Womble Bond Dickinson

“To tap into a group of people that absolutely get it, it’s worth its weight in gold to me.”

Samantha Lee, Head of Recruitment

The Situation

Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) is a well-established, full-service legal firm operating across the UK and US. They take pride in their expertise and a vast global network.

Initially, WBD encountered significant operational hurdles with a small, overextended resourcing team. The team was faced with continuously high vacancy levels and ambitious hiring targets across multiple legal and business professional disciplines.

The need for strategic expansion and enhanced recruitment capabilities was evident to accommodate the firm’s growth and maintain its high standards of service.

Our Collaboration

Over a long-term relationship with WBD, we’ve seen the team grow in size and capabilities. As such they’ve taken advantage of our membership in many ways, including:

Extension of Team Capabilities: Leveraging our member network, WBD could act as a larger team, tapping into collective knowledge and experience.
Strategic Development Opportunities: Through targeted learning opportunities, WBD’s resourcing team developed a more strategic outlook, enhancing their ability to plan long-term and react proactively to industry trends.
Access to Industry Insights: Our ongoing surveys and studies provided WBD with critical data to inform their strategies and business cases, particularly around diversity and inclusion initiatives and technological enhancements.
Introduction to Cutting-Edge Tools: Engagements through our events led WBD to adopt transformative technologies and tools, significantly improving their operational efficiency.

Our Impact

The strategic partnership with The Talent Labs yielded substantial improvements in WBD’s recruitment processes and overall team effectiveness. They successfully navigated the complexities of scaling operations in a competitive legal market, marked by:

Team Growth and Enhanced Strategic Focus: The resourcing team at WBD grew in size and shifted from a transactional to a strategic focus, significantly impacting their long-term planning and recruitment success.
Improved Recruitment Metrics and Morale: With our support, WBD enhanced their recruitment metrics, which in turn boosted team morale and overall job satisfaction.
Innovative Recruitment Practices: Adoption of a new Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and revamped employee referral schemes streamlined their recruitment process, making it more efficient and less cumbersome.
Robust Support During Uncertainty: The support provided during the pandemic was particularly valued, as it helped the team navigate unprecedented challenges and maintain continuity in their recruitment efforts.

Conclusion

Samantha Lee, Head of Recruitment at WBD, has repeatedly emphasised the transformative impact of the partnership, highlighting the invaluable strategic insights and practical support that have made The Talent Lab’s membership indispensable to their success: “I wouldn’t have survived the last few years without the support we have had from them. It really has been a lifeline. To tap into a group of people that absolutely get it, it’s worth its weight in gold to me.”