Michelle Baird-Johnson
Senior Director of Talent Acquisition and Integration
The people are the focus, not the paperwork.
How I represent clients at Schwabe
I direct the firm-wide acquisition of lawyer talent in conjunction with our strategic plan, from law students to practicing attorneys. Additionally, I lead the onboarding and integration activities for lateral attorneys, and oversee the firm’s Summer Associate Program.
With over 25 years of experience in legal recruiting, I am able to identify talent growth needs and opportunities—working directly with the firm’s Chief Executive Officer and leadership—to hire and integrate new talent, ensuring a smooth transition to the firm.
Experience
- Over 25 years of experience in lawyer recruiting.
- Has mentored and coached associate attorneys in their career development.
- Developed and administered numerous Summer Associate Programs.
- Worked as a Bankruptcy Paralegal before transitioning to lawyer recruiting.
Education
- Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
- University of Utah, Bachelor of Science degree, Behavioral and Social Sciences
Memberships
- Society for Human Resource Management, Member (2017-present)
- National Association for Law Placement (NALP), Member (1999-present), Regional Coordinator (2005)
- Oregon Legal Recruiting Association, Member (1999-present), President (2001-2004, 2014)
- Seattle Area Legal Recruiting Administrators, Member (2009-present)
- Professional Development Consortium, Member (2010-2019), Annual Conference Planning Committee (2018)
Community Activities
- Portland Art Museum, Member (2018-present)
- Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon, Board Member (1999-2024), Board Secretary (2016-2022), Board Vice President (2022-2024)
Outside Interests
As a 4th generation Oregonian, I enjoy exploring Oregon's wineries and visiting our extraordinary coasts, mountains, and deserts throughout the Pacific Northwest.
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