Public Relations & Communications Manager

Marshall Dennehey; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Marshall Dennehey, a leading defense firm, seeks a Public Relations & Communications Manager for our Philadelphia, PA office. The role focuses on strategic communications, media relations, thought leadership, social media, and crisis communications across multiple platforms.

You will collaborate with the Director of Marketing & Business Development and firm leadership to promote achievements, legal insights, and industry leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in public relations, communications, media relations, journalism, legal marketing, or related professional services environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute firmwide public relations strategies supporting business development, recruitment, and brand enhancement goals.
• Draft and distribute press releases announcing significant hires, leadership appointments, and notable firm achievements.
• Manage media outreach and media list development using Cision and other media intelligence platforms.
• Cultivate relationships with local, regional, national, and legal industry media contacts.
• Serve as primary communications resource for attorneys and firm leadership on media inquiries and interview preparation.
• Monitor media coverage and identify opportunities to increase firm visibility.
• Develop and execute social media strategies to increase engagement, visibility, and brand awareness.
• Manage the firm's social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, X).
• Create content highlighting attorney achievements, legal developments, firm news, events, and community involvement.
• Monitor engagement metrics and optimize content strategy.
• Assist attorneys in enhancing personal LinkedIn profiles and branding.
• Assist attorneys with identifying, developing, editing, proofreading, and submitting bylined articles to publications.
• Pitch articles and legal commentary opportunities to editors and reporters.
• Collaborate with attorneys to enhance visibility as subject matter experts.
• Develop strategies to maximize exposure of firm content across channels.
• Manage firm participation in award submissions and nominations (Law.com, Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, JD Supra).
• Draft and coordinate submissions for leadership, diversity, community service, and industry awards.
• Oversee relationships with legal directories and recognition platforms.
• Support leadership in crisis communications; draft statements and talking points.
• Coordinate communications with C-suite during crises.
• Provide guidance on reputation management and external messaging.
• Identify speaking opportunities and coordinate submissions for proposals and abstracts.
• Track speaking engagements and relationships with organizers and associations.
• Develop internal communications resources and training on social media and communications topics.
• Deliver trainings on LinkedIn, branding, media relations, and engagement.
• Advise on communications strategies and visibility opportunities.
• Coordinate partnerships with schools and nonprofits for community service activities.
• Promote community involvement through internal and external channels.
• Identify industry-specific writing opportunities with attorneys.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Excellent writing

Media relations

Crisis communications

Social media strategy

Internal communications

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications/PR/Journalism/Marketing/English

10+ years of PR/communications experience

Tools

Cision

Microsoft Office

Job description

The law offices of Marshall Dennehey, a leading defense firm, is seeking a Public Relations & Communications Manager for its Philadelphia, PA office.

Position Summary:

The Public Relations & Communications Manager is responsible for developing and executing strategic communications initiatives that enhance the firm's visibility, reputation, and market position. This role manages internal and external communications activities, media relations, attorney thought leadership programs, social media strategy, award submissions, community engagement initiatives, and crisis communications support. Working closely with the Director of Marketing & Business Development and firm leadership, the Public Relations & Communications Manager promotes the firm's achievements, legal insights, community involvement, and industry leadership across multiple platforms and audiences.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Public Relations & Media Relations

• Develop and execute firmwide public relations strategies that support business development, recruitment, and brand enhancement goals.
• Draft and distribute press releases announcing significant lateral hires, promotions, leadership appointments, office openings, noteworthy firm and individual achievements, and significant client-facing initiatives.
• Manage media outreach and media list development using Cision and other media intelligence platforms.
• Cultivate relationships with local, regional, national, and legal industry media contacts.
• Serve as a primary communications resource for attorneys and firm leadership on media inquiries and interview preparation.
• Monitor media coverage and identify opportunities to increase firm visibility.

Social Media & Digital Communications

• Develop and execute social media strategies that increase engagement, visibility, and brand awareness.
• Manage the firm's social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.
• Create and curate content highlighting attorney achievements, legal developments, firm news, events, and community involvement.
• Monitor engagement metrics and recommend content optimization strategies.
• Assist attorneys in enhancing and optimizing personal LinkedIn profiles and professional branding efforts.

Thought Leadership & Content Promotion

• Assist attorneys with identifying, developing, editing, proofreading, and submitting bylined articles to legal, business, trade, and industry publications.
• Pitch article ideas and legal commentary opportunities to editors and reporters.
• Collaborate with attorneys to enhance visibility as subject matter experts within their practice areas.
• Develop strategies to maximize exposure of firm content across multiple communications channels.

Awards, Rankings & Recognition Program

• Manage firm participation in attorney, practice, and organizational award submissions.
• Prepare and submit nominations for legal industry rankings and recognitions, including Law.com national and regional recognitions.
• Draft and coordinate submissions for attorney leadership, diversity, community service, and industry achievement awards.
• Oversee relationships and submissions for legal directory and recognition platforms, including Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and JD Supra.

Crisis Communications

• Support firm leadership in the development and execution of crisis communication strategies.
• Draft media statements, talking points, and responses for sensitive issues affecting the firm and its clients.
• Coordinate communications efforts with C-suite executives and other key stakeholders during crisis situations.
• Provide strategic guidance regarding reputation management and external messaging.

Speaking Engagements & Professional Visibility

• Identify speaking opportunities through legal, business, and industry organizations.
• Research regional and national conferences, trade associations, and professional organizations.
• Coordinate and submit speaker proposals and presentation abstracts on behalf of firm attorneys.
• Track speaking opportunities and maintain relationships with conference organizers and professional associations.

Internal Communications & Training

• Develop communications resources and best practices for attorneys and staff on a variety of social media and communications topics.
• Deliver presentations and training programs related to LinkedIn, personal branding, media relations, and social media engagement.
• Advise attorneys, managers, and professional staff on communications strategies and professional visibility opportunities.

Community Relations

• Coordinate partnerships with local schools and nonprofit organizations and plan and execute community service activities, including school supply drives, uniform drives, coat drives, Career Day participation, and other volunteer initiatives.
• Promote community involvement efforts through internal and external communications channels.
• Coordinate firm participation in charitable fundraising and community events
• Identify industry-specific writing opportunities, and work with attorneys to publish material in these industries.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Excellent writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills with ability to respond to sensitive and confidential issues.
• Excellent networking skills with the ability to build and maintain positive relationships.
• Must possess sound logical thinking and judgment skills with ability to communicate well with all levels of personnel, clients and outside vendors.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.
• Knowledge of public relations principles and strategies.
• Ability to unearth writing and publishing opportunities, and conversant in the use of PR technology platforms.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Must be available to work more than 40 hours per week, including weekends, when necessary and on-call in the event of crisis management.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in public relations, communications, media relations, journalism, legal marketing, or a related professional services environment.
• Experience working within a law firm, professional services organization, legal newspaper or journal, professional services PR & Communications agency or corporate communications department preferred.
• Experience supporting executive leadership and handling sensitive communications matters.
• Demonstrated experience in media relations and strategic communications.
• Experience managing social media platforms and content strategy.
• Familiarity with media monitoring and distribution platforms such as Cision.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer AA/M/F/D/V.