PR & External Communications Executive

A leading UK law firm with a network of offices from the South Coast to Scotland, working together as one national team. An innovative practice and the first top 100 law firm to achieve “Gold Standard” Investors in People, our values and culture are not just words on our website but are the heartbeat of the firm. The lack of barriers between departments, a real lack of hierarchy, zero tolerance for arrogance and pomposity makes Shoosmiths a fantastic place to work.

Shoosmiths LLP was named “National/Regional Law firm of the Year” in 2018 by Legal Business, recognised for its strong financial growth and also commitment to agile working, and based on the fundamentals of its brand, which is to deliver a superb client experience.  

Now we need an additional strong external communications professional, based in our southern offices, to help take out to the market our fantastic story, spanning high-end achievements in corporate, real estate, commercial and private client work. You will initiate, develop and implement profile-raising activity in a range of specific regions and sectors, linked where possible to your areas of particular interest and experience.

You are a born communicator, with excellent writing and editing skills and a great ‘ear’ for finding the story, accustomed to building strong relationships of trust both externally with diverse media/broadcast channels, and internally within a professional services environment.

Working as part of a high performing and collaborative business development and campaigns team, your role will be to understand the core strategic goals of the business, and then build and deliver creative and impactful communications plans to help achieve them, creating a clear and valued voice for Shoosmiths in a crowded legal market.

If you like working for a fast-paced business in a friendly team, where you will have a wide canvas for communications and where new ideas are positively welcomed, then Shoosmiths could be the right place for the next stage of your career.

Tactics you will be asked to deliver will include the full range of multi-faceted external communications, generating media coverage, contributing ideas for themes and by-lines for advertising campaigns, effective use of social media, supporting on campaigns, entering awards and other communications activities focused on key audiences and markets.

The role can be based in the firm’s fully agile Birmingham, Reading, Solent or Milton Keynes office locations, and travel to other Shoosmiths offices will be required.

• Writing and implementing a range of external comms elements of go-to-market plans, working directly with the Partners and Lawyers involved to help them achieve their profile and reputation objectives.
• Drafting news releases, case studies, tweets, op-ed and by-lined features and articles to achieve media coverage in national, trade and regional media, and on social media channels.
• Setting up interviews, coaching lawyers on media techniques and liaising with media.
• Writing and submitting compelling award submissions.
• Upholding Shoosmiths’ tone of voice in content generated by lawyers intended for a business/external audience.
• Organising and briefing photographers, and liaising with in-house design studio to ensure images and words work impactfully in external comms.
• Building good relationships with the national trade, professional and regional press, such that you can anticipate an editor’s needs and provide copy that address their exact needs.
• Managing communications aspects of campaigns and specific projects with the firm

• Educated to degree level or equivalent with training in PR and Communications or journalism
• Experience in working for a professional services firm
• Strong communicator, with exceptional writing and media relations skills
• Knowledge and experience of how to conduct social media campaigns
• At least three years of PR experience gained in a professional services environment or an agency environment managing professional services clients. Corporate and consumer/private client experience desired.
• Ability to develop and place stories with business, financial, national and legal press
• Ability to deal effectively with complex subject matter
• High standards of written and verbal communication are essential
• Team player, able to influence others and coach/mentor fee earners and other staff
• Self-starter who takes initiative and follows through, creates confidence among partners and forges co-operative working arrangements with colleagues
• Meet deadlines and manage multiple projects in a fast paced and demanding environment
• Ability to work to tight deadlines
• Excellent project management skills

Shoosmiths is a committed Equal Opportunities employer promoting equality of opportunity. This means that everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, whatever their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.