Legal Talent Assistant

The London Legal Talent team are seeking a Legal Talent Assistant to join the team.

Position Summary: The Legal Talent Assistant plays a key role in supporting the London Legal Talent team across lateral lawyer recruitment, trainee recruitment, and talent administration. Working closely with the Senior Legal Talent Manager and Senior Graduate Recruitment Manager, the successful candidate will help deliver an exceptional candidate and employee experience through efficient administration, accurate record-keeping, effective stakeholder coordination, and the smooth delivery of recruitment and development programmes.

This is a highly organised, detail-oriented role that requires strong communication skills, discretion, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, professional services environment.

Key Responsibilities

Lateral Recruitment

Support the end-to-end lateral recruitment process for associates, special counsel and other legal hires by:

• Support with the coordination of end-to-end interview processes for lateral hires, working closely with candidates, agencies, interviewers and internal stakeholders (where and when appropriate).
• Act as a point of contact for candidates and recruitment agencies as required throughout the recruitment process.
• Update candidate records accurately and recruitment activity within LawCruit, ensuring timely collection of interview feedback.
• Prepare recruitment documentation, including agency agreements and offer documentation.
• Coordinate pre-boarding and onboarding activities for new joiners, partnering with HR and other business services teams.
• Support as required with joiner and leaver processes, ensuring all administrative actions are completed.
• Produce recruitment reports and analysis to support hiring activity and decision-making.
• Maintain recruitment content on internal and external platforms, ensuring information is current and accurate.
• Support on adhoc projects as required.

Trainee Recruitment

Support the attraction, recruitment and onboarding of future trainees by:

• Assisting with the planning and delivery of recruitment and campus engagement events, including open days, law fairs and networking events.
• Supporting with all stages of the trainee recruitment process.
• Coordinating logistics for work experience programmes, vacation schemes and insight events.
• Supporting virtual recruitment events and managing attendee set-up and communications.
• Managing law school administration, including payment requests, student correspondence and trainee updates.
• Coordinating induction programmes and onboarding activities for future trainees and new joiners.
• Representing the firm at recruitment events where required.
• Providing administrative support across all graduate recruitment initiatives.

Team Administration

Provide general administrative support to ensure the efficient operation of the Legal Talent team by:

• Managing diaries and coordinating meetings.
• Booking meeting rooms, arranging catering and coordinating event logistics.
• Producing event materials, including welcome packs, name badges, attendance lists, presentations and supporting documents.
• Processing invoices and arranging ad hoc payments where required.
• Maintaining electronic filing systems, including iManage folders and departmental records.
• Ensuring compliance with data protection requirements and maintaining accurate departmental records.
• Arranging travel and accommodation for recruitment and business events.
• Taking meeting notes and preparing follow-up actions where required.
• Assisting with social events and engagement activities for trainees and the wider Legal Talent team.
• Undertaking additional administrative and project-based work as required.

Skills & Experience

Required

• Previous experience in an administrative, recruitment, HR or talent-related role, ideally within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven experience managing diaries and coordinating multiple stakeholders.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word and Excel, and virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Educated to A-Level standard (or equivalent).
• Flexibility to work outside standard business hours when required.
• Willingness to travel occasionally within the UK for recruitment events.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification.
• Experience using applicant tracking systems such as LawCruit.
• Previous experience supporting graduate or legal recruitment programmes.

Reporting to this position:  No direct reports.

Equal Employment Opportunity statement: We strive to create an inclusive and rewarding environment that allows our people to thrive both professionally and personally. The Firm does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.  This policy governs all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, promotion, termination, and access to benefits and training.

General sign-off: Specific duties for this position will be assigned; the requirements may vary from time to time, depending on the needs of the firm. 

Cooley offers an excellent benefits package and competitive compensation including:

• Enhanced family leave

• Health and dental insurance

• Group income protection

• Life assurance

• Pension

• Fertility benefits

• Wellness programs

• Employee discounts including a fitness and nutrition allowance

• And more!

A comprehensive benefits brochure will be provided to all candidates during the interview process.

Cooley (UK) LLP is dedicated to making our recruitment practices and candidate interviews inclusive and accessible for everyone. If you have a medical condition, disability or are neurodivergent and require reasonable accommodations, adjustments or support during your interview process, please contact LNHR@cooley.com. We assure you all requests will be treated with sensitivity and strict confidentiality, and they will not affect your potential employment with Cooley (UK) LLP.