Director of Attorney Advancement

A law firm is hiring a Director of Attorney Advancement to lead the Firm’s attorney advancement function, with responsibility for confidential career advising and coaching as well as the development, execution, and continuous improvement of programs and initiatives that support attorneys throughout their careers. The Director will serve as a trusted resource to attorneys and Firm leaders, combining individualized guidance with data-informed insight and hands-on ownership of programs central to the attorney experience.
The Director of Attorney Advancement will work to support the initiatives of the Firm, including, but not limited to:

Attorney Advising, Coaching, and Integration

• Serving as a primary resource for attorneys seeking career development guidance, including helping attorneys identify and pursue work opportunities within the Firm’s free market system and providing one-on-one coaching on goal-setting, performance, professional development, and career trajectory
• Conducting regular informal and formal attorney check-ins to stay attuned to attorney needs, identify emerging issues, and provide support and guidance as appropriate
• Supporting attorney onboarding and integration through targeted touchpoints, check-ins, and other initiatives designed to help attorneys establish strong connections and navigate the Firm effectively
• Developing a strong understanding of individual attorneys’ experiences, goals, performance, and development needs and using that perspective to identify opportunities for individual support as well as broader programming or intervention

Attorney Advancement Operations and Programming

• Overseeing all aspects of associate hours reporting, including monitoring individual associate hours, identifying trends, advising associates on workloads, reviewing partner exposure and work allocation data, and producing hours analyses that inform leadership decision-making
• Taking full ownership of the Firm’s affinity group programming, including coordinating events, managing logistics, liaising with group leadership, and driving new initiatives that support engagement and inclusion
• Managing and further developing the Firm’s internal job board, including curating and posting opportunities, expanding the board’s reach and utility, and identifying new ways to connect attorneys with relevant positions and career resources
• Conducting exit interviews and synthesizing themes for leadership review.
• Developing audience-appropriate newsletters and communications regarding career opportunities and related resources
• Supporting the Firm’s associate mentoring program by monitoring mentor and mentee connections, identifying pairings that may require attention, and coordinating with Professional Development as appropriate to encourage productive and sustained engagement

Attorney Advancement Strategy and Initiatives

• Identifying, developing, and leading firmwide attorney advancement initiatives, including assessing needs, coordinating with stakeholders, developing program materials and communications, managing implementation, and assessing participation and impact
• Building on the Firm’s associate core competencies framework, including driving awareness and adoption among associates and partners, integrating the competencies into career development conversations, and identifying opportunities to deepen their use across the Firm
• Developing and delivering programming for Academy focused on professional skill development, including practice management, leadership, and interpersonal skills essential to attorneys’ career growth
• Drawing on attorney check-ins, hours and work allocation data, exit interviews, program participation, and other qualitative and quantitative information to identify trends affecting attorney development and advancement and make recommendations to Firm leadership about appropriate responses
• Managing the Firm’s responses to and participation in attorney-focused surveys (such as Vault, Chambers, and AmLaw’s Midlevel Associate Survey), including coordinating the response process, gathering input from relevant stakeholders, and ensuring accurate and timely submissions. Also responsible for reviewing survey results to identify themes and translating findings into practice recommendations for Firm leadership
• Staying current on developments and best practices in attorney development, professional development, coaching, talent management, and related areas, and identifying opportunities to strengthen the Firm’s approach

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years’ relevant experience, including meaningful experience in attorney development, professional development, legal talent management, career advising, or comparable functions within a law firm or similar legal environment
• JD strongly preferred
• Ability to build strong rapport and establish credibility and trust with associates, partners, Firm leadership, and business professionals
• Demonstrated ability to provide thoughtful, practical career guidance and coaching while exercising strong judgment and discretion in sensitive situations
• Ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative information, identify meaningful patterns, and translate observations into practical recommendations and next steps
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently, identify needs proactively, and drive initiatives from concept through implementation while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tailor communications effectively to different audiences and inspire confidence among attorneys and Firm leaders
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with consistent attention to detail and follow-through
• Sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism, with the ability to navigate sensitive matters, competing interests, and situations that may not have an obvious or predetermined solution.
• Flexibility to adjust hours to meet operating and business needs
• Strong knowledge of standard computer software programs (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with the ability to learn and support new software and operating systems

If you are interested in this role, please email your resume to Jill Tomarken:  jtomarken@friedmanwilliams.com.  Thank you.