Graduate Recruitment Manager

Location: United Kingdom
Office: Norwich Leeds Manchester Cambridge Birmingham
Discipline: Human resources
Contact name: Sarah Freeman

Contact email: [email protected]
Contact phone: 0121 456 8300
Vacancy reference: 017989
Duration: Permanent
Closing date: 26 September 2022
Startdate: 30 August 2022 - 30 August 2022

The role

Do you have a passion for early talent recruitment? This is your opportunity to not only come and work for a fantastic firm, but also to recruit ambitious apprentice and trainee lawyers into the firm.  Ideally based in Birmingham or Cambridge, but also open to Leeds, Manchester and Norwich,  we are looking for a Graduate Recruitment Manager to lead on the early careers recruitment and development strategy. The role will manage the graduate recruitment cycle and co-ordinate the various element of Trainee Solicitor seat moves until their qualification. Reporting into the HR Director, this role will be supported by two Recruitment Advisors (one shared with lawyer recruitment) and a Recruitment Administrator. 

The person

This is a busy and challenging role and it is likely that your background and experience will include the following: 

  • experience of working in a law firm or professional services environment with a sound knowledge of the new SQE route to qualification; and/or 

  • experience of recruiting graduates and apprentices, ideally in legal or professional services roles. 

  • experience of planning and managing a budget.

The role additionally requires someone who:

  • Is enthusiastic and outgoing with a real passion for recruitment within a professional setting, but who is also methodical and organised in their work.

  • Thrives on setting their own agenda and who is self-managed and confident in setting and prioritising their own workload.

  • Has excellent written, as well as verbal communication skills and can adapt their style to be able to build relationships with a wide range of internal clients, whilst also being the external face of the firm with potential candidates.

  • Is a team player, who enjoys working within a busy, but professional environment.

  • Is willing to take on new responsibilities and challenges

The activities

Trainee solicitors

  •  Leading the annual graduate recruitment process for Trainee Solicitors which includes:

o    marketing and attraction activities, including annual law fairs (that normally take place between September and December) and advertising across the various student and firm channels;

o    leading the assessment and selection of our trainee solicitors including the firm’s annual summer vacation scheme;

o    as and when required, leading a direct training contract application and selection process.

  • Ensuring all trainees solicitors are registered with SRA for the commencement of their training contract and all pre-employment checks are completed.

  • Leading the seat moves process every four months for existing trainee solicitors to new areas of the business.

  • Being a point of escalation for trainee solicitors with queries during their training contracts.

  • Leading the Newly Qualified recruitment process from the internal candidates who are due to qualify as solicitors. This includes the approval process for roles and liaising with relevant Partners and trainee solicitors in the application and selection process.

Graduate apprentice solicitors

  • We will be introducing a new graduate apprentice solicitor route to qualification, that will run alongside our more traditional trainee solicitor route. We have recruited an advisor to support and lead this process, but this role will take overall responsibility for:

o    overseeing a formal internal recruitment process and then management and delivery of that process each year.

o    working closely with the Advisor to ensure an appropriate balance between graduate apprentice solicitors and trainee solicitors.

o    supporting the Advisor to work closely with stakeholders to understand resourcing requirements.

o    Work with the Advisor to continually review the process, improve where necessary and communicate across the firm to implement the best process and programme.

o    supporting the graduate apprentice solicitors to qualification including ensuring compliance with SRA regulations and processes.

Pre-employment screening

Please note that, in the event that we make an offer of employment, we will conduct pre-employment screening that includes checks relating to your professional and academic qualifications, references from previous employers, your eligibility to work in the UK and any disciplinary history recorded with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). You will also be required to complete a self-declaration to access your character and suitability.

Disclosure and barring service check

This post is also subject to a satisfactory response from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Should you wish to see the full job description or have a confidential conversation about the role, please contact [email protected]