Description:

Position Summary:
Ogletree Deakins is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking Practice Innovation Counsel to join our growing Practice Innovation team. This unique role is ideal for an experienced attorney—preferably with a background in employment litigation—who is passionate about transforming legal service delivery through generative AI, legal analytics, and technology-driven solutions.

As a key member of our innovation strategy, you will collaborate with attorneys, developers, and firm leadership to identify, pilot, develop, and implement cutting-edge tools that enhance client outcomes and operational efficiency. This is a rare opportunity to blend legal expertise with technical curiosity to drive meaningful change at a large law firm. The position reports to the Sr. Manager of Practice Innovation Counsel and may be based in any of our national Ogletree offices.

Essential Functions:

Work closely with attorneys, practice groups, and other departments to identify, evaluate, and implement generative AI solutions to improve legal workflows and client service.
Identify and evaluate external AI and legal tech solutions; lead the full lifecycle from pilot and vendor coordination through licensing, deployment, and firmwide adoption.
Collaborate with external developers to design, build, and refine custom AI-driven legal technology solutions, guiding projects from concept through deployment and adoption.
Curate legal content and workflows for AI training and optimization.
Educate attorneys and staff on AI tools and best practices, delivering tailored training sessions and resource guides.
Exhibit and promote responsible AI and data governance; embed standards for confidentiality, data handling, and QA into all workflows and training materials produced by the team.
Contribute to AI portfolio governance; help set KPIs, track adoption and ROI, and report on impact, risks, and issues to firm leadership.
Lead multidisciplinary project teams through the full lifecycle—from ideation and scoping to execution and rollout, ensuring they meet deadlines, budget constraints, and quality standards.
Monitor trends in legal tech and generative AI to identify strategic investment and adoption opportunities.
Measure and report on the impact and ROI of innovation initiatives.
Act as a visible advocate for innovation, promoting adoption through internal roadshows and training, as well as external engagement via conferences, presentations, articles, podcasts, and other thought leadership channels.

Requirements:

J.D. from an accredited law school.
5+ years of legal practice experience, ideally in labor and employment litigation.
Demonstrated interest and hands-on experience in generative AI, legal technology, and legal innovation initiatives.
Proficiency with generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Harvey, and document automation platforms.
Proven ability to evaluate, pilot, and implement AI solutions within a legal or professional services environment.
Experience collaborating on the design and development of legal tech or AI-enabled software products.
Familiarity with prompt engineering techniques, machine learning concepts, and generative AI model development.
Prior involvement in Agile/Scrum project environments and using Jira or similar tools is a plus.
Strong communication skills and comfort engaging with attorneys and cross-functional teams.
Proven ability to lead projects and influence change in a complex organization.
Knowledge of change management principles and an understanding of user adoption dynamics.
Highly self-motivated, detail-oriented, and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.
Comfortable interacting with attorneys and taking on a prominent role related to AI and data.
Keen interest in technology and innovation, and ability to quickly learn new platforms.

Please note, we are not working with outside recruiters for this position.

Benefits:
In accordance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, the expected salary range for this Colorado position is between $160,965 - $241,448. In accordance with New York State's Wage Transparency Law, the expected salary range for this New York State position is between $147,622 and $293,250. In accordance with California's amended labor code as stated in Senate Bill 1162, the expected salary range for this California position is between $153,596 and $293,250. In accordance with the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities act, the expected salary range for this Washington position is between $176,470 - 264705.  In accordance with the Wage Transparency Omnibus Amendment Act, the expected salary range for this DC position is between $137,360 and $176,470 - $264,705.  In accordance with Maryland's Equal Pay for Equal Work-Wage Range Transparency Law, the expected salary range for this Baltimore position is between $153596 - $230395.   In accordance with Illinois Equal Pay Act Transparency Notice, the expected salary range for this Illinois position is between $176,470 - $264,705.  In accordance with Massachusetts Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act, the expected salary range for this Massachusetts position is between $195,500 - $293,250 . In accordance with Minnesota Pay Transparency Law, the expected salary range for this Minnesota position is between $153,596 - $230,395. In accordance with New Jersey Senate Bill 2310, the expected salary range for this New Jersey position is between $195,500 - $293,250 . Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience, geographic location, and other job-related factors as permitted by law. This position qualifies for the benefits below.  The application deadline for this position is December 31, 2026.

Ogletree Deakins offers a robust suite of benefits for our Staff including: Paid Time Off, Paid Sick Leave, a 401(k) matching program, Profit Sharing, Paid Holidays, Paid Parental Leave, affordable Health and Life Insurance including Dental & Vision coverage, Health Savings Account /Flexible Spending Accounts to help offset the cost of dependent care and/or health care expenses, Tuition Reimbursement and an Employee Assistance Program.

Contact Information
If you have questions, please e-mail Libby Naikelis at libby.naikelis@ogletree.com with “Practice Innovation Counsel" in the subject line. Please note, applications submitted via e-mail will not be considered.

Firm Overview:
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. Best Law Firms® has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for 14 consecutive years. In the 2025 edition, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Litigation – Labor and Employment category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 1,100 attorneys located in 60 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, including many of the Fortune 50 companies in the U.S.

We are fully committed to the importance of diversity within the legal profession, as well as all workplace environments.

Equal Opportunity Employer.