Director, Pro Bono and Philanthropy

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 with state-of-the-art technology in a friendly and professional environment, 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

As the Director of Pro Bono and Philanthropy, you will work closely with the Pro Bono and Philanthropy Partner to advance the Firm’s pro bono, community service, and charitable giving programs. You will develop initiatives that expand participation, strengthen program quality, manage risk, and deepen relationships with legal services organizations, community partners, corporate clients, and other stakeholders. You will oversee the department’s day-to-day operations and use data, technology, communications, and project management to advance the Firm’s objectives and demonstrate impact.

You will direct the operations of the Pro Bono and Philanthropy team, manage workloads and departmental priorities, and coordinate cross-functional teams supporting Firm initiatives.

The Day-To-Day

STRATEGY, OPERATIONS & PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Execute department strategy, priorities, and measures of success with the Pro Bono and Philanthropy Partner.

Improve program administration, data quality, and the volunteer experience through effective tools, workflows, and technology.

Source, evaluate, and reccomend new pro bono matters and collorations, support pro bono matter approval and intake, oversee the active docket.

Monitor pro bono participation and address staffing, supervision, quality, resource, and risk concerns across offices and practice groups.

Manage departmental projects, vendors, administrative resources, and reporting requirements.

ATTORNEY SUPPORT, PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNICATIONS

Match attorneys and staff with pro bono opportunities and guide teams through matter opening, staffing, training, supervision, reporting, and closing.

Develop training resources and maintain internal program content.

Build partnerships with legal services providers, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and other stakeholders.

Collaborate with Firm departments and lead program communications, including announcements, impact stories, intranet content, and social media.

Represent the Firm at relevant conferences and events.

PHILANTHROPY, COMMUNITY SERVICE & IMPACT

Develop charitable and community service activities, including large-scale volunteer events.

Support Seyfarth’s Charitable Foundation through grant review, records management, Board materials, recommendations, and policy guidance.

Research organizations for targeted giving and assist with client-related charitable requests.

Analyze and report program participation, matters, outcomes, partnerships, and impact.

You Have

Bachelor’s degree required; Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and active admission to a U.S. state bar strongly preferred

10+ years of experience in law firm pro bono, legal services, nonprofit management, philanthropy, or a closely related field; law firm and/or legal services organization experience strongly preferred

Deep knowledge of the U.S. legal services and access-to-justice ecosystem and the role of law firm pro bono programs

Demonstrated success developing and managing programs, partnerships, projects, and events from concept through completion

Strong strategic planning, project management, operational execution, and process-improvement skills

Experience supporting attorneys on pro bono matters, including training, staffing, supervision, matter management, and risk assessment

Excellent relationship-management, communication, and collaboration skills across Firm and external stakeholders

Ability to analyze program data, prepare reports, and use matter-management, reporting, and collaboration technologies

Creative, resourceful, and solutions-oriented, with the ability to lead volunteers and manage multiple complex priorities

Ability to travel to Firm offices, conferences, and events, as needed

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 more than 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.

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

The salary range for this role is $273,000 to $296,000 annually, which is based on a 40 hour work week. This range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in New York. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role 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, 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).

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This position is based in New York, NY 10018

STRATEGY, OPERATIONS & PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Execute department strategy, priorities, and measures of success with the Pro Bono and Philanthropy Partner.

Improve program administration, data quality, and the volunteer experience through effective tools, workflows, and technology.

Source, evaluate, and reccomend new pro bono matters and collorations, support pro bono matter approval and intake, oversee the active docket.

Monitor pro bono participation and address staffing, supervision, quality, resource, and risk concerns across offices and practice groups.

Manage departmental projects, vendors, administrative resources, and reporting requirements.

ATTORNEY SUPPORT, PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNICATIONS

Match attorneys and staff with pro bono opportunities and guide teams through matter opening, staffing, training, supervision, reporting, and closing.

Develop training resources and maintain internal program content.

Build partnerships with legal services providers, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and other stakeholders.

Collaborate with Firm departments and lead program communications, including announcements, impact stories, intranet content, and social media.

Represent the Firm at relevant conferences and events.

PHILANTHROPY, COMMUNITY SERVICE & IMPACT

Develop charitable and community service activities, including large-scale volunteer events.

Support Seyfarth’s Charitable Foundation through grant review, records management, Board materials, recommendations, and policy guidance.

Research organizations for targeted giving and assist with client-related charitable requests.

Analyze and report program participation, matters, outcomes, partnerships, and impact.

Bachelor’s degree required; Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and active admission to a U.S. state bar strongly preferred

10+ years of experience in law firm pro bono, legal services, nonprofit management, philanthropy, or a closely related field; law firm and/or legal services organization experience strongly preferred

Deep knowledge of the U.S. legal services and access-to-justice ecosystem and the role of law firm pro bono programs

Demonstrated success developing and managing programs, partnerships, projects, and events from concept through completion

Strong strategic planning, project management, operational execution, and process-improvement skills

Experience supporting attorneys on pro bono matters, including training, staffing, supervision, matter management, and risk assessment

Excellent relationship-management, communication, and collaboration skills across Firm and external stakeholders

Ability to analyze program data, prepare reports, and use matter-management, reporting, and collaboration technologies

Creative, resourceful, and solutions-oriented, with the ability to lead volunteers and manage multiple complex priorities

Ability to travel to Firm offices, conferences, and events, as needed