Director of Professional Development to join the St. Louis, Cleveland, or Chicago office.
Position SummaryThe Director of Professional Development provides strategic leadership for the firm's attorney and paralegal development initiatives, including training, mentoring, career development, performance management support, leadership development, CLE compliance, and attorney integration. Working closely with firm and practice group leadership and key administrative teams, the Director develops programs that support professional growth, engagement, retention, and advancement and serves as a trusted advisor on attorney development and talent strategy.
Key ResponsibilitiesProfessional Development Strategy:
- Lead and execute a comprehensive professional development strategy aligned with the firm's strategic priorities.
- Establish annual goals and priorities and evaluate the effectiveness of professional development initiatives.
- Stay current on emerging practices in legal talent development, professional education, engagement, and retention.
- Partner with firm leadership on talent development, succession planning, and longer-term workforce initiatives.
- Provide updates and recommendations to firm leadership, the Governing Board, and Practice Group Leaders.
Department & Firm Leadership:
- Lead and develop Professional Development team members and manage the department's budget and resources.
- Oversee learning management, CLE tracking, and other professional development technology platforms.
- Use program data, feedback, and business needs to assess effectiveness and recommend improvements.
- Collaborate across Professional Development, Human Resources, Recruiting, BELONG, Marketing/Business Development, and Practice Group leadership.
- Participate in firmwide strategic initiatives relating to attorney talent and development.
Professional Development & Training:
- Lead the firm's professional development strategy and establish annual priorities and goals.
- Design and oversee development programs from onboarding through partnership.
- Coordinate training in substantive legal skills, business development, client service, leadership, and professional skills.
- Align programming with practice-specific competencies and career advancement expectations.
- Support professional development programming for summer associates.
Mentoring, Coaching & Career Development:
- Lead attorney mentoring programs and support individual career and professional development planning.
- Partner with Practice Group Leaders and Human Resources on attorney evaluations, competency frameworks, and development plans.
- Provide developmental coaching and resources to support attorney growth and advancement.
- Foster a culture of feedback, coaching, continuous learning, and professional engagement.
CLE, Integration & Engagement:
- Oversee CLE programming, compliance, attorney licensure tracking, and related educational resources.
- Lead onboarding and integration programs for new and lateral attorneys.
- Partner with Recruiting and Human Resources to support successful transitions, engagement, and retention.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration across offices and practice groups.
Leadership & Administration:
- Lead the Professional Development team and manage the department's budget, resources, and technology.
- Evaluate program effectiveness and recommend improvements based on feedback, data, and firm needs.
- Collaborate with firm leadership and administrative teams on talent development and other strategic initiatives.
Qualifications- J.D. required.
- 8+ years of progressive experience in professional development, attorney development, legal education, talent management, law firm leadership, or a related field.
- 1+ years of experience practicing as an attorney within a law firm environment.
- Professional development within a law firm or professional services experience strongly preferred.
- Experience designing and implementing professional development, training, or leadership programs.
- Prior experience managing people, budgets, and complex initiatives.
- Strong understanding of attorney career development and CLE requirements.
- Excellent coaching, facilitation, communication, relationship-building, and project management skills.
- Ability to work effectively with senior leaders, build consensus, and influence across the organization.
- Collaborative, practical, and service-oriented approach.
