Associate Development Manager (Palo Alto Corporate)

Company: Pdclegal
Location: Palo Alto
Posted on: May 24, 2025

Job Description:

City:State:CARemote/WFH?FlexibleCooley is seeking an Associate Development Manager to join the Professional Development team, covering the Palo Alto Corporate practice group.Position summary: Working closely with practice group leadership and team members in both Professional Development and Legal Talent, the Associate Development Manager is primarily responsible for supporting associate staffing, utilization, integration and development.Position responsibilities:

• Work with practice group leaders and partners in charge of staffing to manage the work allocation process for associates in the group.
• Monitor workloads and professional development of associates and help allocate new matters in a manner which ensures an equitable distribution of assignments consistent with the clients' needs and the attorneys' individual professional development goals.
• Track, aggregate and analyze associate metrics, including availability information and utilization rates. Partner with practice group leaders and associates to ensure that individual goals relating to productivity are achieved and practice group productivity is maintained.
• Coordinate with practice group leaders and other supervising partners to identify staffing needs and hiring targets; partner with the Legal Talent team to ensure hiring efforts are supporting the goals and needs of the group.
• Support the associate performance review process by working with practice group leaders and Associate Review Committee members to ensure quality reviews are delivered in a timely fashion.
• Help monitor associate evaluations, prepare review delivery scripts and facilitate the delivery of formal reviews. Work with associates to implement feedback received, collaborating with Professional Development team members to provide coaching, where necessary.
• Meet regularly with practice group leaders to identify high performing associates and associates who may be having specific challenges so that appropriate mentoring, training and other actions can be taken to address specific circumstances in a timely manner. Facilitate frequent feedback between partners and associates.
• Partner with Legal Talent and other internal administrative departments to facilitate successful attorney on-boarding and integration, including conducting department orientation for new hires and building robust onboarding schedules. Help conduct exit interviews such that the firm can leverage departing associate feedback to improve the associate experience.
• Collaborate with Professional Development and Legal Education team members to develop, enhance and implement legal and professional skills training programs and initiatives to support associate development.
• Collaborate with the firm's Attorney Licensing and Compliance team members to ensure associates obtain and maintain their licensure requirements and engage in continuing legal education aligned with development goals.
• Collaborate with the firm's Diversity and Inclusion team to champion and implement initiatives and events. Promote best practices in commitment to an inclusive culture and serve as a resource for diverse attorneys.
• Collaborate with HR/Wellness teams to promote the wellness of associates.Skills and experience:Required:
  • 5 + years of direct experience with staffing and work allocation in a large law firm or professional services organization, or 5+ years combined law firm professional development and prior law practice experience, preferably in a large law firm environment; Eligible for consideration of Senior designation with 7+ years' directly applicable exempt work experience, at least 4 of which include management experience in the applicable field, along with the proven ability to operate at an elevated level in terms of scope of responsibility, judgement and autonomy.Preferred:
    • JD Degree.
    • Substantial experience in work allocation, talent management, career coaching, professional development, and/or personnel management.
    • Ability to establish rapport and build relationships and credibility with internal stakeholders.
    • Excellent interpersonal, oral (both listening and talking) and written communication skills.
    • Ability to respect and maintain highly sensitive or confidential information.
    • Excellent people management skills, to include serving as a mentor or coach.
    • Professional demeanor and the ability to use initiative, diplomacy and tact.
    • Ability to make independent judgments/decisions based up on a set of principles rather than rules.
    • Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with multiple constituencies.
    • Detail-oriented, organized and driven, with the desire to take ownership of projects and responsibilities, but to also work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
    • Strong time management skills and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks quickly and efficiently.Cooley offers a competitive compensation and excellent benefits package and is committed to fair and equitable employment practices. EOE.The expected annual pay range for this position with a full-time schedule is $165,000 - $205,000. Please note that final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience and skillset of the candidate. Senior level candidates may be considered for this position and would be eligible for a higher salary range based on experience.
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Keywords: Pdclegal, Elk Grove , Associate Development Manager (Palo Alto Corporate), Executive , Palo Alto, California