Senior Manager of Career Counseling

Senior Manager of Career Counseling United States, Washington, Seattle Feb 23, 2026 Position Summary Cooley is seeking a Senior Manager of Career Counseling to join the Professional Development team. The Senior Manager of Career Counseling will build and lead the Cooley Career Counseling Office, a resource hub that will support attorneys exploring or preparing for career paths beyond Cooley. This role will serve as a trusted resource for career navigation, providing personalized job‑search support, tools, connections to external opportunities, and curated programming to help attorneys identify and pursue fulfilling next steps. The ideal candidate is a thoughtful advisor with deep knowledge of legal and adjacent career paths, legal recruiting, strong communication skills, and a passion for supporting lawyers through meaningful professional transitions. This role offers the opportunity to shape and lead a high‑impact resource within the firm and work with attorneys at pivotal moments in their careers. Hybrid Schedule As part of the Cooley culture, we recognize and appreciate the value of being together in person, building camaraderie in the office, and contributing as a member of the Cooley office. However, we also appreciate the benefits and flexibility of remote working. The default assumption is a hybrid schedule: some in‑office presence and some work‑from‑home days, except for essential in‑office roles that require five (5) days per week. Position Responsibilities One‑on‑One Career Counseling Provide confidential advising to attorneys exploring roles outside the firm, incl. in‑house, public sector, nonprofit, and alternative legal or business paths. Guide attorneys through career exploration, decision‑making, and transition planning. Offer tailored feedback on resumes, LinkedIn profiles, personal narratives, and job‑search strategy. Provide mock interview practice and prepare attorneys for each stage of the hiring process, from screening interviews to senior‑level negotiations. Job Board Management Manage and expand a curated job board featuring in‑house roles, government positions, secondments, and alumni‑submitted opportunities. Develop relationships with legal recruiters, in‑house counsel, and alumni to source new postings. Facilitate introductions and connections when appropriate. Panels, Programs & Workshops Create career‑focused programs such as: Panels featuring alumni and clients in various industries. Webinars on transition strategy (e.g., in‑house expectations, business acumen). Secondment Program Support Maintain a secondment interest list. Work with the Associate Director of Legal Talent to facilitate the identification, deployment, and reintegration of secondees. Alumni & Client Relationship Integration Partner with the Marketing team to connect departing attorneys to the firm’s alumni support team. Collaborate with the Business Development team to identify opportunities where the Career Counseling Office can enhance client engagement, e.g., by helping clients source talent from attorneys exploring external opportunities. Make career support services available to Cooley alumni. Market Intelligence & Reporting Track evolving hiring trends in in‑house departments and legal markets. Share insights with Legal Talent and firm leadership to shape strategic planning. Maintain metrics on counseling volume, outcomes, and placements. Other Serve as supervisor and mentor to direct reports. Provide day‑to‑day supervision of direct reports, ensure compliance with work‑hour policies, manage staffing coverage, and review time logs/time‑off requests. Support business professional development and continued educational opportunities. Collaborate with the Director of Associate Development and HR on hiring, performance appraisals, counseling, termination, and other employee lifecycle events for staff reporting to this role. All other duties as assigned or required. Skills and Experience Required: 7+ years of experience in one or more of the following with 2+ years exempt/management experience in an applicable field: Attorney professional development. Career counseling/coaching. Attorney recruiting. In‑house or law firm practice. Alumni relations or legal career services. Demonstrated experience advising lawyers on career transitions, ideally including in‑house moves. Familiarity with legal markets, legal operations, and corporate hiring needs. After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, iManage, and other firm applications. Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required. Ability to travel, as required. Preferred: Bachelor's and/or JD Degree. Supervisory experience. Competencies Professional demeanor and the ability to use initiative, diplomacy and tact. Ability to make independent judgments/decisions based upon a set of principles rather than rules. Ability to act as a trusted, neutral advisor, earning confidence from lawyers and leadership. High emotional intelligence and strong discernment around sensitive career conversations. Strategic thinking around attorney development, transitions, and long‑term talent strategy. Deep knowledge of legal career paths – both within and outside of law firms. Experience coaching or advising lawyers, ideally including those transitioning to in‑house roles. Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to provide direct yet supportive feedback. Skilled in resume editing, interview coaching, and narrative development. Ability to establish relationships across practice groups, seniority levels, and offices. Comfort interacting with alumni, clients, and external partners. Strong aptitude for developing educational programs, workshops, and resources. Organizational skills to manage multiple counseling relationships and track data. Demonstrated ability to handle highly sensitive information discreetly. Benefits Competitive compensation and an excellent benefits package, including 21 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) and 10 paid holidays each year. Firm‑paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short‑term medical benefits, and health savings account. Elective benefits include medical, dental, vision, health and/or dependent‑care flexible spending accounts, pre‑tax commuter benefits, AD&D, long‑term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults, and other parental support benefits. The firm also offers generous parental leave and fertility benefits. Pay Range The expected annual pay range for this position with a full‑time schedule is $155,000 - $225,000. Final offer will depend on geographic location, applicable experience, and skill set of the candidate. Cooley is committed to fair and equitable employment practices. EOE. #J-18808-Ljbffr Cooley LLP