promoting the firm’s brand, and identifying opportunities to enhance visibility with law students and candidates.
• Build and maintain relationships with law schools, student organizations, universities, external recruiters, and professional organizations to support fall interviewing, strengthen the firm’s talent pipeline, and increase market visibility.
• Coordinate with the Legal Talent Department and Marketing team to plan, implement, and drive recruiting initiatives, campaigns, website content, NALP updates, and promotional materials that improve the firm’s profile at targeted schools and in key markets, recommending enhancements based on recruiting trends, candidate feedback, and competitive market practices.
• Manage the full-cycle legal recruiting process for law students, summer associates, and associates, including sourcing, reviewing candidate materials, screening resumes, responding to inquiries, collecting candidate information, scheduling interviews, monitoring interview progress, and following up on evaluations.
• Coordinate with Legal Recruitment staff and administrative departments, including Talent and Conflicts, to complete background, conflicts, references, bar status, and other recruitment-related checks and new hire paperwork.
• Provide recruiting materials, metrics, and statistics for hiring committee meetings and other stakeholder updates, translating data into insights and recommendations that support recruiting priorities, resource planning, and decision-making.
• Manage the post-offer process, including attorney follow-up, offer communications, offer dinners, return visits, and related candidate engagement activities.
• Design and administer US summer associate programming, including social events, training calendars, work allocation coordination, feedback processes, committee updates, exit interviews, and mid-summer and final reviews, independently planning priorities, resources, and timelines to support a consistent, high-quality program experience.
• Partner with lawyers on summer committees to ensure summer associates receive appropriate work opportunities, meaningful feedback, and a strong overall program experience, influencing stakeholders and resolving non-routine issues to maintain program quality and engagement.
• Mentor recruiting staff, including training, performance feedback, coaching, and counseling to support team effectiveness and professional development.

Skills

Legal recruiting experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree or HR certification

Tools

Vi

Microsoft Suite

Outlook

WorkDay

Job description

Dechert LLP in Washington, DC seeks a Talent Recruiting Manager to lead the US entry-level associate recruiting strategy, drawing on advanced legal recruiting expertise, market insight, and independent judgment to attract top talent across the firm’s US offices.

You will oversee fall campus and summer associate programs, partner with hiring partners and practice group leaders, ensure a high-quality candidate experience, and mentor recruiting staff while aligning recruiting efforts with the