Chief Attorney Development and Engagement Officer

About this role

New York, New York

Job Description

Position Summary

The Chief of Attorney Development and Engagement (“CADE”) facilitates for the Firm’s attorney population the unified, strategic leadership of the global implementation of Pillsbury 360, Pillsbury’s firmwide commitment to leverage the unique talents of individuals across our global platform by creating and maintaining a culture of continuous learning, growth, inclusion, and engagement – both internally and externally – to drive each lawyer to do their best work.  The CADE will help develop Pillsbury’s legal talent into providers of excellent client service, which includes engendering strong external and internal relationships that are supportive of our lawyers.  Applying innovative talent strategies, the CADE will develop and maintain high caliber programs focused on legal training, professional development, pro bono service, mentorship, alumni engagement, and culture-building inclusion initiatives.  The CADE will help make Pillsbury’s 700-lawyer (and growing) platform the destination of choice for top legal talent, while maintaining its culture and values.

Representative Key Responsibilities

Learning, Education & Training • Work with Firm leaders to design and oversee an integrated curriculum (substantive legal skills, business-development, collaboration, leadership, GenAI literacy) to elevate attorneys to their highest potential.

• Work with Executive Team (“ET”) to develop and implement a leadership development program for business unit, industry group and other Firm leaders.

• Oversee signature Pillsbury programs including annual multi-office CLE Marathons for firm clients and attorneys, creating opportunities for Pillsbury lawyers to demonstrate expertise to generate new business and brand awareness. 

• Launch programs such as a “360 Academy” and leadership-accelerator for qualifying first year, mid-level and senior associates and counsel.

• Oversee development initiatives for various cohorts of attorneys, including first years, newly-elevated senior associates, counsel, and partners.

• Work closely with the Partner Integration and Business Development teams to deliver bespoke training to help ensure successful integration of new lateral partners into the Firm.

• Work with Recruiting, local office Human Resources (“HR”) and business units to provide training and opportunities to help ensure successful integration of new lateral attorneys.

• Work with Office of the General Counsel, IT/Security, Chief AI Officer, Professional Responsibility Committee/Risk Management professionals to develop training on current and emerging risk management topics (e.g., cybersecurity and ethical use of GenAI). 

• Work with Chief Strategy Officer’s (“CSO”) team to develop effective business development training for all attorneys.

• Tailor training to meet differing needs of our attorneys across a global platform. 

Performance Management & Career Pathing • Work with ET, Attorney Development Committee and, where appropriate, Global Business Leaders (GBLs) to help manage the firmwide attorney performance and compensation review process (including competency-based evaluations, skills-gap analyses, and collaboration with stakeholders to address performance issues) and support the partner promotion process.

• Implement infrastructure that rewards real-time feedback and transparent promotion/advancement criteria.

• Support Firm leadership in succession planning and career pipeline mapping initiatives. 

Opportunity & Engagement • Embed concepts of opportunity for, and engagement of all attorneys into all development and engagement programs, including working with stakeholders to target equitable work allocation. 

• Support the Pillsbury 360 Board Committee’s mission of endeavoring to provide all lawyers—whether heading to partnership or to a corporate counsel position with a current or prospective Pillsbury client—with opportunities to develop and thrive.

• Co-manage with ET, including Chief Human Resources Officer, the Opportunity & Engagement staff, whose core duties include the above, and partner with HR on related initiatives.

Coaching & Mentoring • Supervise coaching initiatives, including tracking of success metrics in terms of retention rates, career progression of participants, and/or other indicators.

• Lead firmwide attorney mentoring program, ensuring innovation and data-driven analyses of effectiveness.

• Collaborate with Opportunity & Engagement staff to grow Pillsbury 360 Advisory Program, including report success-related metrics in terms of retention rates, participant career progression, and/or other indicators.

Alumni Relations & Brand Building • Supervise Alumni Engagement and Development Director including maintenance and improvement of Firm alumni relations program.

• Develop strategy on the conversion of alumni into a strategic referral source for business and lateral talent, and how to second/outplace Pillsbury attorneys in in-house roles.

• Ensure attorney development initiatives are aligned with Firm business and growth strategies. 

• Work with ET and CSO/Marketing to ensure attorney development initiatives embody and further Firm culture and brand.   

Regulatory & Professional Compliance • Ensure adherence to CLE and MCLE requirements across all jurisdictions.

Pro Bono Management • Partner with ET and Pro Bono Committee Chairs to create, implement and monitor firmwide pro bono engagement strategy, matters, and success metrics.

• Oversee pro-bono budget and staff.

• Align pro bono legal strategy and work with priorities of the Pillsbury Foundation.

Required Education, Knowledge and Experience • Bachelor’s degree required; Juris Doctor with 10+ years of experience as a practicing attorney and/or professional degree strongly preferred.

• 10+ years in talent development, training, professional development and learning leadership within a law firm with demonstrated success in building a multi-jurisdictional t

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