The Practice Department Research Liaison is responsible for taking full ownership of delivering expert-level research services and strategic guidance to attorneys and staff in assigned practice groups.The Practice Department Research Liaison connects practice groups with resources that drive innovative solutions and achieve desired business outcomes. The Practice Department Research Liaison partners with teams throughout Knowledge Management & Innovation (KM&I) to drive knowledge management initiatives, champion adoption of emerging technologies, and lead strategic innovation efforts across assigned practice groups, primarily Intellectual Property, Health Care + Life Sciences, Real Estate, and Privacy + Cyber.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Own and lead designated content areas as the primary Subject Matter Expert for Intellectual Property, Health Care + Life Sciences, Real Estate, and Privacy + Cyber, delivering in-depth knowledge and strategic guidance to the practice groups.
- Lead collaboration with practice management, practice group leadership, KM&I, and other administrative departments to assess, understand, and address research and information needs.
- Serve as the primary liaison between assigned practice groups and KM&I, championing opportunities to pilot new technologies, tools, and workflows that enhance legal service delivery, including product evaluations, feedback collection, and driving adoption of new firm technologies.
- Lead consultations with attorneys and staff in assigned practice groups to understand their resource needs and support attorney engagement; drive increased effectiveness through actionable recommendations, including research, knowledge management, and technology-enabled solutions.
- Collaborate with the Knowledge Management & AI Partner (KMAIP) assigned to each practice group in coordinating practice group engagement, identifying use cases, and facilitating the adoption of AI tools and knowledge solutions, with a particular focus on developing innovative and/or recurring workflow solutions that can be standardized and systematized through application of content area expertise and partnership with the KM&I teams.
- Design and deliver tailored, comprehensive training curricula and materials to assigned practice groups, ensuring attorneys and staff achieve awareness and proficiency in using appropriate resources; proactively analyze research requests received from assigned practice groups to identify training, outreach, and innovation opportunities.
- Own and execute a consistent onboarding process for new attorney hires, ensuring they are fully integrated and informed about relevant resources and procedures.
- Own the development and maintenance of practice-specific knowledge portals, intranet pages, and resource collections tailored to the needs of assigned practice groups; analyze resource usage data and deliver strategic insights and recommendations based on findings.
- Support the rollout and adoption of generative AI tools and other emerging technologies across assigned practice groups, including use case development, training, and ongoing support.
- Own the evaluation of resources and make recommendations regarding their acquisition, renewal, or cancellation; lead trials of new research resources, evaluating their potential value and applicability to assigned practice groups; drive successful implementation of any new or enhanced research resources.
- Stay current on technological enhancements advancing sophisticated research services in assigned content areas, and proactively communicate relevant updates to practice groups, firm administrative departments, and the KM&I team.
- Lead efforts with Knowledge Management Attorneys to identify, capture, and curate practice-specific work products, templates, and precedent materials for inclusion in the firm27s knowledge management systems.
- Drive engagement with practice group attorneys to surface reusable content and champion awareness of knowledge repositories, model documents, and best practice resources.
- Lead knowledge-sharing initiatives, including the coordination of practice group knowledge roundtables, content reviews, and knowledge audit activities.
- Provide regular reporting to the Practice Department Research Liaison Manager on knowledge management and innovation activities, adoption metrics, and emerging opportunities.
- Work closely with the Knowledge Management & Innovation Program Director on projects as they relate to the assigned practice groups served and Knowledge Management & Innovation projects throughout the firm where the Liaison can support or lead project; share updates and developments with the broader KM&I team as needed to support alignment and coordination.
- Provide backup support to the research team during high-demand periods or staff absences.
- Maintain strict confidentiality of firm, attorney, and client information.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Proficiency in intellectual property research, including patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret databases, resources, and methodologies, with the ability to support attorneys, patent agents, and technical specialists across all stages of IP matters.
- Deep knowledge of practice-specific content materials and legal bibliography.
- Substantive understanding of the law and demonstrated subject matter expertise within assigned practice groups.
- Solid grasp of workflows across Practice Departments, with the ability to translate practice group needs into actionable requirements for knowledge and innovation projects.
- Knowledge of generative AI solutions -- both general and legal research-focused -- and active willingness to develop GenAI use cases for assigned practice groups.
- Strong understanding of legal technology trends, including document automation, contract analytics, and matter management systems, paired with a demonstrated interest in emerging technologies and a readiness to serve as an early adopter and advocate.
- Advanced communication and presentation skills, with proven ability to organize complex content, leverage technology effectively, and respond to questions in real time.
- Ability to collaborate across all departments and practice areas to identify and recommend custom solutions that add value to attorneys, clients, and end users.
- Exceptional problem-solving, organizational, and analytical skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet demanding deadlines.
- Equally effective working independently and as part of a collaborative team, with strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive work environment.
- Proven ability to serve as an ambassador for the Knowledge Management and Innovation department when engaging with attorneys, practice groups, and firm administrative departments.
- Demonstrated commitment to professional development through continuing education, conference and webinar participation, and active involvement in local and national industry associations.
Required Education:
Preferred Education:
Certification(s):
Required Qualifications:
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a law firm environment.
- Minimum of five (5) years of legal research experience.
- Advanced experience with Derwent Patent Search, PatentAdvisor, Corsearch, Westlaw, Lexis, Bloomberg Law, VitalLaw, Lex Machina, CourtLink, Docket Alarm, Courthouse News, Manzama, and practice specific research and practice applications.
- Experience with generative AI solutions, both general and legal research related.
- Experience supporting technology adoption initiatives or change management efforts within a professional services environment.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, iManage and other firm applications.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior experience with legal technology tools or innovation initiatives within a law firm or professional services environment beneficial.
#LI-Hybrid
This position description is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of the job. The statements contained in the position description are not necessarily all-inclusive and additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned as determined by business needs.
This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.
