A week after folding to the Trump administration’s demands like a damp cocktail napkin, Skadden posted a job that perfectly captures this moment in the life of a law firm flinging its reputation over a cliff:
Finally, a career opportunity for the rare communications professional who wakes up each morning craving existential despair.
The job, listed on LinkedIn (hat tip to Daniel Barnes who posted it on Twitter), is exactly what you’d expect: coordinate “various public relations initiatives, monitors media for trends and topics of interest, identifies publishing opportunities for attorney-authored articles and client alerts, and searches for and circulates practice-specific media coverage.” This listing is focused on the regulatory practice and the DC office, but since those are key areas likely to get repeatedly kicked in the face by the firm’s new liege, this won’t be any fun.
Because let’s be honest: this is now the hardest PR job in America. The day-to-day probably looks like this:
9:30 AM: Prepare memo downplaying loss of major global client based in Europe as “an expected business cycle event.”
9:35 AM: Edit memo after that same client issues press release explaining its loss of confidence in the firm.
10:30 AM: Field call from The Washington Post asking if the firm’s pro bono “support” extends to defending the government’s new “NO BABY SEALS ALIVE” environmental initiative.
Lunch: Cry in the bathroom.
1:00 PM: Coordinate with leadership to shut off internal email lists after Trump’s afternoon press conference suggests he’s assigning the firm pro bono work to prove 2020 was rigged.
3:00 PM: Try to remind yourself this was supposed to be a prestige job.
4:00 PM: Read angry alumni posts on LinkedIn. Again.
The firm made a deal last week under the pretense of “supporting veterans,” but — as we’ve seen play out in real time — Trump immediately interpreted this as blanket approval to draft Biglaw attorneys into his latest fever dream policies. From tariffs to coal to probably helping the IRS sue Sesame Street for ideological noncompliance, Skadden’s time is now fair game for the administration.
And someone will have to publicly try to defend this. Including this new member of the PR team!
So if you’re a seasoned PR expert who thrives in high-stakes environments, or just someone ready to go full Joker, Skadden’s got the gig for you.
Honestly, $135K seems a little low for this job. Does it include hazard pay? Or a therapist on retainer? Because it probably should.
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter or Bluesky if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.
