McDermott Will & Emery

Director, Attorney AI Learning & Strategy

McDermott Will & Emery$211K — $301K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree and Juris Doctorate (JD) required
  • 5-7 years of experience practicing law in a law firm or in-house legal environment
  • Hands-on familiarity with AI tools used in legal practice (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT Enterprise)
  • Experience in attorney or legal professional development
  • Proven ability to implement change management strategies
  • Strong knowledge of AI's application in legal workflows
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with senior professionals.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the development and implementation of the attorney AI learning strategy
  • Assess and enhance current attorney AI training efforts
  • Serve as a cross-functional lead on attorney AI learning initiatives
  • Integrate AI learning with the broader attorney lifecycle
  • Continuously evaluate and update AI learning curricula to keep it innovative
  • Recommend and establish a credentialing approach for attorney AI learning
  • Monitor legal AI developments and update learning content accordingly.

Benefits

  • Robust career advancement opportunities
  • Access to a competitive total rewards package
  • Eligibility for performance-based bonuses
  • Comprehensive benefits package including health, retirement, and more
  • Potential for professional development through conferences and training.
Full Job Description
Job Description:

The Director of Attorney AI Learning & Strategy develops, coordinates and oversees the firm's attorney AI learning strategy, including baseline AI training, practice-based AI learning, and advanced workshops and credentialing. This position combines legal practice expertise with the ability to design, operationalize and evaluate attorney training and development initiatives in a rapidly evolving AI environment. The Director of Attorney AI Learning & Strategy reports to the firm's Senior Director of Talent & Development and will work closely with Professional Development, Knowledge Management, Information Technology, practice and affinity group leaders, and other relevant stakeholders to assess attorney learning needs, design AI learning strategy and ensure that programming is aligned with the firm's goals, approved tools, and evolving market and legal trends.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

  • Lead development and implementation of the firm's attorney AI learning strategy


  • Assess current attorney AI training efforts and develop recommendations regarding learning architecture, credentialing, cadence, workshop design, and training modalities


  • Serve as the day-to-day cross-functional lead across Talent & Development, Knowledge Management, IT, practice group leaders, and other stakeholders on attorney AI learning initiatives, including identifying legal workflows, use cases, and case studies that should inform attorney AI learning


  • Partner with Talent leadership to integrate attorney AI learning with the broader attorney lifecycle, including onboarding, skills development, supervision, advancement, and practice-group programming


  • Continuously evaluate and update attorney AI learning strategy, curricula, and content to ensure they remain relevant, practical, and innovative


  • Recommend and operationalize a visible, credible approach to attorney credentialing and recognition in the AI learning space


  • Help shape an approach that protects foundational lawyer skill development while encouraging thoughtful adoption of new tools and workflows


  • Develop a practical framework for tracking participation, completion, credentialing, and other relevant program indicators


  • Prepare updates and recommendations for Talent leadership and other firm leaders regarding program progress, gaps, and next-step priorities


  • Leverage technology platforms and analytics to deliver, track, assess, and adjust the learning strategy over time


  • Monitor developments in legal AI tools, legal technology, and related market trends and translate them into timely updates to attorney learning content and guidance


  • Participate in learning and development, legal innovation, knowledge management, and AI-related organizations and conferences to stay abreast of emerging tools, learning methods, and market trends


Job Specifications:

  • Bachelor's degree


  • Juris Doctorate (JD)


  • Meaningful experience practicing law at a law firm, in-house legal department or comparable legal setting


  • Hands-on familiarity with both general-purpose AI tools and legal AI platforms commonly used in law firm environments, including tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT Enterprise, Claude, Harvey, CoCounsel, Legora and comparable practice-specific or internally developed tools


  • Experience in attorney development, professional development, lawyer training, legal education, knowledge management, practice innovation or a related field


  • Experience with designing large-scale change management strategies


  • Experience evaluating how AI tools are used in legal workflows, including drafting, summarization, research support, document review, issue spotting, chronology building, diligence and other practice-specific applications, and translating that understanding into lawyer-facing training


  • Experience identifying and addressing the learning, supervision, risk and change-management issues that arise when introducing AI into legal practice


  • Familiarity with attorney professional responsibility rules governing AI and emerging jurisdictional guidance


  • Demonstrated ability to translate technical concepts and evolving AI capabilities into practical lawyer-facing learning


  • Experience designing firmwide or practice-specific lawyer-facing curricula, workshops or skills-based programs preferred


  • Experience building or scaling new programs in an ambiguous or evolving environment preferred


  • Familiarity with attorney supervision, professional responsibility and development of junior lawyer skills in a changing practice environment preferred


  • Strong executive presence and interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively with partners, practice leaders and senior business professionals


  • Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and drive complex work forward with limited supervision


  • Ability to work in cross-functional and virtual teams


  • Strong organizational skills; ability to work under tight deadlines and prioritize responsibilities


  • Ability to handle and maintain confidential information


  • Ability to travel for work


  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word)


  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills


Successful candidates will be provided with outstanding career opportunities and will receive a competitive total rewards package with the opportunity to earn performance-based bonuses.
Target Hiring Range $211,000 - $301,000
Please note that quoted salary ranges are not guarantees of what final salary offers may be. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. Base pay is only one part of the Total Rewards that MWE provides to compensate and recognize our staff professionals for their work. Full time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk and hear
  • Employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds


Work Environment:

Typical indoor office environment

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people within this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this job.

About McDermott Will & Emery

McDermott Will & Emery is a premier international law firm with a diversified business practice. Our lawyers represent a wide range of commercial, industrial and financial enterprises, both publically and privately held. McDermott has more than 1,100 lawyers located in 18 offices across the United States, Europe and Asia. Further extending our reach in Asia, we have a strategic alliance with MWE China Law Offices in Shanghai. McDermott partners with clients to accomplish their business objectives by providing superior counsel and service. The expansion of our international platform has supported numerous cross-border transactions and litigation matters, while providing the experience necessary to offer corporate, tax, labor and benefits, competition, intellectual property and regulatory counsel to clients across all industries. In the years to come, we will continue to expand geographically and enhance our existing practices and industry-focused strengths, and are committed to building from these strengths in order to best serve our clients and communities. McDermott has a long history of social responsibility and supporting the communities in which our people live and work. We believe it is our obligation to embrace our communities and promote their well being through pro bono work, community service, charitable giving, environmental stewardship and promoting diversity.

McDermott Will & Emery Careers

Joining McDermott Will & Emery presents an unparalleled opportunity to advance a career at a global leader in legal services. The firm is renowned for fostering professional growth and embracing innovation through a culture that values diversity and leadership.

Explore Job Opportunities

McDermott Will & Emery offers a variety of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and professional interests. The firm seeks passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players ready to contribute to a dynamic team. From seasoned attorneys to support staff, McDermott Will & Emery is continuously hiring to enhance their service capabilities.

Internship Programs

Internships at McDermott Will & Emery provide a robust platform for early-career individuals to gain significant, hands-on experience in a highly professional environment. Interns are immersed in the culture of excellence, working closely with experienced professionals while engaging in real-world legal challenges.

Career Growth and Development

McDermott Will & Emery is committed to the professional development of its team members. The firm offers unmatched training, development programs, and leadership workshops to ensure career trajectories are not only met but exceeded. Employees are encouraged to leverage these opportunities for career advancement and personal growth.

Diversity and Inclusion

The firm holds a strong commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. McDermott Will & Emery believes in empowering all employees through diversity training that enriches the professional environment and fosters a deeper understanding and respect among colleagues.

Benefits and Culture

McDermott Will & Emery prides itself on offering competitive benefits that reflect the firm’s appreciation for its team members. Benefits are designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of all employees and their families. The firm's culture is built on a foundation of respect, integrity, and collaboration, making it a prime environment for professional fulfillment.

Networking and Innovation

Networking within McDermott Will & Emery is supported through various events, seminars, and collaborative projects that encourage connections and foster innovative thinking. Employees are encouraged to build networks that can support personal and professional growth.

Applying for a Position

To apply for a position at McDermott Will & Emery, candidates are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter through the firm’s Careers page. The hiring process may include multiple stages of interviews to ensure a mutual fit both for the candidate and the company.

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