Strategic Communications Manager, Legal Media & PR

DLA Piper LLP; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 179,000; Full time

Job summary

DLA Piper in the United States seeks a Communications Manager to guide external communications for lawyers across practices. You will collaborate with Marketing, Business Development, and external agencies to identify opportunities, shape messaging, and manage media initiatives from concept through execution.

The role requires strong writing, media relations, and project management in a fast-paced professional services environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, marketing, communication, journalism or related field.
• 5 years of experience in marketing, public relations or similar field.
• Experience in a law firm, professional services organization, PR agency, or similarly complex environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes proactive media relations initiatives that raise the visibility of the firm’s lawyers and practices, including promoting thought leadership, client matters, legal and business developments, and other newsworthy activity.
• Identifies timely media opportunities and develops story angles and pitches that connect the firm’s lawyers and capabilities with relevant legal, business, regulatory, and industry developments.
• Builds and maintains relationships with journalists across legal, business, national, regional, and industry media and conducts targeted outreach on behalf of the firm and its lawyers.
• Drafts and edits media pitches, press releases, talking points, briefing materials, website news items, and other external communications, ensuring content is clear, compelling, accurate, and aligned with firm messaging.
• Works directly with lawyers to develop media opportunities and prepare for interviews, including developing key messages and briefing materials and supporting media training.
• Evaluates incoming media inquiries and coordinates responses, working with lawyers and Communications colleagues to identify appropriate spokespeople, gather relevant information, and help ensure timely and effective engagement.
• Monitors media coverage, legal and business developments, and emerging issues to identify opportunities relevant to the firm, its lawyers, and clients.
• Promotes significant deals, disputes, and other client matters, working with lawyers and internal stakeholders to identify opportunities and develop appropriate external communications.
• Works with external PR agencies on media outreach and communications initiatives, coordinating activities and helping ensure execution aligns with firm priorities.
• Collaborates with Communications, Marketing, Business Development, Digital, and other teams to support coordinated communications initiatives across practices, sectors, and markets.
• Manages multiple communications initiatives and deadlines simultaneously, maintaining strong attention to detail and coordinating with stakeholders throughout the process.

Skills

Writing & editing

Media relations

Editorial judgment

Relationship building

Verbal communication

Project management

Collaboration

Independent work

Law firm experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in public relations, marketing, communication, journalism or related field

Job description

DLA Piper in the United States seeks a Communications Manager to guide external communications for lawyers across practices. You will collaborate with Marketing, Business Development, and external agencies to identify opportunities, shape messaging, and manage media initiatives from concept through execution.

The role requires strong writing, media relations, and project management in a fast-paced professional services environment.