Brooks Pierce Director of Recruiting and Professional Development Named A NCLW’s "Unsung Hero"

Brooks Pierce Director of Recruiting and Professional Development Shannon DeGennaro has been named an “Unsung Hero” by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly. The award recognizes the behind-the-scenes professionals that keep North Carolina law firms operating smoothly in different areas including firm administration, knowledge management, legal marketing, IT, accounting, paralegals and recruiting.

“Shannon is one of those remarkable persons who adds great value to everything she does. Her leadership and dedication to our recruitment efforts and the time she invests in learning about our associates and how we can help them advance in their careers is extraordinary,” said Managing Partner Reid Phillips.

DeGennaro joined Brooks Pierce in 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a precarious time for all law firms particularly with regard to attorney recruiting and retention. She jumped into these dual roles while in a mostly remote work environment with weekly changes in protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and North Carolina state officials.

DeGennaro is responsible for all aspects of law school and lateral recruiting and hiring, including conducting outreach and programming at top law schools to bring the best legal talent to the firm. She also oversees the summer associate program and associate integration. She brings her experience in professional development, career counseling and coaching to the firm’s associate development programs.

After practicing law for ten years, DeGennaro transitioned to academia where she taught legal research and writing and held various career services roles. Most recently, she was the Chief of Administration and Assistant Dean of Career Services at DePaul University College of Law. With the depth and breadth of her professional background, DeGennaro has a unique and invaluable perspective on the transition from law school to law firm.