Manager of Legal AI & Practice Innovation

Hill, Ward & Henderson•Tampa, FL

About The Position

Hill Ward Henderson is seeking a forward-thinking Manager of Legal AI & Practice Innovation to help shape the future of how our firm practices law and serves our clients. This highly visible, hands-on role is an opportunity for an experienced legal technology or AI professional to advance the thoughtful, practical, and responsible use of artificial intelligence across the firm’s legal practices and business operations. Working closely with firm leadership, attorneys, technology professionals, General Counsel, and the AI Committee, this individual will serve as an internal subject matter expert and champion for AI-enabled innovation. The successful candidate will translate AI’s potential into practical solutions that make a meaningful difference in how our attorneys work, how we serve our clients, and how our firm operates. The Manager of Legal AI & Practice Innovation will help develop and execute the firm’s strategy for adopting, governing, implementing, and optimizing generative AI and other emerging technologies. This role goes beyond evaluating tools: it requires identifying high-value use cases, leading pilots and rollouts, building user confidence, and helping attorneys and staff apply approved AI solutions effectively.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in legal studies, information technology, data science, artificial intelligence, business, computer science, knowledge management, or a related field required; Advanced degrees or relevant certifications are a plus.
3–5 years of professional experience in AI, legal technology, innovation, knowledge management, digital transformation, or comparable initiatives; law firm or professional services experience is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience using generative-AI tools and developing, testing, and improving prompts for practical work, with appropriate quality-control and review steps.
Familiarity with AI platforms such as CoCounsel, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, Harvey, Legora, Claude for Legal or comparable tools is preferred. Knowledge of legal ethics, data privacy, AI governance, and information-security practices is highly valued.
Experience with training, stakeholder engagement, technology adoption, change management, and performance measurement.
Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to attorneys, executives, and other non-technical stakeholders.
Sound judgment and a demonstrated commitment to confidentiality, ethical conduct, data protection, quality control, and client service.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degrees or relevant certifications are a plus.
Law firm or professional services experience is strongly preferred.
Familiarity with AI platforms such as CoCounsel, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, Harvey, Legora, Claude for Legal or comparable tools is preferred.
Knowledge of legal ethics, data privacy, AI governance, and information-security practices is highly valued.

Responsibilities

Help lead the firm’s strategic roadmap for AI adoption, integration, governance, and optimization across legal and business operations.
Serve as a firmwide resource on approved AI platforms, generative-AI use cases, legal technology trends, and practical workflow innovation.
Evaluate new AI tools and vendors and lead pilot programs, implementation, adoption, and ongoing optimization.
Partner with firm leadership, IT, General Counsel, the AI Committee, practice groups, and administrative teams to ensure AI solutions are secure, scalable, ethical, and aligned with business needs.
Promote secure AI deployment and appropriate data-handling practices, including safeguards for confidential, privileged, highly sensitive, and client information; help identify and address unapproved AI use and guide users toward secure, firm-approved solutions.
Develop and deliver engaging, practical training for attorneys and staff, including user guides, prompt libraries, onboarding materials, and best-practice resources.
Build enthusiasm and adoption by helping lawyers and staff identify practical ways AI can improve productivity, workflows, and client service.
Independently develop, test, refine, and explain effective prompts for legal and business tasks. Create and improve prompt templates, playbooks, user guides, and curated prompt libraries as appropriate.
Establish measures for adoption, user feedback, effectiveness, and ROI; report meaningful insights, opportunities, and recommendations to firm leadership.
Monitor legal-AI developments and help ensure the firm remains innovative, competitive, and appropriately risk-aware as the technology evolves.