Freelance Recruiter, Staff Talent Acquisition

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is seeking a Freelance Recruiter to lead staff talent acquisition across multiple departments, with the flexibility of remote work. This role manages full-cycle recruiting for several openings concurrently, partnering with hiring managers to understand business needs and attract top talent while upholding the firm’s culture and values. As a freelance contributor, you will collaborate with the staff talent acquisition team and apply innovative sourcing strategies to build a diverse, qualified candidate slate for positions across the firm.

Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle recruiting for 10+ concurrent openings across multiple departments.
• Build strong relationships with staff hiring managers to understand business needs, identify recruitment challenges, and implement innovative strategies to address them.
• Develop a deep understanding of the firm’s culture, values, and strategic objectives, including general business concepts and evolving legal industry needs.
• Think creatively to attract top legal talent through innovative sourcing and branding approaches.
• Review and analyze candidate materials, assess fit, and provide managers with information to support informed and equitable hiring decisions.
• Conduct initial screening interviews to evaluate basic qualifications, gauge motivation, manage expectations, and enhance candidate experience.
• Keep hiring managers, candidates, and stakeholders informed about recruitment progress, challenges, and outcomes in a timely manner.
• Under the advisement of the staff talent acquisition recruiting manager, negotiate offer terms, draft offer letters, and aim for mutually positive outcomes for both the firm and the candidate.
• Support firm-wide talent acquisition branding by encouraging staff and attorneys to leverage personal networks for job openings, referrals, and testimonials to expand reach.
• Contribute innovative ideas and new perspectives to continuously raise recruitment performance.
• Seek opportunities to optimize recruitment processes and improve efficiency.
• Maintain a fair, objective, and equitable approach throughout the recruitment process.
• Demonstrate honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior in all interactions, and protect candidate and firm confidentiality.
• Comply with legal requirements and adhere to firm policies and procedures.
• Partner with the attorney talent acquisition team to assist with overflow work and projects as needed.

Requirements

• 3+ years of recruiting experience, preferably with a multi-office professional services firm.
• Demonstrated technical skills in full-cycle recruiting.
• Learning agility to address skill gaps and openness to feedback.
• Experience sourcing passive candidates using tools such as LinkedIn Recruiter and Boolean searches (preferred).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with high emotional intelligence and active listening.
• Customer-oriented approach, viewing situations from the hiring managers' perspective to positively impact candidate experience and firm needs.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with diplomacy and composure in challenging situations.
• Ability to solve problems and make decisions with minimal supervision.
• Proficiency in MS Office 365, including Teams, Excel, and Word.
• Experience with ATS/CRM systems for sourcing, tracking, and managing candidates.
• Ability to travel as needed.

Technologies

• LinkedIn Recruiter
• Boolean searches
• MS Office 365
• Microsoft Teams
• Excel
• Word
• ATS/CRM

Benefits

• Choice of health and vision insurance plans
• 2 paid volunteer days for qualifying community service work
• Dental plan
• Fertility and adoption benefit
• Paid sabbatical after 13 years of service
• Tuition reimbursement
• Commuter benefits
• Retirement contribution

Compensation

• Hourly rate: USD 46 - 62

About the Firm

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is an AmLaw 100 law firm with nine offices nationwide. The firm is deeply committed to client service and seeks candidates who share that commitment. Client service at DWT means showing empathy for clients and lawyers, understanding business objectives, anticipating needs, and delivering what matters most.

Who We Are

The hourly range presented for this remote freelance role reflects the firm's compensation framework and may be adjusted based on education, training, experience, and other factors permitted by law.