Innovation & Emerging Technology Strategist

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About Us

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has forged a reputation as one of the most prestigious law firms in the world. Relying on innovation, intellect, teamwork and tenacity, our lawyers deliver the highest quality advice and novel solutions to our clients’ legal issues. We are known for handling the most complex transactions, litigation/controversy issues, and regulatory matters, as well as for the strong partnerships we build with clients and each other. Our attorneys, who reflect a broad range of experiences and perspectives, work together seamlessly across 50-plus practices and 21 offices in the world’s major financial centers.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an Innovation & Emerging Technology Strategist to join our Firm. This position will be based in our New York office (hybrid). The Innovation & Emerging Technology Strategist will support the Firm's legal innovation initiatives by helping to identify, evaluate, and deploy available and emerging technology solutions, including generative AI, that enhance the attorney practice experience and deliver value to clients. You will bridges the gap between emerging technologies and real-world legal workflows, contributing to the Firm's position at the forefront of legal service delivery.

Monitoring for Intelligence:

• Engages with attorneys across all practice groups and seniority levels to deeply understand current workflows, surface pain points, and uncover opportunities for technology-driven transformation.

• Evaluates the feasibility, strategic impact, and ROI of potential innovations, including AI-powered tools and workflow optimization platforms.

• Synthesizes and communicates findings to stakeholders, prioritizes initiatives strategically, and defines actionable solutions.

Proof of Concept Management:

• Supports the design and execution of pilots and product evaluations, including helping to define objectives, scope, timelines, budgets, success metrics, and risk mitigation strategies.

• Manages stakeholder engagement and provides hands-on support to pilot groups, incorporating continuous feedback to iterate and improve.

• Develops and maintains comprehensive project plans, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to meet milestones.

• Assists in building business cases to justify technology investments and articulating value propositions to leadership.

• Partners with internal stakeholders—including Information Security, IT, Knowledge Management, Legal Technology, Business Applications, Technology, Learning & Development, Marketing, OGC, Operations, and Knowledge Systems teams to ensure alignment with policies, security requirements, strategic priorities, and operational feasibility.

• Proactively identifies and escalates risks and issues to maintain project momentum.

Product Implementation & Adoption:

• Supports the implementation, deployment, and adoption of legal technology solutions, collaborating with other internal teams to ensure seamless integration into existing workflows.

• Anticipates and addresses adoption challenges, designing intuitive user experiences and clear documentation.

• Contributes to go-to-market strategies for internal product launches, helping to cultivate champions and establish feedback loops to capture both quantitative and qualitative insights.

• Partners with practice groups and professional development teams to drive adoption through targeted communication, training programs, and ongoing support.

• Monitors usage analytics and user sentiment to continuously optimize tools and maximize engagement.

Relationship Management:

• Builds and maintains strategic relationships with legal technology vendors, startups, and innovation partners to stay ahead of market developments.

• Cultivates trusted partnerships with attorneys and business services professionals across the Firm to ensure technology initiatives are aligned with user needs.

Culture of Innovation:

• Promotes a culture of innovation and continuous learning by amplifying attorney voices, sharing insights, and encouraging experimentation.

• Stays current on emerging technologies—including large language models, machine learning, and legal-specific AI applications—and translates trends into actionable recommendations for the Firm.

• Proactively identifies unmet needs and proposes creative, forward-thinking solutions that benefit attorneys at all levels.

• Builds a broad internal network to ensure timely, diverse, and representative feedback on innovation initiatives.

Strategic Planning:

• Contributes to the development and evolution of the Firm's technology innovation strategy, roadmap, and portfolio

• Supports special projects as assigned, adapting to shifting priorities based on the Firm's evolving needs

• Demonstrates effective interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to build productive working relationships across all levels.

• Manages Firm resources responsibly and in alignment with operational policies and procedures

• Performs other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Proficiency with core business applications (e.g., Microsoft 365 suite) and the ability to quickly master new software, platforms, and operating systems

• Strong understanding of the legal technology landscape, including familiarity with AI/ML tools, document automation, contract lifecycle management, and legal analytics platforms

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical audiences

• Exceptional attention to detail paired with strong analytical, troubleshooting, organizational, and planning capabilities

• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment

• Sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive or confidential matters

• Self-directed and highly collaborative, comfortable working independently and as part of cross-functional teams

• Flexibility to adjust hours as needed to meet business demands

• Familiarity with strategic enterprise sales, change management methodologies, and stakeholder engagement best practices

• Experience with AI-powered legal tools or innovation programs strongly preferred

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required.

• Minimum of five years of experience at a law firm, legal technology company, or in-house legal department, with a background as an attorney, paralegal, or legal technologist.

• Demonstrated experience with legal practice process improvement and technology-driven transformation.

Culture & Life at Skadden
What makes Skadden special is our people and the culture, community and spirit of collaboration we have created. We believe in teamwork and inspiring each other to be our best in an atmosphere that promotes professionalism and excellence in all that we do. We know that inclusion and drawing on the strength of a wide spectrum of talent only make us better and is vital to the firm's success. Our goal is for everyone at the firm to enjoy a challenging career with opportunities for development and growth and to support the well-being of our attorneys and business services professionals.

Benefits

The overall well-being of our team is important to us. We offer generous benefits to help you achieve wellness in all areas of your life.

• Competitive salaries and year-end discretionary bonuses.

• Comprehensive health care (medical, dental, vision), savings plan/401(k) and voluntary benefits.

• Generous paid time off.

• Paid leave options, including parental.

• In-classroom, remote, and on-demand learning and professional development opportunities.

• Robust well-being classes and programs.

• Opportunities to give back and make an impact in local communities.

For further details, please visit: https://www.skadden.com/careers/staff/employee-benefits

The starting base salary for this position is expected to be within the range listed under Salary Details.  Actual salary will be determined based on skills, experience (to the extent relevant) and other-job related factors, consistent with applicable law.

Salary Details

EEO Statement

Skadden is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  It does not discriminate against applicants or employees based on any legally impermissible factor including, but not limited to, race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, alienage or citizenship status, marital or familial status, domestic partnership status, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, change of sex or transgender status, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual and reproductive health decisions, disability, any protected military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic or dating violence, sexual assault or offense, or stalking.

Applicants who require an accommodation during the application process should contact Alex Taylor at (212) 735-2176.

Skadden Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Skadden Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Applicants Have Rights Under Federal Employment Law

Applicants Have Rights Under Federal Employment Law

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