Graduate Recruitment & Development Manager

at  Mayer Brown LLP

Overview:
Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognised by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do.
We are a collegial, collaborative, and diverse firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realise their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.
If you enjoy working with team members whose defining characteristics are exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, you may be the person we are seeking to join our HR department in our London office as a Graduate Recruitment & Development Manager.
The Team: Responsible for the management of the Graduate Recruitment & Development Advisor and Graduate Recruitment & Development Co-ordinator.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with flexibility in accordance with the needs of the business.
Responsibilities:
The Graduate Recruitment & Development Manager acts as the main point of contact for all staff, including key internal stakeholders and provides a full and comprehensive service to support the effective recruitment, management, development and qualification of trainee solicitors and legal apprentices in the London office.

Trainee Recruitment

• Key point of contact, both internally and externally, for all queries relating to Graduate Recruitment;
• Manage strategic aspects of employer branding, including overseeing: (i) review of all promotional materials (graduate recruitment brochure, adverts and giveaways), (ii) organisation of art work for publications in conjunction with DTP, (iii) maintenance of the content of the graduate recruitment website and (iv) all other aspects of graduate advertising;
• Manage the legal apprenticeship, trainee vacation scheme and open day selection and offer processes. This involves initial pre-screening, interviewing, chairing the decision making process and overseeing offer paperwork.
• Continue to develop the Training Contract Assessment Centers and provide advice to internal and external clients on all aspects of the process;
• Oversee the planning and continuous review of all work experience programmes in operation. This includes virtual and/or in-person vacation schemes, the work experience scheme (WES) and interns throughout the year, as well as ad hoc requests;
• Plan and prepare for the annual milkround at universities, attending the law fairs either virtually or in person as required;
• Develop the firm’s strategy for profile raising at universities throughout the UK, including providing guidance and/or support for activities, such as skills sessions on campus;
• Developing, writing and presenting skills sessions;
• Collaborating with the DE&I Manager for Europe, provide advice regarding the various diversity programmes in place, in particular in relation to social mobility, and investigate ways in which Graduate Recruitment & Development can enhance the offering; and
• Manage the graduate recruitment diversity partnerships and events in collaboration with the DE&I team.

Trainee Development

• Oversee the 6 monthly seat allocation process;
• Lead on the trainee solicitor qualification process to meet business needs and trainee aspirations, including dealing with all SRA paperwork and checks;
• Monitor current and future trainee performance through to qualification, and proactively deal with any performance issues;
• Oversee the end of seat appraisal process for trainee solicitors ensuring all appraisal reviews with trainees are completed in a timely manner;
• In conjunction with the Learning & Development team, manage the ongoing development of the Trainees and Legal Apprentices, including planning and facilitating the trainee induction process; and
• Conduct exit interviews with trainees where applicable.

Future Trainees

• Oversee payment of tuition fees, maintenance grants and reimbursement of deposits;
• Oversee organization of and attend future trainee social events; and
• Participate in the wider future trainee contact programme.

Other Administrative and Management responsibilities

• Maintaining the HR system (Peoplesoft), ensuring it is up to date at all times;
• Ensuring trainee and future trainee personnel files are kept up to date at all times;
• Keep up-to-date with SRA regulations and developments governing trainee solicitors (including SQE) and propose changes to current HR policies and practices as appropriate; and
• Keep other members of the HR Department up to date with developments in the client groups

Other

• Work closely with the Global Chief HR Officer on global graduate recruitment initiatives and strategy
• Work closely with Compensation & Benefits to input into the compensation strategy, advising on issues relating to trainee solicitors including salary, law school fees and maintenance payments;
• Prepare the graduate recruitment budget and monitor costs throughout the year;
• Provide reports and statistical analysis on graduate recruitment activities as required;
• Liaise with the SRA to ensure that Mayer Brown is complying with their requirements. Ensure registration of all trainee solicitors on commencement of employment and upon qualification; and
• Undertake projects and ad hoc responsibilities as required.

Qualifications:
Educated to a degree level or equivalent

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Experience working in a Graduate Recruitment function in a law firm, with a full understanding of the processes involved in trainee solicitor recruitment and development is essential;
• A proven track record of developing and implementing initiatives which have contributed to achieving business objectives;
• A high level of oral and written communication, presentation and influencing skills with the ability to quickly establish credible relationships at all levels;
• The ability to engage with and influence senior stakeholders;
• Persuasive with the ability to gain consensus and collaboration across teams;
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities;
• Resilient with the ability to deliver difficult messages and oversee employee relations issues;
• Creative thinker who is willing to share new ideas and approaches;
• Self-starter with enthusiasm and energy;
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral);
• Delivery/solution focused;
• Ability to work independently and under pressure;
• Analytical;
• Tenacious; and
• A team player with a commitment to developing junior members of staff.
  At Mayer Brown, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment that offers our people the opportunity and support they need to succeed.
  Our culture promotes mutual respect, acceptance, cooperation and productivity among people from varying backgrounds and values different perspectives and ideas.
  One of our core values at Mayer Brown is to promote diversity and inclusion at all levels within the business which is actively supported by our diversity networks - LGBT+, Fusion (Race & Ethnicity), Multi-faith, Women, Enable (Disability) and Work and Me (Family).
  We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that individuals may require throughout the recruitment process and once they have joined the Firm.

• Maintaining the HR system (Peoplesoft), ensuring it is up to date at all times;
• Ensuring trainee and future trainee personnel files are kept up to date at all times;
• Keep up-to-date with SRA regulations and developments governing trainee solicitors (including SQE) and propose changes to current HR policies and practices as appropriate; and
• Keep other members of the HR Department up to date with developments in the client group