Legal Technology and Innovation Manager

We are seeking two Legal Technology and Innovation Managers to join our Lawtech team.

About Macfarlanes

We are an independent London-based law firm with a high profile client base from around the world. We are known for the quality of our work, both in terms of our ability to handle the full range of corporate and commercial matters, and the fact that we can advise our clients on their private affairs. We handle work of the highest quality and complexity on a wide range of matters.

Our size and partner-led approach enable us to give our clients a more personal service underpinned by the highest standards of commitment and care.

As well as that, our independence allows us to choose precisely the right lawyer or firm for our clients' needs in any jurisdiction in the world.

Lawtech at Macfarlanes

Emerging legal technologies, new tools and alternative approaches are driving significant change within the legal profession. They are changing the way we do our work, how we deliver services to our clients and the range of services we offer to our clients. They offer us ways to do what we do more effectively and to enhance client service, as well as the opportunity to offer exciting new services to our clients which are enabled by those technologies, tools and alternative approaches.

Our Lawtech team is at the forefront of how we, as a firm, respond to this evolution and how we embrace those technologies, tools and alternative approaches for the maximum benefit of our clients and teams alike. We recognise that fusing legal and technological expertise seamlessly can help our clients solve their most challenging business problems in more innovative, more sophisticated and more technologically-advanced ways. By bringing together people, process, technology, and data, we help ensure the firm is able to achieve excellence in all aspects of legal practice and client service.

Legal Technology and Innovation Manager

We are committed to recruiting and developing the best people to ensure we deliver a paramount service to our clients. We recognise that the success of a modern law firm depends on a range of business professionals contributing critical and complimentary expertise.

As a Legal Technology and Innovation Manager, you will be a senior member of the team with responsibility for the implementation, adoption, and management of artificial intelligence, collaborative technologies, document automation, process automation & robotics, expert systems, knowledge management systems, data visualisation, project management tools and a host of other legal technologies in a variety of internal and client-facing contexts. A significant focus for the role will be to take a lead role in engaging with our practice areas, working closely with other key stakeholders such as the Knowledge Lawyers and IT team to develop, prototype and roll out solutions that enhance legal services delivery. You will also engage with vendors to explore new tools and technologies and consider their potential use by the firm and our clients, and provide advice and support to our teams and our clients on our lawtech solutions.

You’ll also develop a strong understanding of our practice areas, our business services teams and our clients by working closely with colleagues right across the firm who are leaders in their field. Your responsibilities will include:

• collaborating with practices, clients, and business services teams to identify and implement processes and lawtech solutions that can enhance service delivery, efficiency, and client experience;
• working with lawtech leadership to design, develop and implement an effective process for engaging with our practices to drive adoption and engagement;
• developing, prototyping and rolling out lawtech solutions for our practices and clients;
• managing and delivering internal lawtech projects;
• implementing, promoting and managing lawtech systems and tools, delivering training and demonstrations;
• building strong relationships with colleagues across other practice areas, our business services teams and our clients;
• assisting with pitches to clients and engaging directly with our clients to provide technology-based legal services;
• horizon scanning, maintaining a comprehensive knowledge of the lawtech market and available technologies, demonstrating insight and thought leadership;
• working collaboratively with the other managers in the Lawtech team;
• managing, supervising and training junior colleagues;
• supporting the expansion and development of the Lawtech team;
• helping to shape and implement the lawtech team’s objectives and strategic goals; and
• helping to shape and implement business development objectives for the Lawtech team, supporting continuing development of our external and internal brand.

What we’re looking for:

The ideal candidate will fulfil the following criteria:

• a strong academic record, with a minimum 2:1 degree (or equivalent higher education) in any subject;
• a qualified lawyer with relevant PQE experience or an individual with a minimum of 5 years’ experience of engagement with lawyers, partners and senior management to drive the delivery and institutional adoption of lawtech;
• the ability to effectively communicate ideas and solutions and to build relationships and manage expectations across all experience levels and technical abilities;
• experience of system administration, project delivery and development using key legal technologies, including artificial intelligence and generative artificial intelligence (e.g. Harvey, Legora, Microsoft Copilot, Kira), collaborative technologies (e.g. HighQ Collaborate, SharePoint), document automation (e.g. Contract Express, HighQ), process automation & robotics (e.g. Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism), data capture and visualisation (e.g. PowerBI), expert systems (e.g. Power Automate, Bryter, Neota Logic) – please specify systems and level of proficiency in application;
• working knowledge of project and process management principles (e.g. Agile, Lean, Six Sigma) and when to invoke the appropriate methodology;
• knowledge of the lifecycle of a typical legal matter;
• experience of engagement with clients to deliver lawtech solutions;
• confidence in leading internal and client meetings and winning new work for the team;
• a genuine interest in lawtech and cutting-edge technology, evidenced by engagement with the wider industry;
• a broad understanding and competency in IT and systems as pertains to large law firms;
• experience of management and supervision of junior colleagues;
• an organised, meticulous and methodical approach to work and a keen eye for detail;
• a passion for a challenge with the ability to thrive on problem solving and analysis; and
• positive and pro-active, with a “can do” attitude.

Application screening

Any offer of employment with us is subject to our pre-employment checks which are conducted by a third-party screening provider. These may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, any criminal records and employment references. These checks will be initiated with your consent and your offer will be subject to the successful completion of these checks.

Our commitment to inclusion

Inclusion is one of our key priorities and it is a goal we are actively working towards. We believe that an inclusive, forward-thinking culture is intrinsically important and enables us to provide innovative solutions to our clients.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and experiences, making Macfarlanes an exciting and stimulating place to work. We seek to recruit the best candidates, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic.

As part of this commitment, we will ask you certain diversity data questions. We would really appreciate you and/or your recruiter completing these questions when submitting an application to Macfarlanes as this data enables us to measure our progress and identify any actions needed to continue to support an inclusive culture. This data is anonymised to maintain the privacy of applicants. If you have any questions relating to how this data is used, please contact a member of the recruitment team.

Should you require any adjustments during the application and/or interview process, please do not hesitate to inform your recruiter or a member of the recruitment team. Please note, the job description is available in other accessible formats (for example, large print)

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme, please email the recruitment team at recruitment@macfarlanes.com.