Practice Systems & Applied AI: Legal AI Engineer, Litigation

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP seeks a Legal AI Engineer, Litigation, to lead client-facing AI discussions and translate complex AI concepts into practical guidance for lawyers and clients. The role requires deep knowledge of litigation practice, strong communication skills, and the ability to helm AI strategy within the Litigation Department.

The position reports to the Head of Practice Systems & Applied AI in the Information Services Department and is aimed at an experienced attorney or legal

Qualifications

• J.D. required; minimum of three years working as a practicing attorney, legal innovation professional, knowledge management attorney, practice support attorney, or similar law firm professional.
• Demonstrated knowledge of litigation legal practices, litigation matter workflows, attorney work product, and the delivery of legal services in a litigation practice context.
• Proven ability to independently lead presentations, meetings, trainings, and substantive discussions with clients, lawyers, and senior stakeholders.
• Experience advising lawyers or clients on AI, legal technology, knowledge management, innovation, legal operations, or technology-enabled legal‑service delivery.
• Strong working knowledge of generative AI, large language models, prompt design, AI‑assisted legal workflows, and the opportunities and limitations of AI in legal practice.
• Experience developing legal or business requirements and working with technical teams to design, evaluate, or implement technology solutions.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Head of Practice Systems & Applied AI to execute the Firm's AI strategy and expand the responsible use of AI across litigation practices and client engagements.
• Independently prepare for and lead client-facing presentations, meetings, demonstrations, trainings, and continuing legal education programs on AI concepts, capabilities, risks, and legal use cases.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert for lawyers engaging with clients on AI, helping them clearly explain the Firm's capabilities, approach, governance, and experience.
• Advise litigation clients and matter teams on the practical application of AI within legal departments and matter teams, including use-case development, workflow design, adoption considerations, and responsible-use practices.
• Partner directly with Partners, Counsel, and Associates in the Litigation Department to understand legal workflows, identify high-value AI opportunities, and develop practical approaches for integrating AI into litigation client work.
• Apply knowledge of litigation legal practice to assess how AI may support drafting, review, discovery, research, case management, investigations, enforcement matters, regulatory proceedings, and other litigation processes.
• Serve as a hands‑on resource for lawyers seeking to use AI on specific matters, including guidance on use‑case selection, workflow design, prompt development, quality control, and attorney review.
• Develop litigation practice‑specific AI guidance, demonstrations, use cases, talking points, playbooks, and training materials for lawyers and client teams.
• Support pitches, requests for proposals, client alerts, panel discussions, and other business development efforts by contributing AI‑related content and presenting the Firm's approach to legal AI.
• Educate attorneys on how to speak with clients about AI accurately and credibly, including how to discuss capabilities, limitations, risks, governance, and potential value.
• Translate litigation and client needs into clear business and functional requirements for the Applied AI Engineering & Solutions team and other technical stakeholders.
• Support the evaluation and rollout of new AI tools by assessing their relevance to legal practice, developing adoption strategies, and helping lawyers incorporate approved capabilities into their work.
• Contribute to the Applied AI roadmap by identifying litigation practice and client priorities, evaluating potential impact, and recommending initiatives for research, development, or implementation.
• Prepare communications, briefings, and recommendations for Firm leadership and other stakeholders regarding AI adoption, litigation client and matter activity, practice opportunities, and emerging legal‑industry developments.
• Stay abreast of advances in AI, legal technology, legal‑service delivery, client expectations, professional responsibility, and industry practices to ensure the Firm's guidance remains current and practical.

Skills

Litigation practice knowledge

Client-facing communication

AI / ML concepts

Public speaking

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

J.D.

Tools

Generative AI tools

AI governance

Job description

Practice Systems & Applied AI: Legal AI Engineer, LitigationInformation Services Department

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective, and strong New York roots. Our clients look to us to bring a distinctively high degree of quality, intensity, and creativity to resolve legal challenges effectively and cost-efficiently. We believe in hiring talented and dedicated individuals as members of our administrative and professional community. We draw on the strength of our culture and structure to deliver the best of our firm to our lawyers and clients through true collaboration.

We are seeking a Legal AI Engineer, Litigation on our Practice Systems & Applied AI team to serve under the direction of the Head of Practice Systems & Applied AI in our Information Services Department. This individual will serve as a senior litigation practice and client advisor responsible for helping lawyers and clients understand, evaluate, and apply artificial intelligence to practice groups in the Litigation Department.

The Legal AI Engineer will lead client-facing AI discussions, identify opportunities within disputes, investigations, enforcement matters, regulatory proceedings, and other contentious matters, and translate complex AI concepts into practical guidance for lawyers, clients, and Firm leadership. The role requires the judgment and credibility to engage directly with Partners, Counsel, Associates, and clients on how AI can be used responsibly to improve litigation legal workflows and client service. This position is intended for an experienced attorney or legal innovation professional with strong knowledge of litigation legal practice and exceptional communication and presentation skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Collaborate with the Head of Practice Systems & Applied AI to execute the Firm's AI strategy and expand the responsible use of AI across litigation practices and client engagements.


• Independently prepare for and lead client-facing presentations, meetings, demonstrations, trainings, and continuing legal education programs on AI concepts, capabilities, risks, and legal use cases.


• Serve as a subject-matter expert for lawyers engaging with clients on AI, helping them clearly explain the Firm's capabilities, approach, governance, and experience.


• Advise litigation clients and matter teams on the practical application of AI within legal departments and matter teams, including use-case development, workflow design, adoption considerations, and responsible-use practices.


• Partner directly with Partners, Counsel, and Associates in the Litigation Department to understand legal workflows, identify high-value AI opportunities, and develop practical approaches for integrating AI into litigation client work.


• Apply knowledge of litigation legal practice to assess how AI may support drafting, review, discovery, research, case management, investigations, enforcement matters, regulatory proceedings, and other litigation processes.


• Serve as a hands‑on resource for lawyers seeking to use AI on specific matters, including guidance on use‑case selection, workflow design, prompt development, quality control, and attorney review.


• Develop litigation practice‑specific AI guidance, demonstrations, use cases, talking points, playbooks, and training materials for lawyers and client teams.


• Support pitches, requests for proposals, client alerts, panel discussions, and other business development efforts by contributing AI‑related content and presenting the Firm's approach to legal AI.


• Educate attorneys on how to speak with clients about AI accurately and credibly, including how to discuss capabilities, limitations, risks, governance, and potential value.


• Translate litigation and client needs into clear business and functional requirements for the Applied AI Engineering & Solutions team and other technical stakeholders.


• Support the evaluation and rollout of new AI tools by assessing their relevance to legal practice, developing adoption strategies, and helping lawyers incorporate approved capabilities into their work.


• Contribute to the Applied AI roadmap by identifying litigation practice and client priorities, evaluating potential impact, and recommending initiatives for research, development, or implementation.


• Prepare communications, briefings, and recommendations for Firm leadership and other stakeholders regarding AI adoption, litigation client and matter activity, practice opportunities, and emerging legal‑industry developments.


• Stay abreast of advances in AI, legal technology, legal‑service delivery, client expectations, professional responsibility, and industry practices to ensure the Firm's guidance remains current and practical.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• J.D. required; minimum of three years working as a practicing attorney, legal innovation professional, knowledge management attorney, practice support attorney, or similar law firm professional.


• Demonstrated knowledge of litigation legal practices, litigation matter workflows, attorney work product, and the delivery of legal services in a litigation practice context.


• Proven ability to independently lead presentations, meetings, trainings, and substantive discussions with clients, lawyers, and senior stakeholders.


• Experience advising lawyers or clients on AI, legal technology, knowledge management, innovation, legal operations, or technology-enabled legal‑service delivery.


• Strong working knowledge of generative AI, large language models, prompt design, AI‑assisted legal workflows, and the opportunities and limitations of AI in legal practice.


• Experience developing legal or business requirements and working with technical teams to design, evaluate, or implement technology solutions.


• Experience supporting client development, pitches, requests for proposals, client training, or other business development initiatives preferred.


• Understanding of confidentiality, privilege, data governance, professional responsibility, privacy, and ethical considerations associated with the use of AI in legal services.


• Proven track record of leading complex, cross‑functional initiatives from initial opportunity identification through implementation, adoption, and ongoing support.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Exceptional presentation and public‑speaking skills, with the ability to lead credible and engaging discussions with clients, Partners, Firm leadership, attorneys, and professional staff.


• Deep understanding of litigation legal practice areas and the ability to analyze workflows across different litigation matter types, case workflows, investigations, discovery, research, and other litigation processes.


• Strong understanding of AI concepts and legal use cases, with the ability to explain capabilities, limitations, risks, and technical concepts in clear, practical language.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop executive briefings, client materials, training content, demonstrations, and practice‑specific guidance.


• Strong judgment, professional credibility, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and navigate sensitive client, practice, and organizational considerations.


• Ability to translate litigation and client needs into clear use cases, functional requirements, implementation priorities, and recommendations for technical teams.


• Strong organizational and project‑management skills, including the ability to manage multiple litigation and client, practice, training, and implementation initiatives in a fast‑paced environment.