Practice Innovation Lawyer – Employment

Baker McKenzie; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent law firm seeks a Practice Innovation Lawyer in Houston who will lead strategic innovation initiatives using cutting-edge technology. The role involves partnering with the Employment Practice Group to design solutions that enhance client value. Candidates must be qualified lawyers with experience in Employment law and a passion for legal tech innovation. Excellent project management and communication skills are essential. This position offers an opportunity to shape the future of legal practice in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with strong experience in private practice or in‑house legal teams in Employment.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in legal innovation or tech.
• Hands‑on experience designing, testing, or implementing legal AI workflows.
• Hands-on experience designing, testing, or implementing legal AI workflows.
• Proven project management capabilities and ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Experience dealing with clients or senior in-house stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Employment Practice Group for strategic innovation.
• Design solutions combining people, process, data, and technology.
• Champion adoption of AI and legal tech tools for enhanced client service.
• Be client-facing and support Partners on pitches and conversations.
• Report progress of innovation initiatives to Practice Group leadership.
• Champion adoption of AI and legal tech through pilots and PoCs.
• Build and optimise workflows for enhanced client service.
• Drive culture change through targeted training and stakeholder engagement.
• Monitor adoption metrics and iterate based on feedback and outcomes.

Skills

Legal innovation

Project management

Client communication

Cross-functional teamwork

Process improvement

Stakeholder management

Design thinking

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

Qualified lawyer

Experience in Employment law

Tools

Generative AI tools

Job description

This role can be based in any Baker McKenzie office or Centre.

The Practice Innovation Lawyer – Employment 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 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.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Employment 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
• 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

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.

Skills and experience

• Qualified lawyer with strong experience in private practice or in‑house legal teams in Employment
• 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

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 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.

Additional Information

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 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.

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 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. Should candidates require any reasonable adjustments and/or accommodations when applying to or interviewing with our Firm, please notify [e-mail].

For applicants based in California, we will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories (arrest and conviction records), in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

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. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

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 are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We encourage applications from individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. If you require accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail] and we will work with you toward reasonably accommodating your needs.