Rankings, Awards & Media Relations Coordinator

Thompson Hine LLP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 72,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Thompson Hine LLP seeks a Rankings, Awards & Media Relations Coordinator to support awards, surveys, league tables, and directory submissions (Chambers, The Legal 500). This role partners with attorneys, marketing, business development, and external consultants to craft compelling entries and drive measurable results.

The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, manages multiple deadlines, and reports to the Director of Public Relations.

Qualifications

• Strong communication, project management, and interpersonal skills.
• Prior experience in a large law firm or professional services environment preferred.
• Knowledge of legal directories and awards (Chambers, The Legal 500, The American Lawyer, etc.).
• 3–5 years of relevant law firm marketing/communications experience.
• Excellent writing and editing skills with strong attention to detail.
• Flexible, able to work extended hours to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Manages strategy and execution for the firm's awards, surveys, and directory submissions.
• Owns the Directories & Rankings calendar and tracking, deadlines, and status.
• Researches and evaluates new award opportunities and recommends participation.
• Analyzes results and shares updates with stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Designs, writes and edits submissions, sometimes with external consultants.
• Drafts compelling narratives highlighting firm and attorney achievements.
• Manages submissions from planning to release with a tracking system.
• Maintains the submissions database and analyzes trends.
• Builds relationships with directory editors, publication contacts and researchers.
• Facilitates interview scheduling between survey researchers and firm lawyers.
• Develops internal and external communications announcing rankings and awards.
• Ensures directory profiles are accurate and up to date.

Skills

Communication

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Writing & editing

Job description

Thompson Hine LLP, an AmLaw 200 firm regularly recognized for our commitment to Innovation, Inclusion, and collaborative cultural is seeking a Rankings, Awards & Media Relations Coordinator to join the Marketing & Strategy department in any of our following offices; Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Minneapolis, or Washington, D.C. The Rankings, Awards & Media Relations Coordinator supports the firm's strategy for awards, surveys, league tables, and legal directory submissions - including but not limited to Chambers and Legal 500 - to enhance the firm's visibility and market recognition. Working with the Director of Public Relations to set the strategy, this role serves as the central point of contact for all recognition initiatives, partnering with attorneys, marketing and business development teams, and external consultants (on special projects) to craft compelling submissions and drive measurable results. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, detail-oriented communicator who thrives managing multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

As a member of the Marketing & Strategy team, the Coordinator helps identify, evaluate, and pursue award opportunities firmwide. The position reports to the Director of Public Relations and requires a blend of strategic thinking, project management, and strong writing and communications skills. Partnering closely with attorneys and marketing colleagues, the Coordinator drafts and submits high-impact entries, develops a calendar to meet submission deadlines to manage timelines and tracking, coordinates researcher interviews, and helps amplify results across internal and external channels to enhance Thompson Hine’s reputation.

The ideal candidate is highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to prioritize competing deadlines and manage multiple projects independently in a fast-paced environment. The Coordinator will be joining a high-performing team with low turnover. We pride ourselves on longevity at the firm, and this role offers the opportunity to grow within a stable, supportive, and collaborative environment.

Additional responsibilities include maintaining website recognition items (e.g., press releases) and supporting social media promotion; assessing the viability of new surveys; and managing special projects as assigned.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages the strategy and execution for the firm's awards, surveys, and directory submissions. Advises and collaborates with attorneys and marketing professionals on recognition and survey strategy.
• Owns the firm’s Directories & Rankings calendar and tracking, managing opportunities, deadlines, and submission status to ensure the firm is consistently well positioned in key legal and business publications.
• Research and evaluates new and existing award, survey, and directory opportunities; assess value/fit; and recommend participation to relevant stakeholders in support of firm and practice objectives.
• Analyzes results and trends across submissions and share clear updates and recommendations with stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Designs, writes and edits submissions, working with an external consultant for some of them.
• Draft compelling narratives that highlight firm and attorney achievements, strengths, and developments.
• Manages submissions from initial planning through release, coordinating inputs, approvals, and deadlines while maintaining a tracking system for directories, surveys, league tables, and awards.
• Maintains the submissions database and use it to analyze trends and inform future strategy.
• Builds relationships and liaise with directory editors, publication contacts, and researchers to understand methodology and submission guidelines, identifies opportunities to improve rankings, and strengthen future submissions.
• Facilitates scheduling of interviews between survey researchers and firm lawyers; compiles necessary interview prep materials and coordinates prep calls as appropriate.
• Develops internal and external communications, announcing rankings and awards, reinforcing the firm's brand visibility.
• Ensures lawyer, practice, and firm directory profiles are accurate and up to date.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong communication, project management, and interpersonal skills are essential, along with sound judgment, discretion, and a proactive, results-driven approach.
• Prior experience in a large law firm or professional services environment strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of legal directories and awards (e.g., Chambers, The Legal 500, The American Lawyer, Law360, Benchmark, Financial Times Innovative Lawyers, etc.).
• 3-5 years of relevant law firm marketing/communications experience, preferably supporting rankings, directories, and award submissions.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with strong project management capabilities and attention to detail.
• Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to work extended hours as needed to meet critical deadlines.
• Exceptional organizational, research, and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills and professionalism when working with attorneys, clients, media, publishers, and external vendors.
• Dependable and collaborative team player who works effectively with others while also demonstrating initiative, independent decision-making, and a proactive, results-driven mindset. Committed to delivering exceptional client service.
• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively is required.

Compensation is determined upon the market in which the position is located, the responsibilities of the position, the experience and skills of the applicant, and other job-related factors. The estimated salary ranges for these locations are the following: Cleveland is $67,500 to $76,000, Chicago is $72,000 to $81,000 and Washington, D.C is $77,500 to $87,250.

Thompson Hine LLP is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer that offers competitive wages, and a robust benefits package. Benefits offerings include, but are not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as Paid Time Off (PTO).