At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the AI Lab, developing innovative legal tech solutions and driving impactful initiatives.
- Company: Join a pioneering global law firm at the forefront of AI and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, private medical insurance, and a flexible benefits package.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth opportunities in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the legal industry with cutting-edge technology and creative problem-solving.
- Qualifications: 12+ years in law or tech, with strong AI and legal tech expertise.
The predicted salary is between 64800 - 79200 £ per year.
Our Practice Solutions team leads the Firm’s innovation initiatives, supporting our lawyers in client delivery excellence. The team has deep expertise in working with established and emerging technologies, data analytics and data science, knowledge solutions and process re-engineering. The Practice Solutions team works with our lawyers to identify innovative solutions to support our clients. Through fostering a Firmwide culture of innovation, we encourage our lawyers to think creatively about how to deliver the best value to our clients and we ensure that White & Case remains at the forefront of advancements in the legal industry.
The Associate Director - Applied AI Lab, Innovation and AI plays a pivotal role in supporting the Firm's strategic objectives relating to AI, innovation and legal technology. This role significantly contributes to setting the strategic direction of the Firm's AI capabilities, leaning on a wealth of expertise in AI systems architecture, software development, legal technology, and innovation initiatives. As part of the leadership team for Innovation and AI, the Associate Director brings sound technical and commercial recommendations that lead to impactful business decisions. Whether serving in a managerial capacity or as an individual contributor, this role is pivotal for developing and implementing key AI and innovation initiatives across practice groups, client matters and firm-wide operations.
The roles and responsibilities of this job include:
- Serves as technical lead for the Firm's AI Lab, overseeing the design, development, testing and deployment of AI tools, models and infrastructure, and providing authoritative technical direction to the team.
- Contributes to the development and execution of Firm-wide innovation and AI strategic initiatives, supporting long-term planning, governance and management goals for built, bought and partnered AI solutions.
- Provides expert technical and strategic consultation to lawyers, legal staff and senior leadership on the application of AI, automation and emerging technologies to legal practice, including contract management, transaction management and workflow optimisation.
- Architects and develops technical solutions within the AI Lab, including scripting, coding and configuring AI systems and IT infrastructure, leveraging protocols and frameworks such as Model Context Protocol (MCP) and related agentic technologies.
- Leads rigorous evaluation and testing of AI tools, platforms and vendors, providing technical and commercial recommendations to senior leadership and ensuring solutions meet the Firm's security, performance and scalability requirements.
- Champions the introduction and adoption of new AI and technology solutions across matter teams and practice groups, identifying high-impact use cases and working with stakeholders at all levels to drive sustainable change.
- Takes senior accountability for the operational delivery of the AI Lab's programmes and client-facing initiatives, ensuring effective AI governance, quality outcomes and alignment with the Firm's strategic objectives.
- Analyses performance data, usage metrics and technical outputs from AI systems to generate insights, drive continuous improvement and inform strategic decision-making by the Director of Innovation and AI and the Chief Innovation Officer.
- Collaborates closely with business services, technology, procurement, Firm Governance teams and external partners to ensure seamless integration of AI and technology solutions, maintaining a forward-looking pipeline of innovation opportunities aligned to the Firm's strategic priorities.
- Manages and develops a multidisciplinary team of legal engineers, fostering a collaborative, innovative and high-performing team culture and providing visible leadership with direct and matrix leadership responsibilities.
- Performs additional responsibilities as required to support the Firm's innovation and AI agenda, including supporting the Firm's AI governance coordination for built, bought and partnered AI solutions.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally.
Required skills and experience:
- A law degree or equivalent legal qualification is preferred; a degree in, or practical experience with, computer science, software engineering, information technology, or a related technical discipline will also be considered / beneficial. A combination of legal and technical qualifications is strongly desirable.
- 12+ years of cross-functional experience across law, innovation, technology, or AI-related roles, with a significant portion spent in or closely supporting a legal or professional services environment.
- Demonstrated technical expertise in AI systems architecture, software development and IDEs and associated best practices, scripting (e.g. Python, JavaScript, or similar), IT infrastructure, and emerging agentic AI frameworks including Model Context Protocol (MCP), agentic AI technologies and best practices, and related orchestration technologies.
- Deep expertise in leading, assessing, and deploying legal technology and AI solutions, including generative AI platforms, large language model (LLM) applications.
- Strong understanding of legal practice workflows, with the ability to translate operational requirements into technical specifications and build or configure solutions that deliver measurable improvements.
- Advanced proficiency in standard business applications (Microsoft 365 suite), as well as familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g. Microsoft Azure, AWS) and AI/ML development environments.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts clearly to senior partners, business leaders, the Director of Innovation and AI, and the Chief Innovation Officer, and to operate as a trusted adviser bridging technology and legal practice.
- Highly developed diplomacy skills, with demonstrated ability to build consensus, foster collaboration, and drive cross-functional, global teams across multiple time zones and jurisdictions through difficult and ambiguous problem spaces to successful deadline-driven outcomes.
- Demonstrated project and programme management expertise, including the ability to lead and deliver complex technical and innovation projects within matrixed, hierarchical and non-hierarchical environments at pace.
- In-depth knowledge of the rapidly evolving AI and legal technology landscape, including generative AI, agentic systems, LLM fine-tuning, and responsible AI governance, with a genuine commitment to keeping the firm at the forefront of innovation.
- Strong independent judgment and the ability to make confident technical and strategic recommendations, with clear awareness of when matters require escalation to the Director of Innovation and AI or Chief Innovation Officer.
- Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop a growing technically skilled team, with a focus on building capability, supporting career development, and maintaining high standards of performance across the AI Lab.
What We Offer:
At White & Case, you can make a real difference, work on cutting-edge matters that make the headlines and help shape the world we live in. We live by our values to be pioneering, united and human and we believe that you will experience them from your first day. We will give you the support and training that will help you achieve your potential. We believe that consistent high performance merits reward and support. Our compensation package reflects your calibre as a member of our market leading Innovation & AI team and our benefits are designed to support your changing needs and priorities across different life stages. We offer high-quality, internationally oriented work on the most challenging matters and an opportunity to work as part of a truly global organisation.
Location: This role is based in our London office. Our standard office hours are 09:30-18:00, with a current requirement for 4 days (Monday - Thursday) in the office per week.
Firm Benefits: We offer a flexible range of benefits, services and programmes designed to help support your lifestyle requirements. Some of the benefits currently available include:
- Private medical insurance
- Pension plan with matched employer contribution up to 7.5%
- Yearly wellbeing fund
- Income protection
- Holiday purchase
- Life insurance
- Critical illness insurance
- Private GP services
- Travel insurance
- Dental coverage
- Cycle to work
- Holiday purchase (available during annual enrolment)
This role reports to: Director, Innovation and AI
Equal Opportunities: White & Case is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. If you require assistance and/or adjustment to participate in our application and/or interview process, please email us. We will be happy to work with you.
The Firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment. The above is only a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.
Associate Director, Applied AI Lab, Innovation & AI employer: White & Case LLP
At White & Case, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. Our London office provides a supportive environment where you can thrive professionally, with ample opportunities for growth and development, alongside a comprehensive benefits package that prioritises your wellbeing and work-life balance. Join us to be part of a pioneering team that values your contributions and invests in your future.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director, Applied AI Lab, Innovation & AI
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like White & Case LLP.
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like White & Case LLP.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director, Applied AI Lab, Innovation & AI
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at White & Case LLP that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at White & Case LLP and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at White & Case LLP
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at White & Case LLP, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show White & Case LLP that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At White & Case LLP, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
