Practice Innovation Lawyer – Dispute Resolution

Baker McKenzie; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 365,000 - 435,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) plan

Competitive salary

Job summary

A leading international law firm is seeking a Practice Innovation Lawyer to enhance their Dispute Resolution Practice Group through innovative projects. This role involves leading collaboration with Practice Group leadership and implementing legal technology solutions to improve client outcomes. Candidates must have a legal background, strong project management skills, and an interest in legal innovation. The position offers a competitive salary ranging from $365,000 to $435,000 annually, along with a strong benefits package.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Dispute Resolution, either in private practice or in-house.
• Hands-on experience with designing legal AI workflows.
• Demonstrated interest in legal innovation and technology.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic innovation initiatives for the Dispute Resolution Practice Group.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders to optimize legal workflows.
• Champion adoption of innovation tools within the team.

Skills

Legal innovation

Project management

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Client experience design

Education

Qualified lawyer

Tools

GenAI tools (e.g., Copilot Studio, ChatGPT)

Job description

Overview

Practice Innovation Lawyer – Dispute Resolution. Join to apply for the Practice Innovation Lawyer – Dispute Resolution role at Baker McKenzie. This role can be based in any Baker McKenzie office or Centre. The Practice Innovation Lawyer – Dispute Resolution will be at the forefront of transforming how one of the world's leading law firms delivers value to clients, combining legal expertise with innovation in technology, process and design to advance the Firm’s practices.

The role will join a forward-thinking Practice Innovation team, part of Baker McKenzie’s Reinvent programme, embedded in the Dispute Resolution Practice Group. You will work with global leadership to identify, develop, and implement innovation initiatives that enhance legal service delivery and client experience.

You will lead innovation projects across the Dispute Resolution Practice Group, collaborating with Practice Group leadership, lawyers, clients, and cross-functional teams to design and deliver innovation. You will contribute to the broader goals of Reinvent, sharing insights, driving adoption of new tools, and fostering a culture of continuous innovation.

Responsibilities

Main responsibilities:

• Innovation Leadership: Partner with the Dispute Resolution Practice Group leadership to identify, prioritise and deliver strategic innovation initiatives
• Design solutions combining people, process, data, and technology to create new client value
• Act as the “single front door” for Practice lawyers to access Applied AI, Legal Project Management (LPM), Alternative Legal Services (ALS), Data, Innovation, and other Firm resources
• Be client facing and support Partners in client pitches and conversations
• Report to Practice Group leadership on progress of innovation initiatives
• Champion adoption of AI and legal tech tools through pilots and proofs of concepts
• Build and optimize Practice Group legal workflows for enhanced client service

Change Management & Adoption

• Drive sustainable culture change 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

Function: Our Operations function supports and manages the Firm's day-to-day operations, including office management, facilities, real estate, risk management, and secretarial and administrative services.

Team: The Practice Innovation team is a global, multi-disciplinary group focused on solving problems and improving client outcomes. The team has evolved an approach to innovation tailored to the Firm’s culture and structures for around 10 years.

Skills and experience:

• Qualified lawyer with strong experience in private practice or in-house legal teams in Dispute Resolution
• Demonstrated interest or experience in legal innovation, legal tech, or process improvement
• Working knowledge of leading GenAI tools (e.g., Copilot Studio, ChatGPT Enterprise, Gemini, Claude) 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 ability to influence across teams
• Strong time management, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities
• Self-motivated and outcome focused

Reports to: Chief Innovation Officer

Position type: Specialist

Development framework: Director

About us

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 collaboratively global culture and are committed to world-class career development for everyone in every job at every level.

Additional Information

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. We encourage the best people—regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age—to fulfill their professional aspirations with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates.

US Based Applicants

This position is bonus eligible and includes benefits such as medical, dental, vision, and 401(k), based on the number of hours worked. The U.S. base compensation for this position is expected to be $365,000 to $435,000 (annually). Individual pay is determined by work location and other factors. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.

Canadian Based Applicants

This position is bonus eligible and includes benefits such as medical, dental, vision, and Group RRSP, based on the number of hours worked. The Canadian base compensation for this position is expected to be CAN$205,400 to CAN$ 229,930 (annually) if located in Toronto. Individual pay is determined by work location and other factors. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.

Equal Opportunity and Accommodations

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. If required, accommodations during the application or interview process are welcome. Please contact [e-mail].

Canadian & US Applicants – Accessibility

For applicants based in California and other locations, we comply with applicable laws regarding background checks and recruitment processes. If you require accommodations, please contact us at the above address.