Lateral Member Recruiting Manager

Dykema Gossett PLLC, a leading national law firm, is seeking to hire a Lateral Member Recruiting Manager. The Lateral Member Recruiting Manager will oversee the firm’s lateral member and senior counsel recruiting, integration, and retention efforts, helping to attract and retain exceptional senior-level legal talent firmwide. The Manager will lead the day-to-day execution of lateral member hiring, focusing on pipeline development, candidate management, and process execution, and works closely with firm leadership to support strategic growth priorities. This position is open to all our office locations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Execution & Pipeline Development
  
  
  
  • Manage day-to-day lateral member recruiting across offices and practice areas.
  
  
  • Build and maintain active pipelines aligned with firm priorities.
  
  
  • Source candidates through direct outreach, referrals, and external recruiters.
  
  
  • Manage recruiter relationships and terms.
  
  
  
  

• Candidate Process Management
  
  
  
  • Serve as primary point of contact for candidates.
  
  
  • Coordinate and drive interview processes from initial outreach through offer.
  
  
  • Partner with internal stakeholders to gather and assess candidate materials (e.g., LPQ, business plans, financials).
  
  
  • Ensure timely follow-up and process movement.
  
  
  
  

• Stakeholder Collaboration
  
  
  
  • Work closely with Department Directors, Practice Group Leaders, Office Managing Members, and other firm leadership to understand hiring priorities and market opportunities.
  
  
  • Provide regular updates on pipeline activity, market trends, and candidate progress.
  
  
  • Prepare candidate materials (proposal memo, supporting documents) for Chair and Executive Board review, and support internal discussions related to lateral candidates.
  
  
  
  

• Market Intelligence & Strategy Support
  
  
  
  • Track and report on market activity, competitor hiring, and emerging opportunities.
  
  
  • Contribute to the development of targeted recruiting strategies by practice and geography.
  
  
  • Identify gaps and opportunities within existing pipelines and recommend proactive approaches.
  
  
  
  

• Process Improvement & Operations
  
  
  
  • Identify opportunities to improve recruiting processes, candidate feedback, timelines, and communication.
  
  
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date data in recruiting systems and reporting tools.
  
  
  • Support the development of consistent, repeatable processes for lateral member recruiting.
  
  
  
  

KEY ATTRIBUTES FOR SUCCESS

• Keen sense of ownership and accountability.


• Ability to manage multiple high-priority searches simultaneously.


• Sound judgment and discretion with sensitive information.


• Lateral market awareness and understanding of firm strategic growth objectives.


• Collaborative mindset with a focus on execution and results.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced degree (JD, MBA, etc.) preferred.


• 5+ years of overall legal recruiting experience; 2+ years of lateral partner recruiting experience.


• Strong understanding of law firm structures, firm and candidate economics, and partner-level considerations.


• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder processes.


• Strong project management and organizational skills with a high level of attention to detail.


• Excellent communication skills and ability to build credibility with firm leaders, candidates, and search firms.


• Proactive, resourceful, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-touch environment.


• Team-oriented self-starter; ability to prioritize work responsibilities, work independently as needed, and multitask in a fast-paced environment.


• Flexible and adaptive to change.


• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.


• Excellent judgment and respect for confidentiality.


• Willingness to be mentored by experienced professionals to execute job responsibilities.

COMPUTER/SOFTWARE KNOWLEDGE

Required: Strong Microsoft Office skills including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Experience using an applicant tracking system (viRecruit preferred).

Preferred: Experience using an attorney database or business intelligence tool such as Firm Prospects, Pirical, or Leopard List. Experience with a document management system is required, specific experience with NetDocs is a plus. Comfortability using firm-approved AI tools to aid in candidate searches. Advanced web skills are helpful.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• After-hours and/or weekend work will be required on occasion as the workload requires.


• Ability and willingness to occasionally travel locally and nationally.

WHY YOU SHOULD APPLY 

Dykema offers an excellent salary and benefit package, including transportation assistance. Dykema provides a professional, diverse and collaborative workplace where all employees can thrive. Dykema has achieved, and continues to participate in, Mansfield Certification. Our work environment is business casual. 

The expected compensation ranges for this position in various states and jurisdictions are as follows:

• Chicago: $130k-150k


• Los Angeles: $135k-170k


• Michigan Offices, Milwaukee, & Minneapolis: $120k-140k


• Austin, Dallas & Houston: $110k-130k


• San Antonio: $105k-125k


• Washington, D.C.: $130k-155k

The offered salary will be determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, work location, individual skill set, previous/applicable experience, education, external market data and consideration of internal equity.

EEO STATEMENT 

It is the Firm’s policy to provide employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis without regard to the individual’s age, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, marital status, domestic partner relationship, physical characteristics, disability, or other protected characteristics under applicable federal, state or local laws or ordinances. 

Dykema will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the known disabilities of employees who are otherwise qualified to perform the essential functions of the jobs involved. 

It is the responsibility of every individual concerned with personnel actions, including management, supervision, recruiting, compensation, benefits, promotions, work assignments and training, to ensure that these activities are administered consistent with the Firm’s goal of furthering the principle of equal employment opportunity. 

E-Verify

Dykema uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce. E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.