The Vacancy
As the Recruitment Manager for all fee‑earning roles below Partner level (with a particular focus on the UK business), you will act as a strategic advisor to the Firm on market conditions, industry trends and recruitment best practice. You will be responsible for delivering a seamless, engaging and professional recruitment experience for both internal stakeholders and prospective talent.
Core Responsibilities
1. Serve as the primary point of contact for relevant fee‑earning departments, responding to recruitment queries and offering informed advice.
2. Partner with Partners and senior stakeholders daily, shaping recruitment strategy and advising on best practice.
3. Manage and develop members of the team, ensuring high performance and continued development.
4. Oversee recruitment systems and ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, including GDPR.
5. Lead or contribute to Firm‑wide recruitment and HR initiatives and projects.
6. Own and manage the full recruitment lifecycle, including:
7. Meeting with hiring managers to confirm role requirements and ensure clarity of brief.
8. Direct sourcing (including overseeing researchers) to identify, engage and attract a diverse slate of candidates.
9. Managing agency relationships and briefings where required.
10. Ensuring the identification and fair selection of diverse talent, with consistent, inclusive candidate communication.
11. Conducting interviews, managing candidate journeys and delivering timely feedback.
12. Overseeing offer processes and onboarding, supported by an Administrator.
In addition to business‑as‑usual recruitment delivery, the Recruitment Manager will take a lead role on key projects designed to enhance the Firm’s talent attraction capability and support the wider People strategy. This may include:
13. Inclusion Initiatives
14. Employer Brand & Talent Marketing
15. Process Improvement & Technology Implementation
16. Owning ongoing strategic research that provides Partners and business leaders with insight into competitor movements, emerging talent pools and relevant market trends.
Skills and Experience
17. Legal sector experience is essential — either from an in‑house law firm recruitment role or from an agency specialising in legal recruitment.
18. Demonstrable experience managing the full recruitment lifecycle for fee‑earner roles within a professional services or partnership environment and a strong track record of direct sourcing and headhunting.
19. Excellent understanding of the legal market in England and Wales and routes to qualification and progression.
20. Experience using market intelligence tools such as LinkedIn Recruiter and Legal Monitor (or equivalent).
21. Exceptional people skills, with the ability to build trust, manage expectations and influence senior stakeholders.
22. Outstanding communication skills (verbal and written), able to adapt style for different audiences and deliver clear, concise advice.
23. Highly organised, able to manage multiple processes, stakeholders and deadlines simultaneously.
24. Strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy across candidate communication, documentation and compliance processes.
25. Commercial awareness and an understanding of how recruitment supports the Firm’s strategic goals.
26. Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret market data, spot trends and present insights to stakeholders.
27. Professional, credible, and resilient, with the confidence to work closely with Partners.
28. Collaborative team player with a positive, solutions‑focused approach.
29. Discreet and trustworthy, with a clear understanding of confidentiality requirements within a law firm environment.
30. Committed to delivering a diverse and inclusive recruitment experience.
Who are we looking for?
31. We don't have a type. We believe our differences are our strength; varied cultures, approaches and experiences can only benefit us.
What do we offer?
32. You can be yourself: It takes everyone to make us who we are. We’re a culture of diverse perspectives, with each of us making unique contributions that make us better together.
33. In the office or WFH?: We think the best balance is more time in the office than at home, so we operate a 60:40 rule.
34. Beyond salary: We offer plenty of benefits; private medical insurance, health cash plan, dental insurance, life assurance, critical illness insurance, matched pension contributions up to 7%, holiday trading, plus many more. Visit: .
35. Come for the WOW views: Based on the 17th floor in No.1 Spinningfields, with views of the entire City.
36. Nurturing your talent: Take a 'build a career' approach to your training. You'll be on a pathway but free to wander if you see something you'd like to study more closely.
37. Funnel your interests: You have a life outside work, and we can help it to flourish. Join clubs, affinity networks, inclusive events, and pro bono/charity initiatives.
Inclusion is not exclusive:
If all our differences are highlighted, no one stands out for being different. At Fieldfisher, all our rich diversity is celebrated.
We will provide the equipment to allow you to shine at the interview and beyond. Just let us know what you need.
For accessibility information on our Manchester office, visit:
What to do next:
38. Click 'Apply Now', complete an online application and upload a CV.
39. Successful applications will be invited to a 20–30-minute introductory call with a recruiter.
40. Every role recruits differently. But we'll always let you know what to expect from the process, so you get no surprises.
41. For hybrid opportunities, you'll be invited to visit our offices for a face-to-face meeting.
42. We try to make sure the process takes around 2-3 weeks only, but we can't always promise that. We will work around everyone's availability. You can contact us at .
We recruit on a rolling basis. Your application may be reviewed before the application deadline. We accept applications until we have filled the role.
The Firm
We are not a UK firm with offices in Europe. We are a European law firm at our core. While our HQ is London, we are spreading across Europe at pace. In addition to UK, China and Silicon Valley we have offices in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.
With 1,800 people across 28 offices across 14 countries you might expect an impersonal office culture, but you will find a homely, family feel even in the largest offices.
Quality on both sides
Across all our offices and jurisdictions are market-leading practices in corporate/M&A, finance, real estate, energy and natural resources, technology and life sciences.
We count as clients large corporations including major technology firms, pharmaceutical and life sciences companies, energy suppliers, infrastructure companies, global banks and financial institutions.
We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and are actively working towards improving the diversity of our staff. Applications will be considered on merit and the applicant's suitability to meet the requirements of the role.
Benefits
Testimonial
"It is great being in a firm which "gets" cross-office working – to feel properly part of a national team and to work with colleagues in other specialisms who are unconstrained by geography."
"I consider Fieldfisher to be a progressive firm with an understanding of social values. I'm pleased that staff is able to have input in the firm's direction and purpose as well as help to shape wider society. I'm encouraged to perform by being able to develop in a natural way, whilst being supported at every step.
Fieldfisher has managed to nurture a really positive and friendly culture. If they have drive and ambition, I would encourage anybody looking for a role here to grab the opportunity."
"Since joining Fieldfisher in 2016, I have progressed from an entry-level secretarial role to an experienced executive assistant. This was made possible by a supportive and inclusive working environment that allows staff to progress at a pace that is best suited to them which in turn makes for well-rounded, home-grown talent.
The firm strikes a great balance between providing the foundations for success and autonomy of your own growth and development. An insight I would give to potential applicants is that Fieldfisher offers the opportunity for a career and a sense of belonging to a community and not just a job."
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