Digital Innovation and AI Developer

BakerHostetler Career•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

The Digital Innovation and AI Developer designs, develops, manages, and supports technology-enabled solutions that improve legal service delivery and the efficiency of internal Firm operations. As a member of the Digital Innovation and Data Services team, the role works with attorneys, clients, business professionals, Information Services, data teams, vendors, and other stakeholders to translate legal and business needs into digital tools, workflows, dashboards, automation solutions, and AI-enabled applications. The position combines hands-on technical work, project management, communication, and sound judgment related to confidentiality, data protection, responsible AI use, and law firm operations. The role delivers solutions using approved Firm technologies, including Microsoft 365, Power Platform, SharePoint Online, AI-enabled tools, dashboards, and workflow automation. It supports data intake, transformation, reporting, and integrations, and coordinates with technical and governance teams to ensure solutions meet Firm security, privacy, information management, and support requirements. The developer manages projects through intake, prioritization, design, development, testing, launch, adoption, and ongoing improvement, while communicating progress and outcomes to stakeholders. The position also supports user adoption through demonstrations, training, documentation, and feedback, and evaluates emerging technologies, vendors, and use cases. Solutions involving confidential, privileged, personal, or client information must be designed and used consistently with Firm policies, information governance standards, and responsible AI practices. A bachelor’s degree and 5–7 years of experience are required, though an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may substitute for the education requirement. Professional services experience is highly desirable. The role may require overtime and occasionally more than 40 hours per week. The work is performed in an office environment with usually moderate noise; the position involves regular sitting, computer and office-equipment use, and occasional lifting or moving of up to 25 pounds. BakerHostetler describes itself as a leading law firm with more than 1,000 attorneys in 18 offices. It offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits program, with specific information provided during the interview process. The expected annual salary is $140,000–$155,000 in Ohio and Florida, and $155,000–$170,000 in Georgia, Texas, Colorado, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Washington, D.C., and Washington. The offer depends on factors including experience, education, training, and relevant skills.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 5–7 years of experience; an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may substitute for the education requirement.
Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, and related collaboration tools.
Hands-on experience with Microsoft Power Platform, including Power Automate, Power Apps, and Power BI.
Experience developing, configuring, testing, and supporting AI-enabled tools, agents, or workflows using Microsoft Copilot Studio, Azure AI Foundry, or comparable platforms.
Experience developing and maintaining SharePoint Online modern sites, lists, libraries, pages, collaboration resources, and workflow-enabled knowledge management solutions.
Working knowledge of RESTful APIs, Swagger/OpenAPI specifications, data integrations, and related technical documentation.
Ability to document technical solutions, business requirements, process workflows, testing plans, user guides, and support procedures.
Ability to learn, evaluate, and apply new software applications and emerging technologies in a practical business environment.
Ability to communicate technical concepts effectively and interact with attorneys and other key personnel with responsiveness, diplomacy, professionalism, and a focus on managing expectations.
Ability to present information effectively in writing and orally to staff, clients, and top Firm management, and to prepare business correspondence, procedure manuals, reports, speeches, and articles in prescribed styles and formats.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic and general knowledge of accounting principles, auditing, and internal control concepts.
Strong reasoning and problem-solving skills, including defining problems, collecting data, establishing facts, drawing valid conclusions, interpreting varied instructions, and exercising independent judgment.
Ability to think strategically, develop tactics, and execute pragmatically.
Demonstrated ability to multitask, attend to detail, stay organized, prioritize projects, and meet deadlines.
Strong analytical, written, oral communication, planning, and project management skills.
Creativity, flexibility, persistence, motivation, energy, and ability to work with little supervision while collaborating with team members.
Ability to work overtime when needed; work may occasionally exceed 40 hours per week.
Ability to demonstrate integrity in personal and fiduciary matters and exercise discretion with confidential and sensitive information.
Tolerance for uncertainty and ability to prioritize and complete simultaneous projects with minimal supervision.
Project and team management experience, attention to detail, willingness to perform hands-on work as needed, and ability to coordinate department resources.
Thorough understanding of technologies applicable to law firm operations, legal service delivery, workflow automation, data analytics, collaboration, knowledge management, and client service.
Demonstrated ability to use software at a power-user competence level.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with strict deadlines and perform essential duties amid time constraints and interruptions.
Strong client-service approach and team orientation; sound judgment, tact, and flexibility under pressure in a mixed-matrix environment with multiple stakeholders and potentially competing priorities.
Familiarity with legal workflows, law firm operations, practice group needs, client service models, and the business of law.
Ability to use practical judgment when evaluating AI, automation, data, and digital workflow use cases, including knowing when to escalate confidentiality, privacy, security, ethics, or governance considerations.
Ability to perform the essential functions, with reasonable accommodation where applicable, including the stated physical demands of the job.
Ability to operate standard office equipment, including a computer, copy machine, and facsimile machine.

Nice To Haves

Professional services experience is highly desirable.
Experience with Git, Azure DevOps, backlog management, version control, or similar development and delivery tools.
Familiarity with legal technology platforms, document automation, matter management, knowledge management, contract lifecycle management, legal research, or legal operations tools.
Experience with visual collaboration, diagramming, workflow mapping, and design tools such as Lucid, Miro, Visio, or comparable platforms.

Responsibilities

Work with clients, attorneys, practice groups, administrative departments, and Firm leadership to identify needs that technology, automation, data, or process improvement can address.
Lead requirements gathering, workflow mapping, solution design, testing, documentation, launch planning, and post-launch improvement for digital innovation projects.
Design, build, and coordinate digital tools using approved Firm technologies, including Microsoft 365, Power Platform, SharePoint Online, AI-enabled tools, dashboards, and workflow automation.
Develop, test, deploy, and maintain automated workflows using Microsoft Power Automate and related tools.
Build and support business applications using Microsoft Power Apps and other approved low-code or no-code platforms.
Develop dashboards, reports, and data visualizations using Microsoft Power BI and other approved analytics tools.
Develop, configure, evaluate, and support AI agents and AI-enabled workflows using Microsoft Copilot Studio, Azure AI Foundry, and other approved platforms.
Identify automation opportunities while preserving appropriate human review, attorney judgment, and escalation where required.
Support data intake, transformation, reporting, and integration efforts in coordination with Information Services, data teams, vendors, and other technical resources.
Collaborate with Enterprise Business Solutions and Software Development teams on API-enabled integrations and related technical documentation.
Coordinate with Information Services, information security, records, privacy, and other governance stakeholders on solution review, approval, deployment, and support.
Manage multiple digital innovation projects from intake and prioritization through design, development, testing, launch, adoption, and ongoing improvement.
Assist with project prioritization based on business value, effort, risk, stakeholder readiness, resource requirements, and strategic alignment.
Track project status, risks, dependencies, decisions, adoption metrics, and outcomes; communicate updates to stakeholders and leadership.
Use agile, iterative, or other appropriate delivery methods to deliver solutions in a timely manner.
Build working relationships with attorneys, practice group leaders, business professionals, clients where appropriate, and administrative departments to identify needs and support adoption.
Prepare and deliver demonstrations, training materials, user guides, process documentation, and other adoption resources.
Maintain end-user feedback loops to improve solution quality, usability, adoption, and supportability.
Communicate technical concepts in practical, accessible terms for legal and business audiences.
Monitor developments in AI, automation, data analytics, legal technology, and professional services innovation, and assess their relevance to Firm priorities.
Contribute to evaluating tools, platforms, vendors, and use cases, including business case development, pilot design, testing, adoption planning, and risk assessment.
Use sound judgment when handling confidential, privileged, personal, and client information, and ensure solutions comply with Firm policies, information governance standards, and responsible AI practices.
Coordinate department resources and perform other duties as assigned.