Marcia Pennington Shannon

Ms. Shannon has more than twenty-five years of experience as a career counselor with significant experience as a group and process facilitator, a professional/personal development coach, a career transition counselor, and a legal management consultant. She has presented numerous workshops on topics such as job search techniques, interviewing skills and resume writing. Her extensive experience with attorneys and legal employers gives her the depth and breadth of knowledge to address their key concerns. She specializes in career development and management strategies, with a particular emphasis on assisting clients in defining their personal and professional goals and applying creative strategies to achieve them.

As the Assistant Director of a top tier law school placement office, Ms. Shannon was responsible for developing employment opportunities for students, counseling students and alumni on career issues and job search preparation, directing special interest training and informational programs and presentations. She went on to build a successful private practice as a career counselor and consultant to legal employers, working with law firms, corporations, and the government.

Specific accomplishments include the following:

• Counseling individuals and groups on issues relating to career transitions and career management
• Coaching individuals on career advancement strategies and plans to meet professional goals
• Administering and interpreting career assessment inventories, including Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, The Strong Interest Inventory, and Coaching Report for Leaders
• Designing and presenting training programs on career strategies, personal development, and attorney personnel management issues
• Providing guidance in the development of credentials for government and alternative career job searches
• Facilitating programs for law firms, government agencies and other groups including team building workshops; leading firm retreats and staff meetings
• Presenting comprehensive interviewer skills training for legal employers
• Conducting time management seminars and career success programs for new attorneys

Prior to becoming a principal in Shannon & Manch, Marcia was the sole principal in her private counseling practice and Senior Consultant to White Svikhart & Associates as well as to other organizations. Her prior academic administration experience includes positions as the Assistant Director of Georgetown University Law Center's Career Services Office and Director of Alumni Placement at the University of Cincinnati.

M.Ed. University of Cincinnati
Counseling, Career Counseling emphasis

B.A. Emory University
Psychology

Additional graduate coursework completed in consulting, coaching and organizational development

Ms. Shannon has spoken before the National Association for Law Placement, the American Bar Association, Women’s Bar Association of DC, George Washington National Law Center, Catholic University Columbus School of Law, the Bar of the District of Columbia, and other organizations.

Currently, Ms. Shannon writes the award-winning Managing column for “Law Practice” magazine, ABA.

She is also the coauthor (with Susan Manch) of, Recruiting Lawyers: How to Hire the Best Talent, ABA Publishing, 2000.

Ms. Shannon is a member of Law Practice Management Section of the ABA, American Counseling Association, National Career Development Association and the International Coach Federation.