Elizabeth Miller (courtesy photo).
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Akin Gump Strauss,Hauer & Feld has hired a new chief legal talent officer to work from its D.C. office as the law firm looks to enhance its development efforts.

Elizabeth Miller, formerly in legal talent development at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, started with the firm last week. 

Miller, who worked at Wilmer for 15 years, will be in charge of recruiting new associates out of law school as well as nonpartner laterals, she said.

"Well certainly Akin Gump is known for having a strong and respected development program, and this was a great opportunity to move to the next step of my career," Miller said. 

The position and title are new for Akin Gump, according to firm sources. The firm said the creation of the role was a direct response to market conditions and the firm's focus on talent development and retention.

"I'm tasked with looking at what we are doing right with our existing programs and then building on those structures," she said.

Akin Gump has added several positions that focus on recruitment and talent development in the past couple of years. 

The firm said that Miller will be working closely with Akin Gump's chief diversity and inclusion officer, Nimesh Patel, to ensure the firm's recruitment efforts are in line with its push for a more inclusive work environment. 

Patel, who joined Akin Gump last September, was also a former Wilmer staffer and worked with Miller previously.  

Akin Gump also hired former Dechert associate career counselor Carrie Marker in 2018 as the firm's first director of career counseling and planning. 

Miller said part of her job will be developing strong relationships with law schools in the firm's various market to build a consistent, sustainable pipeline of talent. 

Akin Gump has had success in the past with its recruitment policies, including receiving high marks from this publication's survey of midlevel and summer associates in 2019.  

The firm also worked in collaboration with Georgetown Law Center's Executive Education Program for the firm's New Counsel Academy, designed to help students understand paths to partnership and expose them to attorneys who can offer career advice. 

Akin Gump chairwoman Kim Koopersmith said in a statement that Miller has "a great track record and a clear vision" to help handle the firm's legal talent recruitment and development efforts.