Innovation Attorney

King & Spalding is a leading global law firm with a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the seamless delivery of legal services. We harness innovative technology and exceptional talent to meet the complex needs of our clients in a fast-paced and dynamic legal landscape. 

The Innovation Attorney is an integral part of the practice of law at King & Spalding.  This role is an advisor to our lawyers, matter teams, clients, and practice groups in the transactional areas of law.  This role will be responsible for aligning the latest innovative legal technologies and practice methods to our legal workflows, from advanced generative artificial intelligence to strategic use of data and analytics, to the effective use of the full suite of productivity and legal tech services to optimize value, insights, efficiency and productivity. 

This role will be responsible for serving as a connection point and conduit between the firm’s lawyers, clients, and the Technology Department to ensure the firm’s technology systems, tools, and services are effectively meeting the needs of our practicing attorneys and our clients. 

Reporting to the Director of Practice Technology & AI, this role, alongside similar roles focused on other areas of law, will work with practice leaders, members of the firm’s Technology & Innovation Committee, the Technology Leadership Team, and other leaders to enable practice workflows with innovative technology.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partnering with practice groups in the transactional areas of law to develop strategies for optimizing efficiencies and improving delivery of legal services through application of GenAI and other technological resources.  This work will involve engaging directly with practitioners, rolling up sleeves, and applying solutions to specific matters in a tailored manner.

• Being a catalyst for replicating practice group successes by applying learned lessons from one team or matter to others, magnifying the value and impact of innovation. 

• Configuring legal technologies and platforms to meet practice group needs, for example with the development of templates or custom workflows. 

• Identifying areas of opportunity for enhancing technology solutions to better meet the needs of clients and practice groups by partnering across the technology department and firm to consider related investments and enhancement projects. 

• Serving as a liaison for clients interested in collaborating on AI projects, working with practice groups to meet client needs and demonstrate firm capabilities. Collaboration efforts include onboarding client teams, developing shared workflows, and ensuring alignment with client guidelines and requirements. Respond to client inquiries regarding firm legal tech functionality, security, and ethical use in legal service delivery.

• In partnership with training and communications teams, implementing and assisting with targeted outreach initiatives to increase lawyer awareness and engagement with existing and emerging technologies.

• Partnering on projects across the firm with teams such as business development, professional development, technology training and communications, talent management, risk management, records, and various technology teams.  

• Staying abreast of legal industry trends and emerging technologies and innovative new offerings, both legal and non-legal.  Providing updates and analysis of new technologies and industry trends to firm management and practice group leadership.

• Communicating with third-party vendors to foster strong relationships and an ongoing information exchange related to new and existing products and services, while fostering strategic relationships with industry organizations and innovation thought leaders.

• Protecting and maintaining sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information associated with the firm and our clients. 

• Performing other duties as assigned or required to meet Firm goals and objectives.

• Aligning working hours as necessary to support global teams and business partners.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• JD or equivalent, and admission to the relevant state bar

• A minimum of two years of experience as a practicing lawyer in a law firm or in a legal operations role; transactional experience.

• Experienced in and passionate about the strategic application of innovative technology in the transactional practice of law at a leading global law firm.

• Display proficiency with technology, legal technology, and artificial intelligence.

• Experience participating in strategic legal technology related projects, and particularly in evaluating and implementing legal tech solutions, in a large law firm or corporate/financial institution legal department or enterprise level, strongly preferred.

• Knowledge of the lifecycle of a transactional legal matter is strongly preferred.

• Familiarity with techniques aimed at increasing adoption of legal tech tools and different methods of engaging and enabling lawyers is highly desirable.

• Experience in business analysis, solution design, consulting and/or client-facing roles.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products.

• Ability to engage in design thinking, being able to conceptualize and implement a project from end-to-end.

• Ability to communicate technical concepts in clear, non-technical language to stakeholders.

• Strong customer service and problem-solving mindset.

• Effective team player in diverse environments; thrives under pressure and meets shifting deadlines.

• Pragmatic, self-motivated, flexible and good team player.

• Self-starter with high initiative; detail-oriented, organized, and multitasking.

The firm offers a generous total compensation package with bonuses and raises awarded in recognition of individual merit-based performance. All full-time Business Services employees may participate in King & Spalding’s comprehensive benefit program including health and wellness plan, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts and a health savings account, a 401(k) plan, profit sharing plan, and a substantial Paid Time Off (PTO) program.

Pay Transparency Range:

New York, Washington, DC: Full-time annualized salary range $160,000 to $250,000 The salary offer will be contingent upon various factors, including but not limited to, relevant experience, internal equity, market data, job location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. 

The salary offer will be contingent upon various factors, including but not limited to, relevant experience, internal equity, market data, job location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. 

Qualified candidates with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the following laws if applicable:  City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act.

King & Spalding LLP (K&S) is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees in full compliance with all state, federal, and local laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, age, disability or any other status protected by applicable law. 

We are proud of our remarkably cohesive culture, which now encompasses more than 2,500 lawyers and business professionals worldwide. We seek to attract and develop the very best talent to work with us.