Practice Support Lawyer, Disputes

Gowling WLG; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 183,150 - 253,593; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Lifestyle spending allowance

Vacation days (15+)

Parental leave top-up

Retirement savings plan

Disability & life insurance

Mental health resources

Employee Assistance Program

Referral bonuses

Job summary

Gowling WLG seeks a Practice Support Lawyer to advance the firm’s AI, innovation and knowledge strategy within the Disputes Department and related Practice Groups. The ideal candidate is a proactive, experienced litigator who can build strong relationships with the Chair, Practice Group Leaders, and Talent/Knowledge teams.

This role focuses on knowledge development, process improvement, and collaboration across departments, with hybrid attendance in Canada.

Qualifications

• Licensed JD or LLB in good standing.
• Significant post-call experience and deep technical expertise as a litigator.
• Strong analytical and interpretive abilities for complex legal concepts.
• Excellent advocacy, commercial awareness, and strategic thinking.
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for AI, innovation, legal tech, and continuous improvement.
• Strong drafting skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent legal research skills.
• Outstanding oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Proactive, able to manage workload, set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Collaborative, confident in gaining trust across levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality, timely legal and procedural support to lawyers.
• Monitor case law and regulatory changes; develop internal updates on developments.
• Identify and implement technologies and processes to improve efficiency.
• Collaborate with AI/Innovation teams to roll out tools leveraging data and AI.
• Support business development with client materials, alerts, and seminars.
• Design and deliver training for lawyers and students on current topics.
• Develop and maintain precedents, templates, and checklists for the disputes practice.

Skills

Post-call experience

Litigation expertise

Analytical skills

Advocacy skills

Commercial awareness

AI interest

Legal drafting

Legal research

Communication skills

Time management

Collaborative mindset

Education

JD or LLB

Job description

At Gowling WLG, our commitment to excellence begins with our people. As an international law firm with offices in Canada, the U.K., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, we are proud to recruit and retain top talent who bring energy, insight, and a singular focus on delivering exceptional experiences – for our clients and each other.

We’re intentional about building a workplace that’s both high-performing and supportive, ensuring that everyone is empowered to do their best work and reach their full potential. Our culture is grounded in our shared values: Raise the Bar, Embrace Differences, and Thrive Together. These values shape how we collaborate, lead, and succeed – across teams, time zones, and career paths.

Whether you’re pursuing a role in law or business services, explore what’s possible and make your mark with Gowling WLG.

PROFILE

The Practice Support Lawyer is a key contributor to Gowling WLG’s A.I., Innovation, and Knowledge strategy, enhancing the efficiency, technical quality, and client service of our Disputes Department and associated Practice Groups. The ideal candidate is proactive, committed to excellence, and able to build strong working relationships across all levels and will work in collaboration with the Disputes Department Chair, associated Practice Group Leaders, the Legal Talent Team and the Director of Knowledge & Practice Support.

This career path suits experienced lawyers who are passionate about managing knowledge, collaboration, and innovative approaches to legal service delivery.

This position can be based in any office in Canada and requires hybrid attendance in the office.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The role is broad, and priorities may change from time to time, but typically involves some, or all of:

Legal and Technical Support

• Provide high-quality, timely support to lawyers by assisting with complex legal or procedural issues.
• Monitor relevant case law and legislative and regulatory changes.
• Develop and distribute internal updates on key developments, new cases, and emerging trends.

Innovation and Process Improvement

• Identify and implement modern technologies and processes that improve efficiency and enhance legal service delivery.
• Partner with the A.I. and Innovation teams to assess and roll out tools that leverage automation, data, and A.I. capabilities.
• Contribute to firm-wide innovation projects, helping to integrate digital transformation across Departments.

Client and Business Development Support

• Collaborate with members of the Disputes Department, associated Practice Groups, and Business Development to prepare thought leadership content, client alerts, presentations, and publications.
• Assist in the preparation of client materials, proposals, and other strategic initiatives that showcase the expertise of the Disputes Department and associated Practice Groups.
• Support the delivery of client seminars and innovation workshops.

Training and Learning

• Design and deliver substantive programming for lawyers and students on current legal topics, precedents, and practice tools.
• Support Learning & Development by coordinating technical and professional training initiatives within the Disputes Department and associated Practice Groups.

Knowledge Development and Management

• Create, maintain, and update model precedents, templates, and checklists relevant to the Disputes Department and associated Practice Groups.
• Develop and implement best practices to ensure knowledge is shared and easily accessible across the Disputes Department and associated Practice Groups.
• Lead efforts to automate and modernize precedents and matter workflows in collaboration with Gowling WLG’s Innovation and A.I. teams.
• Liaise with Practice Technology and Library Services to ensure the Disputes Department and associated Practice Groups have access to a comprehensive suite of practice technologies and relevant resources.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Licensed JD or LLB, in good standing.
• Significant post-call experience and deep technical expertise as a litigator.
• Exceptional ability to analyze and interpret complex legal concepts and convey them clearly and concisely.
• Strong advocacy skills, commercial awareness and strategic thinking.
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for A.I., innovation, legal technology, and continuous improvement.
• Strong legal drafting skills with extraordinary attention to detail.
• Excellent legal research skills.
• Outstanding oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Proactive, able to manage own workload, set priorities and set and meet deadlines.
• Highly personable and collaborative mindset with the ability to quickly gain the confidence of legal professionals at all levels and influence without direct authority.

BENEFITS

Gowling WLG’s total rewards program is designed to foster a culture where high performance and personal well-being go hand-in-hand. We support your career and life with:

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and mental health coverage, plus an annual lifestyle spending allowance
• Benefits coverage for Firm members and their dependents from day one
• 15+ vacation days and hybrid work flexibility
• Parental leave top-up for 26 weeks (after 12 months of full-time employment)
• Group Retirement Savings Plan with employer match
• Financial protection through short & long-term disability, life, accident & critical illness insurance
• Employee & Family Assistance Program, guided CBT, and an internal network of 120+ trained Mental Health First Aid responders
• Recognition awards, appreciation events, and a supportive, collaborative work culture
• Perks and preferred pricing programs, referral bonuses and more

The starting range for this role is $130,000 to $180,000. Starting salary will be determined based on location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, internal and market equity. Gowling WLG employees have the potential to exceed this range based on tenure and performance.

This position is currently vacant and is open to both internal and external candidates. Gowling WLG is recruiting for this role to support ongoing firm needs and team operations.

This employer may use tools within our applicant tracking system that include artificial intelligence–supported features, such as automated candidate matching. These tools do not make hiring decisions; all screening, assessments, and selections are reviewed and completed by human recruiters and hiring managers.

Gowling WLG is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you are in need of accommodation or support at any time during the recruitment process, please let us know.