Professional Development Manager
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 22, 2026. First seen by Alion on Aug 31, 2026.
The Professional Development Manager will be based in Dallas, TX and will have primary responsibility for supporting the professional development of lawyers in Sidley's Dallas office.
Drawing on superior relationship-building skills, the Manager will conduct ongoing formal and informal outreach to individual lawyers; leaders at the practice, office, and committee level; and other key stakeholders to facilitate dialogue and maintain a practice of continuous needs assessment on matters of professional development.
The Manager will collaborate broadly within and beyond the Professional Development team to create and implement local, regional, and firmwide programs and initiatives to advance our lawyers’ development, engagement, and satisfaction; meet our clients’ needs; and ensure the satisfaction of relevant continuing legal education and other requirements. The Manager will collaborate with the firm’s broader Learning & Development team, report to a Dallas-based Professional Development Director, and supervise, develop, and mentor a Dallas-based Professional Development Specialist.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Lawyer Orientation, Integration, and Training
Assist in local and regional implementation of the firmwide strategic direction for attorney professional development.
Develop and deliver regional and firmwide training offerings that meet professional, business, and client-service goals. Propose, design, introduce, and support new initiatives as needed.
Collaborate with the Director and appropriate firm committees to deliver and continually enhance attorney orientation programs and lateral attorney integration initiatives, coordinate and implement summer associate training, respond to identified training and development needs, and otherwise further attorney training and development.
Track and evaluate the quality and quantity of attorney training opportunities, including collecting relevant data and producing related reports.
Produce professional development resources and craft professional development communications as needed.
CLE Compliance
Assist with and oversee the Professional Development Specialist’s tracking of lawyers' Texas CLE compliance.
Communicate with Texas-admitted lawyers in Dallas regarding their compliance status; work with the Professional Development Specialist, Director, and Office of General Counsel to help ensure 100% compliance for Texas-admitted lawyers firmwide.
Assist with tracking other CLE compliance requirements for Texas-based attorneys licensed elsewhere, as identified and delegated by the Director.
Career Development and Mentoring
Promote a work environment that helps lawyers reach their highest potential.
Counsel lawyers on career-development matters as needed.
Help support firm mentoring programs, including implementing training and other resources for mentors and mentees.
Employee Development and Management
Help train, develop and mentor the Professional Development Specialist.
Conduct annual performance reviews.
Education and/or Experience:
Required:
J.D. degree
A minimum of 5 years of work experience in learning and development, law, or related field
A minimum of 2 years of supervisory experience
Ability to format presentations, graphs, charts, and other visual methods of presenting information
Ability to work effectively across offices and time zones
Availability to travel occasionally to other offices within the US
Preferred:
Texas practice experience
Adult education and program design experience
Teaching or public-speaking experience
Familiarity with CLE rules and regulations
Experience with a global or national law firm
Other Skills and Abilities:
The following will also be required of the successful candidate:
Superior relationship building skills and judgement
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Strong project management and organizational skills
Strong attention to detail
Strong interpersonal communication skills
Strong analytical and problem solving skills
Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
Able to work under pressure
Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities
Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including the ability to create visual methods to present information
The target salary range for this role is:
$124,000 - $155,000 if located in TexasSalaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email [email protected] (current employees should contact Human Resources).
Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.