Professional Development Assistant

About the role

The Professional Development (PD) Assistant provides administrative support to the Professional Development team for initiatives related to attorney development and general team support. The role follows instructions, processes, and guidelines to perform the essential functions of the job while contributing to McDermott Will & Schulte’s award‑winning culture of collaboration, authenticity, and wellness.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate logistics and communications for firm‑wide attorney development programs and initiatives.
• Support program administration, including invitations, registration, participant tracking, material preparation, attendance monitoring, and feedback collection.
• Create surveys, compile participant feedback, and prepare program evaluations, summaries, and reports.
• Assist with planning and executing practice‑excellence workshops, attorney onboarding and orientation, practice‑group boot camps, and other in‑person and virtual programs.
• Travel to other firm office locations to provide on‑the‑ground support for in‑person attorney trainings and events.
• Coordinate conference rooms, audio/visual (AV) support, catering, program materials, and other event logistics.
• Maintain and communicate timelines and project plans to move initiatives forward.
• Exercise critical thinking and judgment in coordination of training and event logistics.
• Maintain program records, participation data, metrics, and electronic files; assist with reporting and data analysis.
• Assist with the maintenance of attorney development resources, intranet page, and internal program materials.
• Collaborate with attorneys, business professionals, and external vendors to support program delivery and participant experience.
• Prepare client‑ready written communications to attorneys, business professionals, external vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Provide administrative support for team operations, including meeting coordination, cross‑functional collaboration, special projects, and other department initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Knowledge of Microsoft 365 Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, OneDrive, and Project Planner).
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong client‑service skills.
• Ability to work well within a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and prioritize responsibilities.
• Ability to handle and maintain confidential information.
• Ability to learn new concepts and skills quickly.
• Some travel required.

Pay

Target Hiring Range: $55,000 – $76,000. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job‑related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. Base pay is only one part of the Total Rewards that McDermott Will & Schulte provides to compensate and recognize staff professionals for their work.

Benefits

Full‑time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package that supports physical, emotional, mental, and financial health, with an emphasis on work‑life balance.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk and hear.
• Employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds.
• Typical indoor office environment.