Graduate Recruitment and Development Assistant

Summary

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. The firm’s work is distinguished by a unique combination of precision and vision.

Based in London, the Graduate Recruitment and Development Assistant supports the end-to-end international graduate recruitment and development programmes of the Firm, primarily across London, Brussels, the Middle East and Hong Kong. Working closely with all members of the Graduate Recruitment team, the role plays a key part in delivering excellent candidate and trainee experience. The position contributes across both recruitment and development activities, acting as a steward of the Firm’s culture and values and helping to attract, develop and retain high‑calibre future talent. During busy periods, the role flexes between recruitment and development support as required.

This role reports to the Assistant Manager, Graduate Recruitment and the Graduate Recruiter Coordinator.

Responsibilities include

• Ensure an excellent candidate and trainee experience through effective communication, engagement and relationship‑building from initial enquiry through programme completion.
• Support the day‑to‑day organisation and scheduling of graduate programmes across jurisdictions, including Spring and Summer Vacation Schemes / Internships, Open Days, Assessment Days.
• Pre‑screen applications and coordinate online testing, pre‑selection and interview processes.
• Maintain and update application tracking systems, ensuring data accuracy, timely updates and reporting.
• Deliver candidate feedback and record outcomes in relevant systems.
• Coordinate inductions and onboarding activity for vacation scheme participants, trainees, interns and secondees (where applicable).
• Liaise closely with Human Resources, the Business Office, Office Administrators and other internal stakeholders to ensure a smooth and consistent onboarding and programme experience.
• Support the organisation and delivery of assessment centres, interviews, events and training sessions, including logistics, materials and attendance.
• Collate and track performance and appraisal data for vacation scheme and trainee programmes, including coordinating mid‑seat and end‑of‑seat appraisals.
• Assist with the organisation and delivery of training programmes from law school registration through to the training programme.
• Support attraction activity by assisting with advertising and marketing materials, merchandise and initiatives.
• Build and maintain relationships with target universities and support profile‑raising activities, including campus events, presentations, workshops and attendance at law fairs.
• Take ownership of organising, delivering and attending outreach and university events as required.
• Coordinate recruitment and development activity for local diversity pipeline programmes.
• Prepare and manage the timely processing of invoicing and programme or candidate expenses.
• Provide broader administrative support to the graduate recruitment and development team and contribute to wider student recruitment initiatives and projects as required.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication and strong interpersonal and team skills;
• First class prioritisation and organisational skills;
• Proactivity and detail-oriented;
• Strong IT skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.

Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent or higher qualification;
• Previous experience in recruitment, HR, or a professional services environment desirable.
• Interest in the legal sector and building a career in early careers recruitment and development.

Gibson Dunn will consider for employment qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of local law.

For technical difficulties with our online application, please contact us at staffrecruiting@gibsondunn.com. Our recruiting support team will respond as soon as possible.

Gibson Dunn is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities. We strive to ensure an inclusive and accessible hiring experience. The Firm will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable participation in the application and recruitment process, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, participate in an interview, or otherwise take part in the recruitment process, please contact us at recruiting-accommodations@gibsondunn.com. Please note, this is a dedicated email inbox established exclusively to assist applicants with accommodation request related to the recruitment process. Inquiries about the status of an application or other non-accommodation matter will not receive a response.

Notice to Recruitment Agencies: Gibson Dunn does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies, headhunters, or vendors. Resumes sent to any Gibson Dunn employee or attorney, or submitted by an agency through the direct candidate application portal will not establish agency ownership of the candidate and Gibson Dunn will not be expected to honor an agency’s terms or pay any related fees. When a role is open for agency submissions, Gibson Dunn will notify our current agency partners and make the position available through our Agency Portal in Greenhouse. Only agencies that have been given portal access are authorized to submit candidates for consideration. Agencies without a current agreement that wish to be considered for future opportunities may contact staffrecruiting@gibsondunn.com. Please do not send resumes to this address.