Associate Director, Public Relations

Seyfarth Shaw LLP; New York (NY); On-site; USD 238,000 - 253,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Career development

Job summary

Seyfarth Shaw LLP in New York seeks a senior Public Relations leader to develop and execute the firm’s external communications strategy. You’ll work with firm leadership and global teams to elevate Seyfarth’s profile and protect its reputation in the market.

You will oversee media relations, crisis communication, and thought leadership initiatives, guiding attorneys and professionals, with regular travel to U.S. offices and a strong focus on client service and integrity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• At least 8 years of relevant PR experience in law firm or professional services.
• Superior verbal, writing and editing skills with ability to inspire confidence.
• Highly professional demeanor and ability to work independently as well as in a team.
• Willingness to travel to U.S. offices regularly (approx. 15%).

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with firm leadership to develop PR strategies and provide counsel in crisis situations.
• Align PR strategy with firm and department goals and external campaigns.
• Develop the firm's external message platform across releases, social media, and the website.
• Plan and execute practice and office external communications, including thought leadership.
• Ensure internal messaging is aligned with external communications.
• Coordinate with AI/Innovation, Pro Bono & Philanthropy, Inclusion and Diversity teams on PR.
• Oversee media relations, submissions, and monitor coverage.
• Build relationships with reporters and industry leaders.
• Provide media training and interview prep materials.
• Report on media coverage and drive continuous improvement.
• Manage internal PR staff and any external agencies.

Skills

Public relations

Media relations

Crisis communications

Strategic planning

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

This high-visibility role will 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. Reporting to the Director of Integrated Communications and regularly engaging with firm leadership, this position 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

If you would like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please click EEO is the LAW and the Supplement poster through the following link: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf

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