Practice Innovation Lawyer – Employment & Compensation

The Practice Innovation Lawyer - Employment & Compensation will be at the forefront of transforming how one of the world's leading law firms delivers value to clients. The role-holder will combine their relevant legal expertise with the ability to innovate the practice of law using cutting-edge technology and an advanced understanding of process and design to advance the strategy of the Firm's practices. The role-holder will join a forward-thinking Practice Innovation team, part of Baker McKenzie's Reinvent programme, embedded in the Employment Practice Group. They will work directly with our global practice group leadership team to identify, develop, and implement innovation initiatives that enhance legal service delivery and client experience.

The individual will lead the innovation projects across the Employment Practice Group, working closely with Practice Group leadership on strategy, work with the Practice's lawyers and clients, as well as with cross-functional teams across the Firm, to design and deliver innovation on the ground. They will also contribute to the broader goals of Reinvent, sharing insights, driving adoption of new tools, and fostering a culture of continuous innovation.

Main responsibilities

• Innovation Leadership
• Partner with the Employment Practice Group leadership team to identify, prioritise and deliver strategic innovation initiatives.
• Work with the Practice Group to design solutions that combine people, process, data, and technology to create new client value.
• Act as the "single front door" for your Practice's lawyers to access the Applied AI, Legal Project Management (LPM), Alternative Legal Services (ALS), Data, Innovation, and other support resources available to them across the Firm.
• Be client-facing and support Partners in your Practice on client pitches and in client conversations.
• Report to Practice Group leadership on the progress of innovation initiatives within the Practice.
• Champion adoption of AI and legal tech tools through hands-on pilots and proof of concepts.
• Build and optimise Practice Group relevant legal workflows for enhanced client service.
• Change Management & Adoption
• Drive sustainable culture change in your Practice through targeted training and stakeholder engagement.
• Monitor adoption metrics and iterate based on feedback and outcomes.
• Collaboration & Thought Leadership
• Share insights and best practice across the global Practice Innovation network.
• Be a connector across teams within the Firm.
• Be visible within the market as an innovation leader at Baker McKenzie.

About the team

Our Operations function supports and manages the Firm's day-to-day operations, providing expert and in-market support regarding office management, office services and facilities, real estate management, risk management, and secretarial and administrative services. The Practice Innovation team is a global, multi-disciplinary team and we draw on our diverse backgrounds and global reach to solve complex problems and improve outcomes for our people and clients. The team has been evolving an approach to innovation that is tailored to the Firm's culture and structures for around 10 years. It is a diverse group of strategic, empathetic thinkers who share a passion for improving the client experience through creative problem solving.

Skills and experience

• Qualified lawyer with strong experience in private practice or in-house legal teams in Employment.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in legal innovation, legal tech, or process improvement.
• Working knowledge of at least some of the leading GenAI tools (e.g., Copilot Studio, ChatGPT Enterprise, Gemini, Claude, and legal specific equivalents) and their application in legal contexts.
• Hands-on experience designing, testing, or implementing legal AI workflows.
• Proven project management capabilities and comfort leading cross-functional teams.
• Experience dealing with clients or senior in-house stakeholders directly.
• Strategic thinker with attention to detail and a hands-on approach.
• Strong understanding of process improvement, client experience design, and design thinking methodologies.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Collaborative mindset and able to influence across teams.
• Strong time management, decision making, and problem-solving abilities.
• Self-motivated and outcome-focused.

Location

London or Belfast Center

Reports to

Chief Innovation Officer

Position type

Specialist

Additional Information

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people - regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age - to fulfil their professional aspirations with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates.