Withers is looking for a Legal Tech Delivery Lead to drive its new business strategy focused on using technology to optimise productivity and deliver the best service to clients.
Job Details
Type: Permanent – Full Time
Location: London
Job Role: Project Management Office
Primary Base: London office (travel may be required)
Reporting to: Global Head of Portfolio Management (London); works with Programme Managers, Project Managers, Business Analysts, and PMO Analysts (London and Los Angeles).
The Role
As part of a new Legal Tech team (supplemented by IT, PMO, and external consultancy) you will lead the delivery of technology initiatives, including the embedding of generative AI. The role involves strategic leadership, project delivery, stakeholder engagement, governance, and continuous improvement. You will work cross‑functionally with legal, IT, compliance, and operations teams.
Tasks and Responsibilities
Innovation Leadership
* Schedule, facilitate and manage the Legal Tech and AI & Innovation leadership group meetings; prepare agendas, meeting notes and ensure follow‑up on decisions and actions.
* Provide delivery leadership with the trainer, business analyst and solution architect to drive the innovation and change agenda.
* Assist the group in developing and maintaining the legal innovation roadmap, aligning AI initiatives with firm‑wide or departmental strategic goals.
* Identify emerging technologies (e.g., generative AI, NLP, predictive analytics) with potential to transform legal services.
* Lead ideation and process mapping workshops and innovation sprints with prioritized legal teams to surface pain points and co‑create solutions, either by improving processes or tailoring tools.
Project Delivery
* Manage end‑to‑end delivery of Legal Tech and AI projects – from business case development to post‑implementation review.
* Define project scope, approach, plans, success metrics and resource requirements.
* Coordinate with IT, legal operations, compliance and external vendors for seamless execution.
Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management
* Act as trusted advisor to partners, management committee and legal operations on strategy.
* Work with the AI & Innovation trainer to develop and deliver training, demos and communications to drive adoption and change readiness.
* Manage stakeholder expectations and ensure alignment across technical and non‑technical audiences.
Governance, Risk & Ethics
* Ensure all AI solutions comply with legal, ethical and regulatory standards (e.g., GDPR, client confidentiality).
* Align with Withers governance frameworks and policies for responsible AI use, including bias mitigation and explainability.
* Monitor and report on AI performance, risks and impact across legal functions.
Continuous Improvement & Market Awareness
* Stay up to date with legal tech, AI regulations and Microsoft 365 Copilot capabilities.
* Track vendor landscape, regulatory developments and benchmark internal capabilities against industry standards.
* Foster a culture of experimentation, feedback and iterative improvement.
* Assist the PMO and IT teams with queries and support the Head of Portfolio Management where requested.
Skills, Knowledge, Qualifications and Competencies
Technical & Analytical Skills
* AI & Legal Tech Fluency: Deep understanding of AI technologies (e.g., NLP, machine learning, generative AI) and their application in legal contexts.
* Data Literacy: General understanding of data structure and its role in AI delivery.
* Solution Architecture Awareness: Familiarity with system integration, cloud platforms, APIs and legal tech ecosystems.
Project Management
* Project Delivery Expertise: Qualified and skilled in agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, DSDM) and iterative delivery.
* Risk & Issue Management: Proactive identification and mitigation of delivery risks, especially around data privacy, ethics, and regulatory compliance.
* Budgeting & Resource Planning: Experience managing budgets, vendor contracts and internal resource allocation.
Stakeholder & Change Leadership
* Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Work across legal, IT, compliance and operations teams to align goals and drive execution.
* Change Management: Expertise in driving adoption of new technologies and processes within risk‑averse environments.
* Influencing & Communication: Strong storytelling and presentation skills to explain complex AI concepts to non‑technical stakeholders.
Strategic & Innovation Thinking
* Innovation Strategy Development: Define and evolve a legal innovation roadmap based on business priorities and market trends.
* Design Thinking: User‑centric design approaches to ensure solutions meet legal needs.
* Market & Trend Awareness: Up‑to‑date knowledge of legal tech vendors, regulatory developments and competitive benchmarks.
Governance, Ethics & Compliance
* Responsible AI Practices: Understanding of ethical AI principles, bias mitigation and explainability.
* Regulatory Compliance: Familiarity with GDPR, data protection laws and legal privilege considerations.
* Governance Frameworks: Establish and maintain governance structures for innovation and AI initiatives.
Personal Qualities
* Inspires confidence
* Enthusiastic and friendly
* Able to work under pressure
* Flexible approach to working hours during upgrades and other ad‑hoc duties carried out by IT
* Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills
* Excellent written and oral communication skills
* Excellent interpersonal skills
* Smart and professional manner
* Well‑organised in calendar management and scheduling
* Collaborative mindset with a consultative approach
* Adaptability to work across diverse legal practice and business services areas
* Passion for innovation and continuous learning
The Essentials
* Working hours: 9.30 am – 5.30 pm, Monday–Friday (flexibility required)
* Hybrid working policy: minimum of 2 days per week in the office
* 12‑week probation period
* 12‑week notice period
* Flexible benefit package including pension, private medical insurance, DenPlan, season‑ticket loan, subsidised gym memberships, lifestyle discount scheme, holiday buy/sell, flu jabs, doctors’ consultation service, cycle‑to‑work scheme, on‑site café and more.
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