Practice Innovation Manager

McDermott Will & Schulte; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 167,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Competitive total rewards package

Job summary

McDermott Will & Schulte in Chicago is seeking a Practice Innovation Manager to bridge the firm’s practice groups and technology. You will support the product owner for an assigned portfolio of legal tech, manage its lifecycle, and translate emerging trends into practical, scalable solutions that improve efficiency for attorneys and clients.

Collaborating with practice group leaders, the Knowledge & Innovation team, and vendors, you will deliver tools that meet needs, guide onboarding, drive

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years in technology, product management, knowledge management, or legal operations.
• Experience in a law firm or professional services is preferred.
• PMP certification is a plus.
• Knowledge of LegalTech product categories and emerging AI tools.

Responsibilities

• Support the product owner for an assigned portfolio of legal technology solutions through lifecycle stages.
• Collaborate with practicing attorneys and Knowledge & Innovation teams to identify needs and implement solutions.
• Support pilots, collect feedback, and monitor timelines for prospective tools.
• Guide new solutions through onboarding and approval processes for compliant implementation.
• Drive adoption with training and awareness campaigns and track usage metrics.
• Coordinate with IT, Information Security, and other departments to align rollouts with firm policies.

Skills

Product lifecycle management

Stakeholder collaboration

Project management

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Visio

LegalTech platforms

Job description

Build your big career with the firm that does Big Law, Better. McDermott Will & Schulte is a leading global law firm that brings together more than 1,700+ lawyers and 1,400 business professionals. We celebrate excellence, collaboration, and community and have been recognized as a top workplace by USA Today, Fortune, The American Lawyer, Vault and others. We are also certified by Great Place to Work.

At McDermott, we don’t just invest in your future, we accelerate your career – wherever it may lead. That includes supporting you both in and outside of the office.

With Us, You'll Find

• A firm where everyone belongs: Our award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity — we encourage you to be yourself!
• Enthusiasm for all perspectives: We’re smarter and stronger when everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. We welcome unique viewpoints and ideas, and we make opportunities for you and your career to thrive.
• Support to feel your best and do your best: Wellness is integral to building a successful career and a rich life. That’s why our benefits program supports your physical, emotional, mental, and financial health, with an emphasis on work-life balance.
• Real rewards for real work: We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence.

Job Description

The Practice Innovation Manager supports the connection between the firm's practice groups and the technology built or licensed to serve them. This role supports the product owner for an assigned portfolio of legal technology and helps manage the lifecycle of those products. The Practice Innovation Manager works closely with other members of the Innovation Department, practicing attorneys, and vendors to help deliver practice solutions that meet each practice group’s needs. Working closely with practice group leadership, practicing attorneys and the Knowledge & Innovation attorney team, the Practice Innovation Manager helps translate emerging technology trends into practical, scalable solutions that improve efficiency and support service delivery for attorneys and clients.

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

• Support the product owner for an assigned portfolio of legal technology solutions, assisting with each tool through its lifecycle including requirements definition, piloting, development/customization, onboarding, launch/implementation, adoption, ongoing enhancements, and usage tracking
• Work with practicing attorneys and the Knowledge & Innovation attorney team to help identify practice-level needs and support the evaluation and implementation of solutions to address them
• Support pilot programs and proof-of-concept initiatives for prospective solutions, including tracking specifications, evaluating software, gathering attorney feedback, and monitoring project timelines.
• Help guide new solutions through the firm's internal onboarding and approval processes to support successful, compliant implementation
• Support adoption strategies: helping to raise awareness, deliver training, and encourage usage of solutions among practicing attorneys and practice groups
• Track usage and adoption metrics for assigned tools, helping identify trends and opportunities to improve engagement and effectiveness
• Serve as a point of contact for vendors, supporting relationship management, tracking product roadmaps, and helping translate upcoming enhancements and new features into practice impact
• Coordinate with IT, Information Security, Information Governance, OGC, Talent, and Marketing & Business Development to help align solution rollouts with firm-wide policies, systems, and initiatives
• Monitor advancements in technology-related working groups and committees and other emerging technologies, helping evaluate new offerings and providing input to practice group leadership
• Help maintain product charters, roadmaps, governance policies, and usage guidelines to support clear product direction and transparency with stakeholders

Job Specifications

• Bachelor's degree
• At least five (5) years of related experience in technology, product management, knowledge management, or legal operations, preferably within a law firm environment
• Experience in the legal industry or professional services environment preferred
• PMP certification is a plus
• Demonstrated experience supporting a product lifecycle, including requirements documentation, user testing, training, and licensure management
• Knowledge of LegalTech product categories and emerging AI tools
• Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues across teams
• Good business judgment when making decisions and understanding how those decisions affect the team's day-to-day goals
• Strong project and timeline management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly at the appropriate level to varied audiences
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word) and Visio
• Ability to work under tight deadlines, prioritize responsibilities, and handle confidential information
• Ability to work independently and under own direction and initiative

Successful candidates will be provided with outstanding career opportunities and will receive a competitive total rewards package with the opportunity to earn performance-based bonuses.

Target Hiring Range $167,000 - $235,000

Please note that quoted salary ranges are not guarantees of what final salary offers may be. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. Base pay is only one part of the Total Rewards that MWE provides to compensate and recognize our staff professionals for their work.

Full time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

Physical Demands And Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk and hear
• Employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds

Work Environment

Typical indoor office environment

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people within this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this job.