Senior AI Risk Advisor

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation•Palo Alto, CA

3d•Remote

About The Position

Wilson Sonsini is seeking a Senior AI Risk Advisor to join the Risk Operations team. This role is situated at the intersection of AI technology and enterprise risk, offering a unique opportunity to shape the responsible adoption of AI within a leading law firm. The ideal candidate will be deeply knowledgeable about AI systems and passionate about developing governance programs that balance rigor with innovation. The Senior AI Risk Advisor will be responsible for the firm's end-to-end AI risk function, including evaluating AI tools and vendors, creating governance frameworks for firm-wide AI adoption, and advising attorneys, technologists, and leadership on the evolving AI landscape. This position can be performed remotely.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
One year of experience in AI risk, AI governance, information security, or technology risk.
Hands-on experience working with or evaluating AI/ML systems, LLMs, or AI-enabled products is highly valued.
Strong working knowledge of AI and machine learning concepts, including how large language models work, how generative AI systems are built and fine-tuned, common failure modes, and how AI-enabled products are deployed in enterprise environments.
Solid grasp of AI risk and governance frameworks (NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC 42001, EU AI Act) and the ability to apply them practically.
Solid understanding of data privacy and confidentiality considerations specific to AI systems, including training data risks, inference risks, and applicable regulations such as GDPR and CCPA.
Experience evaluating AI vendors or conducting third-party technical due diligence, with the ability to read model documentation critically and ask substantive questions.
Excellent communication skills — able to explain model risk, brief a committee on AI governance, and write policy.
Excellent computer proficiency (MS Office – Word, Excel and Outlook).
Comfortable working in a fast-moving environment where the AI landscape shifts rapidly, able to make sound risk judgments under ambiguity and bring stakeholders along.
Self-directed and resourceful — able to build a program from the ground up, prioritize intelligently across competing demands, and drive work to completion.

Nice To Haves

Relevant certifications such as AIGP are a plus but not a substitute for real AI expertise.
Experience in a law firm or professional services environment is a plus.
Ability to engage credibly with sophisticated stakeholders and translate complex AI risk concepts into clear, actionable guidance.

Responsibilities

Lead AI risk assessments across the full model lifecycle, evaluating third-party AI vendors, foundation models, and AI-powered platforms for data privacy risks, model behavior, security posture, and regulatory compliance before and after deployment.
Architect and continuously evolve the firm’s AI governance framework, designing policies, standards, and controls that are substantive, practical, and calibrated to actual AI risk.
Evaluate vendor AI documentation, including model cards, system cards, data processing agreements, and security questionnaires, with the technical fluency to identify critical issues and drive vendors toward meaningful remediation.
Track AI regulatory developments across the EU AI Act, emerging U.S. state AI laws, bar association guidance on AI in legal practice, and frameworks like the NIST AI RMF and ISO 42001, translating them into actionable firm guidance.
Serve as the firm’s internal AI risk expert, partnering with Information Security, IT, General Counsel, and practice group leadership to evaluate novel AI use cases with technical depth and business judgment.
Represent the firm’s AI governance posture externally, responding to client inquiries about AI use and positioning the firm as a leader in responsible AI adoption within the legal industry.
Perform related duties as assigned by supervisor.
Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures.