Practice Innovation Counsel

Ogletree Deakins; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 160,965 - 241,448; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

401(k) matching program

Profit sharing

Job summary

Ogletree Deakins is looking for a dynamic Practice Innovation Counsel based in Phoenix, Arizona. The candidate will lead initiatives to integrate generative AI and technology into legal services, collaborating with attorneys and tech developers.

This role involves project management, educating staff on AI practices, and evaluating AI solutions to enhance client services. Requires a J.D. and a minimum of 5 years of experience in employment litigation.

Competitive benefits package includes paid time off, health insurance, 401(k), and more.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of legal practice experience, ideally in employment litigation.
• Interest and experience in generative AI and legal tech.
• Ability to lead projects and influence change.

Responsibilities

• Identify and implement generative AI solutions.
• Collaborate with developers to build legal tech solutions.
• Educate staff on AI tools and best practices.

Skills

Proficiency with generative AI tools

Strong communication skills

Project management and leadership

Familiarity with Agile/Scrum environments

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Tools

Jira

ChatGPT

Harvey

Job description

Position Summary

Ogletree Deakins seeks a dynamic and forward‑thinking Practice Innovation Counsel to join the growing Practice Innovation team. The role is ideal for an experienced attorney—preferably with a background in employment litigation—who is passionate about transforming legal service delivery through generative AI, legal analytics, and technology‑driven solutions.

As a key member of the innovation strategy, you will collaborate with attorneys, developers, and firm leadership to identify, pilot, develop, and implement cutting‑edge tools that enhance client outcomes and operational efficiency. The position reports to the Director of Practice Innovation and Analytics and may be based in any Ogletree office.

Essential Functions

• Work closely with attorneys, practice groups, and other departments to identify, evaluate, and implement generative AI solutions to improve legal workflows and client service.
• Identify and evaluate external AI and legal tech solutions; lead the full lifecycle from pilot and vendor coordination through licensing, deployment, and firmwide adoption.
• Collaborate with external developers to design, build, and refine custom AI‑driven legal technology solutions, guiding projects from concept through deployment and adoption.
• Curate legal content and workflows for AI training and optimization.
• Educate attorneys and staff on AI tools and best practices, delivering tailored training sessions and resource guides.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams through the full lifecycle—from ideation and scoping to execution and rollout, ensuring they meet deadlines, budget constraints, and quality standards.
• Monitor trends in legal tech and generative AI to identify strategic investment and adoption opportunities.
• Measure and report on the impact and ROI of innovation initiatives.
• Act as a visible advocate for innovation, promoting adoption through internal roadshows and training, as well as external engagement via conferences, presentations, articles, podcasts, and other thought leadership channels.

Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• 5+ years of legal practice experience, ideally in labor and employment litigation.
• Demonstrated interest and hands‑on experience in generative AI, legal technology, and legal innovation initiatives.
• Proficiency with generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Harvey, and document automation platforms.
• Proven ability to evaluate, pilot, and implement AI solutions within a legal or professional services environment.
• Experience collaborating on the design and development of legal tech or AI‑enabled software products.
• Familiarity with prompt engineering techniques, machine learning concepts, and generative AI model development.
• Prior involvement in Agile/Scrum project environments and using Jira or similar tools is a plus.
• Strong communication skills and comfort engaging with attorneys and cross‑functional teams.
• Proven ability to lead projects and influence change in a complex organization.
• Knowledge of change management principles and an understanding of user adoption dynamics.
• Highly self‑motivated, detail‑oriented, and adaptable in a fast‑paced environment.
• Comfortable interacting with attorneys and taking on a prominent role related to AI and data.
• Keen interest in technology and innovation, and ability to quickly learn new platforms.

Benefits

In accordance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, the expected salary range for this Colorado position is between $160,965 – $241,448. In accordance with New York State’s Wage Transparency Law, the expected salary range for this New York State position is between $147,622 and $293,250. In accordance with California’s amended labor code as stated in Senate Bill 1162, the expected salary range for this California position is between $153,596 and $293,250. In accordance with the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities act, the expected salary range for this Washington position is between $176,470 – 264705. In accordance with the Wage Transparency Omnibus Amendment Act, the expected salary range for this DC position is between $137,360 and $176,470 – $264,705. In accordance with Maryland’s Equal Pay for Equal Work‑Wage Range Transparency Law, the expected salary range for this Baltimore position is between $153596 – $230395. In accordance with Illinois Equal Pay Act Transparency Notice, the expected salary range for this Illinois position is between $176,470 – $264,705. In accordance with Massachusetts Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act, the expected salary range for this Massachusetts position is between $195,500 – $293,250. In accordance with Minnesota Pay Transparency Law, the expected salary range for this Minnesota position is between $153,596 – $230,395. In accordance with New Jersey Senate Bill 2310, the expected salary range for this New Jersey position is between $195,500 – $293,250. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience, geographic location, and other job‑related factors as permitted by law. This position qualifies for the following benefits: paid time off, paid sick leave, 401(k) matching program, profit sharing, paid holidays, paid parental leave, affordable health and life insurance (including dental & vision coverage), health savings account/flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, and employee assistance program.

Ogletree Deakins offers a robust suite of benefits for our staff including paid time off, paid sick leave, a 401(k) matching program, profit sharing, paid holidays, paid parental leave, affordable health and life insurance including dental & vision coverage, health savings account/flexible spending accounts to help offset the cost of dependent care and/or health care expenses, tuition reimbursement and an employee assistance program.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are fully committed to the importance of diversity within the legal profession, as well as all workplace environments. Equal Opportunity Employer.