Associate Director, Public Relations

Seyfarth Shaw LLP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 198,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision insurance

401(k)

Job summary

Seyfarth Shaw LLP seeks a senior public relations leader to develop and execute an external PR program, raise the firm’s profile, and protect its image. The role reports to the Director of Integrated Communications and collaborates with firm leadership to strengthen market leadership.

You will oversee media relations, craft messaging, and train attorneys for interviews while coordinating with AI, Pro Bono & Philanthropy, and Inclusion & Diversity teams. Travel 15% expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience.
• 8+ years of relevant public relations experience in law firm or professional services.
• Superior verbal, writing and editing skills.
• Professional demeanor with high dedication and ability to work independently and in a team.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, strong project management, and lead teams of partners and peers.
• High integrity and confidentiality.
• Willingness to travel to U.S. offices (15%).

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute external PR strategies and manage crisis communications.
• Align PR with firm strategy and external campaigns.
• Develop the firm's external messages across press releases, social media, and the website.
• Plan and execute practice department and office external communications, including thought leadership.
• Oversee media relations, media inquiries, and monitoring of coverage.
• Provide media training and prepare attorneys for interviews (Q&As, backgrounders).
• Track and report on media coverage and drive continuous improvement.
• Lead internal PR staff and coordinate with external PR agencies.

Skills

Verbal communication

Editing

Project management

Leadership

Confidentiality

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Why Seyfarth

At Seyfarth, we understand that great people are the key to our success, and we provide the opportunities to match. If you join us, you’ll work in a friendly and professional environment, with state-of-the-art technology, and we will continue to invest in your professional development. If you want the freedom to grow at a firm that is invested in your future, keep reading.

The Opportunity

You will be in a high-visibility role and have firm-wide responsibility for developing and executing an effective external public relations and communications program to raise the profile of the firm to targeted audiences and to protect and enhance its image in the marketplace. You will report to the Director of Integrated Communications and regularly engage with firm leadership, you will play an integral role in strengthening the firm’s reputation as a market leader in the industry.

The Day-To-Day

On Any Given Day, You Will

• Work collaboratively with the firm’s chair & managing partner, executive committee, and chief marketing & business development officer on PR strategies and provides advice and counsel in crisis communications situations.
• Align PR strategy with overarching firm strategy, department strategies, and broader external campaigns.
• Collaborate with communications team to develop the firm's message platform for external stakeholders and integrate those messages across news releases, social media channels, the firm’s Web site and other external communications vehicles.
• Work closely with the department chairs, practice group leaders, practice development team, and business development team to plan and execute practice department and/or office external communications, including thought leadership initiatives.
• Work closely with communications team to ensure alignment in internal messaging.
• Collaborate with AI and Innovation leadership, Pro Bono & Philanthropy partners; the Office of Inclusion and Diversity, and SeyfarthLife teams regarding their public relations strategies.
• Oversee media relations including the day-to-day media outreach (press releases, bylined articles, social media), responses to media inquiries, media award submissions, and monitor media coverage.
• Build and strengthen relationships with reporters, editors, and industry leaders.
• Provide media training and prepare attorneys and professionals for interviews, including drafting Q&As, backgrounders, and other preparatory materials.
• Track and report on media coverage, and provide continuous improvement analysis.
• Manage and lead internal public relations staff and oversee any outside public relations agencies the firm may engage.

You Have

• Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience.
• At least 8 years of relevant public relations experience, including experience in law firm or another professional services environment, with demonstrated increasing levels of responsibility.
• Superior verbal, writing and editing skills with an ability to inspire confidence.
• A highly professional demeanor, a high level of dedication and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• The ability to thrive in an intense, client-service environment; possess the ability to juggle multiple priorities; demonstrate strong project management skills; be able to develop and adhere to a lean budget; and lead teams of partners, peers and subordinates.
• A high degree of integrity, including maintaining confidentiality.
• Availability to travel to our U.S. offices on a regular basis (15%).

What We Provide

Seyfarth provides competitive salary and benefits at all levels, and our culture embraces the entrepreneurial spirit of its professionals like no other firm. Our professional staff are a collaborative team, helping to define the unique client experience offered by the firm. We understand that it takes more than attorneys to build a successful legal practice; everyone participates in our commitment to excellence.

More About Seyfarth

With approximately 1,000 lawyers across 19 offices, Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides advisory, litigation, and transactional legal services to clients worldwide. Learn more about The Seyfarth Experience at www.seyfarth.com/careers/.

Seyfarth Shaw is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, change of sex or transgender status, genetic information or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.

About

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Location Specific Language

Chicago: The full time salary range for this role is $198,000-$210,000 annually, which is based on a 40 hour work week.

New York: The full time salary range for this role is $238,000 to $253,000 annually, which is based on a 40 hour work week.

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role in the locations listed above at the time of this posting. An employee’s pay within the salary range will be based on numerous factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, experience, skills, geographical location and business or organizational needs. This job is also eligible for an annual merit increase and bonus pay.

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k).

This position is based in Chicago, IL 60606

This position is based in New York, NY 10018