Akerman LLP is seeking a Legal Recruiter to strengthen strategic recruiting efforts by identifying legal talent, initiating outreach, and building durable candidate relationships in targeted markets. This role works closely with the Chief Talent Officer, firm leadership, and key stakeholders to develop pipelines, coordinate interview activity, and report recruiting progress.
Strategic Partnership and Planning
The Legal Recruiter partners with firm leadership to understand strategic hiring priorities and targeted recruiting needs. The position also coordinates internal recruiting strategy meetings to review hiring requirements, candidate pipelines, and relevant market intelligence.
Talent Identification and Outreach
The role supports recruiting goals by developing target candidate lists based on criteria provided by practice group leaders and firm management. Responsibilities include researching and identifying prospective attorney and legal professional candidates across designated markets and practice areas. The recruiter conducts cold outreach to pre-approved prospective candidates to introduce Akerman and assess interest in opportunities.
Candidate Engagement and Pipeline Development
The recruiter engages internal contacts and firm personnel to identify and solicit candidate referrals. Ongoing responsibilities include developing and maintaining relationships with prospective candidates to build long-term talent pipelines and ensuring timely, professional communication throughout the recruiting process. Candidate progress is monitored continuously, with regular updates provided to firm leadership.
Scheduling, Coordination, and Market Intelligence
The Legal Recruiter coordinates and schedules meetings between prospective candidates and Akerman attorneys, practice leaders, and other stakeholders. The role also assists with gathering, organizing, and maintaining market research and competitive intelligence related to recruiting efforts.
Data Management and Reporting
Accurate recruiting operations are supported through maintaining up-to-date recruiting databases, target lists, candidate tracking spreadsheets, and status reports. The recruiter ensures recruiting activity is tracked effectively and information is organized for ongoing stakeholder visibility.
Special Projects and Additional Support
As assigned, the Legal Recruiter supports special recruiting initiatives and strategic talent acquisition projects. The role also assists with additional projects and administrative responsibilities as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree (preferred) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 5+ years of previous recruiting, executive search, legal recruiting, sales, business development, or professional services experience (preferred).
Skills and Experience
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Confidence and professionalism when conducting proactive outreach and cold calling.
- Excellent organization with close attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
- Strong interpersonal skills to build relationships with candidates and internal stakeholders.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
- Experience using AI and other research tools to build and analyze target lists.
- Experience maintaining recruiting databases, applicant tracking systems, or candidate relationship management tools is preferred.
Key Competencies
- Relationship Building
- Networking and Talent Identification
- Persuasive Communication
- Strategic Sourcing
- Project Coordination
- Organization and Follow-Through
- Professionalism and Confidentiality
Tools and Technologies
- Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint
- AI
- Applicant tracking systems
- Candidate relationship management tools
Location and Work Setup
This role is based in San Antonio, TX and is onsite.
