Academic advisor h1.location_city

Job Description:

GENERAL PURPOSE

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Workforce Planning & Capacity Management

• Partner with Practice Group leadership to assess short- and long-term staffing needs, including workload trends, utilization, leverage, and growth objectives.
• Support staffing and utilization management by helping leaders identify capacity constraints, reallocate work, and anticipate pressure points.
• Contribute to workforce planning discussions, including for summer and lateral associates, by providing data, insight, and perspective on practice needs and talent gaps.
• Collaborate with Recruiting and firm leadership to align hiring decisions with strategic priorities and realistic capacity planning.

Development & Advancement

• Support annual evaluation processes, including preparation for evaluation and promotion-readiness discussions for associates and counsel.
• Advise on counsel pathways and partnership readiness, including progression expectations, skill development, and timing considerations.
• Support the partner promotion process by coordinating inputs, framing readiness discussions, and ensuring consistency and clarity across practice groups.

Integration & Transitions

• Support onboarding and integration of new attorneys, with particular focus on lateral associates, helping them navigate firm culture, expectations, and relationships.
• Help manage leaves, returns, and other transitions by coordinating across stakeholders and ensuring smooth reentry and reintegration.
• Guide associates and partners through underperformance and improvement plans, providing structure, clarity, and follow-through.
• Advise partners and practice leaders on feedback, expectations, and development conversations, including how to deliver clear, constructive, and timely guidance.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on sensitive performance, conduct, and interpersonal issues, exercising discretion and sound judgment.
• Provide guidance on exits, including process, messaging, and coordination with firm leadership and other teams.

Collaboration & Approach

• Work closely with Practice Group chairs, partners, and firm leadership as a thought partner and trusted advisor.
• Collaborate with Recruiting, Attorney Development, and other firm functions to ensure alignment and consistency.
• Join regular Practice Group meetings to anticipate needs and proactively create talent strategies.
• Balance empathy with accountability and strategy with execution in all aspects of the role.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Be present at work during regularly scheduled working hours and as needed in the position, consistent with the firm’s attendance expectations.

SPECIFIC SKILLS REQUIRED

• Ability to synthesize data, feedback, and context into clear, practical guidance.
• Demonstrated experience advising senior leaders and navigating sensitive, high-stakes matters.

EDUCATION, LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE

• 5–8+ years of experience in a law firm environment, either as a practicing attorney or in a business professional role; candidates with 3–5 years of highly relevant experience may be considered.
• Bachelor’s degree; J.D. preferred

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records who reside in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco counties will be considered for employment in accordance with the applicable Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act.

This position is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, 401(k) plan, medical, dental, and vision insurance, accrued paid time off plan starting at 20 days annually, personal medical and parental leave, up to 10 paid holidays, and family care benefits. More information regarding benefits and programs may be found .