Buckingham SearchVerified Source

Legal Recruiting Manager, Law Firm Hiring

Partially · Chicago, Illinois
Posted August 12, 2026
payroll

Overview

Own attorney hiring end-to-end for a Chicago-based law firm, from lateral searches to summer associate programs and onboarding. You will partner directly with the hiring partner, practice group chairs, and HR leadership, managing the full lifecycle independently. This individual contributor role demands a recruiter with agency and in-house experience who builds trusted relationships. Scale recruiting operations with LinkedIn Recruiter and Leopard Solutions, shaping a premier candidate experience. This hybrid role, three days in-office, centers on strategic talent acquisition in a professional services setting.

What You'll Do8

  • 1Lead lateral attorney searches from intake through accepted offer, driving strategy and execution with practice group leaders.
  • 2Partner with firm leadership to define hiring needs and craft targeted search strategies for each practice area.
  • 3Source passive legal talent through LinkedIn Recruiter, referrals, and external networks, building a pipeline of qualified candidates.
  • 4Manage full recruiting lifecycle: screen, coordinate interviews, collect feedback, develop offers, and close candidates.
  • 5Oversee the summer associate recruiting process, ensuring a structured and engaging program from offer to start.
  • 6Coordinate onboarding for new attorneys, facilitating a smooth transition into the firm's culture and workflow.
  • 7Maintain accurate candidate records and pipeline metrics in Leopard Solutions, using data to refine recruiting approaches.
  • 8Improve recruiting practices by evaluating current processes and recommending enhancements to efficiency and candidate experience.

Requirements7

  • 15+ years full-cycle recruiting experience, ideally blending agency and in-house roles within a law firm or professional services.
  • 2Proven record of recruiting lateral attorneys or other specialized professional talent.
  • 3Exposure to summer associate recruiting, campus programs, or early-career hiring.
  • 4Ability to counsel partners and senior stakeholders, earning credibility and influencing hiring decisions.
  • 5Strong sourcing skills with hands-on use of LinkedIn Recruiter; familiarity with Leopard Solutions is a plus.
  • 6Excellent organization, judgment, and follow-through, handling multiple searches simultaneously.
  • 7Collaborative yet independent, comfortable working without direct reports.

Salary Insight

Salary not disclosed in listing

Location

Typepartially
LocationChicago, Illinois

Required Skills

linkedin recruiterleopard solutionslegal recruitingtalent sourcingcandidate management
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