Practice Innovation Lawyer - Banking & Finance

Baker McKenzie; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global law firm is seeking a Practice Innovation Lawyer to transform client value delivery in Banking & Finance. This role requires a qualified lawyer with expertise in legal innovation and strong project management skills. You will work with practice leadership to develop and implement innovation initiatives, engaging directly with clients and leveraging advanced technology. This position offers a collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement.

Benefits

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

World-class career development support

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with strong experience in Banking & Finance.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in legal innovation.
• Proven project management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leadership to deliver strategic innovation initiatives.
• Support Partners on client pitches and in client conversations.
• Drive culture change through training and stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Private practice experience

Legal innovation interest

GenAI tools knowledge

Project management

Client engagement

Design thinking

Strong communication

Education

Qualified Lawyer

Tools

Legal AI workflows

Job description

Practice Innovation Lawyer — Banking & Finance

The Practice Innovation Lawyer – Banking & Finance 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 Banking & Finance 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 Banking & Finance 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.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Banking & Finance 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

Technology & Implementation

• 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.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with strong experience in private practice or in‑house legal teams in Banking & Finance
• 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

At Baker McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. With our team of 13,000 people, including over 6,500 locally admitted lawyers, in over 70 offices worldwide, we have a passionately collaborative community of 60 nationalities and are committed to world‑class career development to everyone in every job at every level. Baker McKenzie can offer you both the uncompromising commitment to excellence expected of a top firm paired with a passionately global and genuinely collaborative working environment.

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, 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.