Public Relations Specialist

Comms Search & Selection Ltd; City Of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global law firm in London is seeking a Specialist in Public Relations to enhance their media profile across the EMEA region. The ideal candidate will have a degree in communications, 4-5 years of PR experience, and established media contacts. This role involves assisting in PR planning, engaging with the press, and generating media opportunities, demanding excellent organizational and communication skills.

Qualifications

• 4-5 years of PR/communication experience, ideally in a law firm.
• Significant UK media contacts, especially in legal media.
• Ability to function in a collaborative organization and be a team player.

Responsibilities

• Assist with planning and delivery of London PR programmes.
• Act as day-to-day contact with the press.
• Research suitable profile opportunities in media.

Skills

Excellent organization skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Experience using PR tools

Education

Degree level educated in English or communications

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

PR media database

Job description

Overview

DECHERT

Specialist, Public Relations

Dechert has an exciting opportunity to join our fast-paced global PR team supporting the Associate Director’s efforts to promote the firm across the EMEA region. The focus of this role is to drive positive media profile for our partners and key practices through extensive liaison with target reporters across UK, national, broadcast, practice group trade, regional and legal media titles. This role will help to develop and will implement PR plans to promote the firm’s thought leadership reports, events, campaigns, new partner hires and other marketing activities to build the positive profile of the firm in the London market. This is an interesting and diverse role spanning multiple legal practices and requiring the ability to deliver a broad range of public relations activities. As well as involving extensive liaison with partners, reporters, and co-ordinating with marketing colleagues, the role requires liaising with people at all levels across the firm and with external parties including our PR agencies and clients as appropriate. The successful candidate will be highly motivated, very proactive in approach and with a strong drive to build positive profile for the firm in London. They will have excellent attention to detail, outstanding written and oral communication skills, and existing experience in legal or professional services/financial services marketing.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Associate Director with the planning and delivery of London PR programmes through:
• Acting as a day-to-day point of contact with the press.
• Researching and identifying suitable profile opportunities in our target media, spanning national, broadcast, practice group trade, regional and legal media titles. This will include comment opportunities, bylined articles, profile pieces, case studies, and more.
• Actively engaging with our target reporters to build relationships and secure suitable opportunities for our partners.
• Identifying opportunities to connect those media contacts to partners of the firm. Scheduling and organising media briefings for our partners, including preparing our partners for media interviews and advising lawyers on press response techniques.
• Actively generating and seeking story ideas and pitching these to relevant titles to secure positive media coverage.
• Monitoring editorial calendars of relevant publications and communicating/recommending opportunities to raise the visibility of the firm.
• Writing press releases, pitches, articles and other communications materials for use with the media.
• Researching, developing and writing story angles to improve newsworthiness of routine firm developments (e.g., office openings, big wins, new partners).
• Building and maintaining media contact lists on our media database.
• Regularly attending practice group meetings and meeting with partners to identify and discuss PR opportunities to support practice group strategic business plans.
• Working closely with our external PR agencies to ensure activities meet firmwide objectives and pose no client conflicts or other sensitivities.
• Complying with and supporting PR team admin processes for proper media tracking, activity reporting, conflict checking, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications / KSAs

• Excellent organization skills. Ability to prioritize and coordinate own work and to multitask efficiently and work under tight deadlines and in stressful situations.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Capable of generating first drafts that require minimal revision.
• Good grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension.
• Proven ability to deal with complex subject matter – preferably legal.
• Attention to detail and quality work product.
• Experience using PR tools including PR media database and media monitoring platforms.
• Highly motivated and collaborative; with a very proactive approach.
• Polite, professional, positive manner.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to function in a collaborative organization and be a team player.
• Keen to learn and to develop.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.
• Sound knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with legal database and software solutions and social media channels including LinkedIn.

Education and Experience

• Degree level educated, with an emphasis on English, communications or similar.
• 4-5 years of relevant PR / communication experience, including experience in an in-house PR team of a large law firm ideally.
• Significant UK media contacts including ideally UK legal media contacts as well as national and practice trade media contacts.
• An understanding of the UK legal media landscape is strongly preferred.

Dechert

Dechert is a global law firm, focused on sectors with the greatest complexities, legal intricacies and highest regulatory demands, we excel in delivering practical commercial judgment and deep legal expertise for high stakes matters.

We value openness, communication, integrity and honesty, thriving on the individual and collaborative efforts that are essential to producing excellent results. At Dechert, we are committed to attracting a diverse group of highly talented individuals from all sources, regardless of background. We seek to hire men and women with sharp minds, a passion for learning and the skills to deliver a level of client service that is distinctively Dechert.

Dechert is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination. We are proud of our Firm and want everyone to feel welcome with an equal opportunity to excel. Thank you for your interest in Dechert.