Baker McKenzie

The Innovation Specialist will support the Practice Innovation team in developing solutions that address client challenges and strategic goals. By bringing together people, processes, data, and technology, we accelerate change and improve outcomes, speed, accuracy, and flexibility.

The role‑holder will assist with the ideation, design, and delivery of strategic priority projects led by the globally diverse Practice Innovation team, a group of strategic and empathetic thinkers committed to enhancing the client experience through creative problem‑solving. The individual will help foster a culture of innovation by equipping employees with methodologies, tools, and the confidence to adopt a client‑centric approach.

Main responsibilities: 

• Use a variety of process‑improvement and human‑centered design methods to design and implement solutions, including ideation workshops, user interviews, journey mapping, process mapping, and rapid prototyping
• Develop and champion key design deliverables, including user journeys, service blueprints, process flows, wireframes, business model canvases, and best‑practice or implementation playbooks
• Combine qualitative and quantitative data to tell compelling narratives and shape solutions
• Collaborate with team members from diverse legal and business professional backgrounds
• Track and report on project deliverables
• Support framing the story of the design outcome, both verbally and visually, to key stakeholders across the Firm’s senior leadership
• Share key research and lessons learned from projects to enable the Firm to leverage insights more broadly
• Work cross‑functionally to identify where technology can transform how projects are delivered and map new ways of working

Skills and experience: 

• Some experience in innovation within a law firm or consulting environment; experience with design thinking is ideal
• Experience with AI, including personal use, is desirable
• Experience in broad process improvement and project management, or direct legal practice experience combined with an interest in doing things differently
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including strong listening abilities, deep curiosity, and strong writing skills
• Proactive, self-directed, and delivery‑focused
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and novel problems
• Curious, adaptable, and motivated to learn new ways of working
• Flexible mindset and open to trying new approaches to solving problems
• Strong change‑management skills with the ability to support the delivery of change across a wide range of stakeholders, from skeptics to enthusiastic early adopters
• Empathetic and thoughtful when working with a diverse group of stakeholders, with the ability to navigate and manage competing stakeholder interest

Reports to: Associate Director, Practice Innovation

Travel requirements: Limited travel may be required to support project needs

Position type: Specialist

Development framework: Specialist

At Baker McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. With our team of 13,000 people, including over 6,500 locally admitted lawyers, in over 70 offices worldwide, we have a passionately collaborative community of 60 nationalities and are committed to world-class career development to everyone in every job at every level. Baker McKenzie can offer you both the uncompromising commitment to excellence expected of a top firm paired with a passionately global and genuinely collaborative working environment.

Working at Baker McKenzie Belfast Center:

Baker McKenzie is the world’s leading law firm with offices all over the world. Our Belfast Center is home to over 400 colleagues in both legal and professional services.

We offer one of the best workplace benefits packages in the industry, featuring comprehensive private health cover, income protection, life assurance, and a comprehensive employee assistance plan. These and a host of other benefits make us one of the most desirable companies to work for in Belfast.

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people - regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age - to fulfill their professional aspirations with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates.