Innovation Counsel

Axinn Veltrop & Harkrider LLP•Washington, DC

2d•$220,000 - $270,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an entrepreneurial and technology-forward Innovation Counsel to help drive the strategic adoption and implementation of legal technology, artificial intelligence, and generative AI solutions across the firm. This role will work closely with lawyers, firm leadership, IT, practice support, eDiscovery, and operations teams to identify opportunities to improve legal service delivery, streamline internal workflows, and enhance client value through innovation. The ideal candidate combines legal practice experience with a sophisticated understanding of emerging technologies, particularly generative AI tools, workflow automation, and agent-based systems. This individual should be equally comfortable advising lawyers on legal workflows, conducting requirements gathering and design workshopping sessions with stakeholders, and translating complex technology concepts into practical solutions for a litigation-focused law firm. This role requires strong communication and relationship management skills, including the ability to present recommendations, strategy, and technology solutions to senior leadership and key stakeholders across the firm.

Requirements

J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
Prior experience practicing law, preferably in antitrust, intellectual property litigation, commercial litigation, or related complex litigation areas.
Knowledge of legal technology, artificial intelligence, and generative AI platforms.
Demonstrated ability to translate technical concepts into practical legal applications.
Experience conducting requirements gathering, process analysis, and solution design sessions with cross-functional stakeholders.
Strong presentation and communication skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership and influencing decision-making.
Strong collaboration, relationship management, and change management skills.
Demonstrated growth mindset, intellectual curiosity, adaptability, and willingness to continuously learn and experiment with emerging technologies.
Curiosity, creativity, and a hands-on approach to problem-solving and innovation.

Nice To Haves

Experience building and implementing generative AI workflows, agents, and prompting strategies.
Experience working within a law firm innovation, legal operations, knowledge management, or legal technology role.
Experience managing, mentoring, or supervising team members, consultants, or cross-functional project teams.
Familiarity with workflow automation tools, API integrations, low-code/no-code platforms, and AI orchestration frameworks.
Experience evaluating AI governance, ethical considerations, and confidentiality risks in legal environments.
Knowledge of eDiscovery, litigation support, or knowledge management systems.
Experience training attorneys and professional staff on technology adoption.

Responsibilities

Identify, evaluate, and implement innovative legal technologies and AI-driven solutions to improve attorney productivity and client service.
Contribute to and execute the firm’s innovation strategy in collaboration with firm leadership.
Conduct stakeholder interviews, requirements gathering, and workflow analysis to identify opportunities for process improvement and technology adoption.
Facilitate design workshops and collaborative working sessions to develop practical, user-centered solutions.
Monitor developments in legal technology, generative AI, automation, and emerging legal service models.
Advise attorneys and practice groups on practical applications of AI and legal technology within antitrust, intellectual property litigation, and commercial litigation matters.
Design, build, and optimize generative AI workflows for legal and business operations.
Develop AI-enabled solutions using prompting frameworks, agent-based systems, automation tools, and workflow orchestration platforms.
Experiment with and evaluate large language models, AI research tools, drafting platforms, and legal-specific AI products.
Create repeatable prompting methodologies and best practices for attorneys and staff.
Partner with internal stakeholders to pilot and scale AI-driven initiatives.
Serve as a trusted advisor and internal resource for attorneys adopting AI and legal technology tools.
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, continuous learning, and continuous improvement throughout the firm.
Manage the evaluation of legal technology vendors and AI products for functionality, security, and business value.
Manage relationships with technology vendors and external consultants.
Collaborate with IT and security teams to assess implementation risks and compliance considerations.
Improve knowledge-sharing systems and internal legal workflows through automation and AI integration.
Identify opportunities to reduce administrative burden and increase efficiency in litigation and client service processes.
Assist with development of internal AI resources, playbooks, templates, and knowledge repositories.
Track adoption metrics, user feedback, and project outcomes to support continuous improvement.

Benefits

Competitive starting pay and annual discretionary bonus and raise eligibility
Generous paid time off benefits (vacation, personal days, holidays, and sick leave)
Firm paid short and long-term disability, plus life and accident insurance
401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Cash Balance Retirement Plan with generous employer contributions
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance options
Flexible spending and health savings accounts (medical plan dependent)
Firm paid comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Student loan refinancing discounts
Fitness/Gym dues reimbursement program
Hybrid remote work schedules are available