Associate Director of External Communications (Litigation)

Ladders; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & dental benefits

HSA & FSA

Life insurance & LTC

PTO 25 days + 10 holidays

Parental leave & fertility benefits

Training & development

Job summary

Ladders is seeking an Associate Director of External Communications (Litigation) in Seattle to lead the external narrative for the litigation practice and elevate its market profile.

The role focuses on media relations, executive visibility, and reputation management, partnering with attorneys and business leaders to craft compelling narratives and promote awards and recognition. It also covers crisis communications and proactive external campaigns.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of communications experience, including public relations and management roles.
• 4+ years in a leadership position, ideally at a senior level.
• Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Business, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of media relations and financial markets.
• Proficiency in crisis management communications and digital marketing strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a communications team focused on media relations.
• Develop strategic communications that support business priorities and highlight the practice’s strengths.
• Oversee the awards and recognitions program for the litigation practice.
• Write and edit press releases, media pitches, and other external communications.
• Shape impactful narratives around the practice and its clients.
• Initiate proactive external communications campaigns to enhance visibility.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis communications

Public relations

Digital marketing

Strategic storytelling

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Associate Director of External Communications (Litigation) to join the team of a leader in the Legal & Accounting space.

This role will lead external communications strategy for a litigation-focused practice, with a strong emphasis on media relations, executive visibility, and reputation management. You will partner closely with attorneys and business leaders to shape clear, compelling narratives that support strategic priorities and elevate the practice’s profile in the market. The position also owns crisis communications support and plays a key role in promoting awards, recognitions, and other external-facing initiatives.

Location: Seattle, WA

Compensation: $200,000 – $240,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a communications team focused on media relations
• Develop strategic communications that support business priorities and highlight the practice’s strengths
• Oversee the awards and recognitions program for the litigation practice
• Write and edit press releases, media pitches, and other external communications
• Shape impactful narratives around the practice and its clientsInitiate proactive external communications campaigns to enhance visibility
• Serve as a spokesperson for media inquiries and provide crisis communication counsel

Qualifications

• 8+ years of communications experience, including public relations and management roles
• 4+ years in a leadership position, ideally at a senior level
• Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Business, or a related field
• Strong knowledge of media relations and financial markets
• Proficiency in crisis management communications and digital marketing strategies

Benefits

• Full range of elective medical and dental benefits
• Health savings account and flexible spending accounts
• Paid life insurance and long-term care coverage
• 25 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) plus 10 paid holidays
• Generous parental leave and fertility benefits
• Training and professional development support

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.