Practice Innovation Lawyer - Litigation and Dispute Resolution

POSITION SUMMARY

Dentons Canada is seeking an Practice Innovation Lawyer to support its national Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group.

Working closely with national practice group leadership, lawyers, and paraprofessionals within the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group, the successful candidate will drive initiatives related to increased adoption of AI tools, the development of high-value litigation workflows, implementation of the firm’s AI strategy across the practice group, knowledge management and optimization of legal processes. This individual will act as a strategic advisor, helping identify and deploy AI-enhanced and technology-enabled innovative practice solutions that improve litigation outcomes, enhance operational efficiency, and deliver exceptional client service.

The ideal candidate combines litigation experience with a strong interest in artificial intelligence, legal technology, and practice innovation and is comfortable leading transformative change in a fast-paced professional services environment.

This role is for a current vacancy.

RESPONSIBILITIES

AI Strategy and Practice Innovation

• Develop and lead the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group's AI and innovation strategy in collaboration with national practice group leadership, establishing priorities, multi-year roadmaps, governance frameworks, investment recommendations, and success measures aligned with Firm objectives.
• Strategic development of firm-wide policies, standards, governance frameworks, and operating models relating to artificial intelligence adoption and implementation, legal technology, legal operations, and innovation.

• Build strong relationships across the firm to drive collaboration and adoption of AI tools, technology-enabled solutions, and innovative processes.

AI-Enhanced Litigation Workflows

• Design, develop, and execute the national strategy for AI and technology-enhanced litigation services, aligning innovation with Firm priorities, client needs, risk requirements and market opportunities, prioritizing initiatives based on business value, client impact and strategic objectives.
• Lead the transformation of litigation delivery models through the design and implementation of scalable AI-enhanced workflows across the litigation lifecycle, including case assessment, legal research, document review and trial preparation.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to practice leadership and partners on innovation strategy, technology investments, service delivery modernization and emerging market opportunities to optimize eDiscovery, document review, information management, and AI-driven litigation workflows.

• Lead the evaluation, implementation, and adoption of AI-powered and technology-enabled solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, consistency, risk management, and client service.

• Develop practical guidance, best practices, and training materials relating to AI tools, eDiscovery, document review technologies, and other litigation technology solutions.
• Monitor developments in artificial intelligence, legal technology, eDiscovery, and legal innovation and provide recommendations on emerging tools, trends, and best practices.
• Champion cultural and behavioral change by building engagement, fostering innovation, promoting awareness, engagement, and adoption of AI tools and emerging technologies across the practice group.

Tech-Enabled Client Solutions

• Identify and lead the development and implementation of technology-enabled client solutions that leverage AI and other emerging technologies to deliver greater value, efficiency, and strategic insight to clients.
• Partner with lawyers and business services professionals to identify opportunities to enhance legal service delivery through AI, automation and emerging technologies.
• Oversee the design and deployment of client-facing tools, dashboards, and reporting solutions that enhance the client experience.
• Collaborate with practice group leadership to identify new client solutions, revenue opportunities, and market differentiators arising from AI and legal technology.
• Represent the firm externally through client-facing thought leadership, legal updates, and other practice development initiatives relating to AI and legal innovation.

Knowledge Management and Thought Leadership

• Develop and lead the national knowledge strategy for the litigation practice, ensuring alignment with business objectives, practice priorities and client needs.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance precedents, templates, practice resources, checklists, and guidance materials.
• Advance lawyer professional development by establishing training programs and knowledge-sharing initiatives focused on innovation and technology-enabled service delivery.
• Shape the firm’s external voice on litigation innovation through client-facing thought leadership, publications, speaking engagements, and other practice development initiatives.

Practice Optimization and Legal Operations

• Lead practical transformation initiatives focused on scalability, efficiency, operational excellence, profitability and client value by improving, standardizing, automating, and streamlining litigation processes and workflows using AI and other legal technologies.
• Develop business cases and strategic recommendations regarding legal technology investments, vendor partnerships and innovation initiatives.
• Collaborate with lawyers and business services professionals to implement process improvements and operational efficiencies.
• Provide strategic leadership on legal operations initiatives, including workflow optimization, resource utilization, data-driven decision-making and service delivery innovation.
• Establish metrics, KPIs and reporting frameworks to evaluate and assess the effectiveness of AI tools, technology solutions, and process improvement initiatives and recommend enhancements where appropriate.

REQUIREMENTS

• LLB or JD from a recognized law school.
• Qualified to practice law in a Canadian jurisdiction and a member in good standing of a Canadian law society.
• Minimum five years of litigation or dispute resolution experience and/or experience with legal innovation, practice transformation, legal technology, AI enablement, knowledge management, legal operations or strategy within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale organizational change, technology adoption, business transformation or other strategic initiatives is an asset.
• Strong understanding of the business of law, legal service delivery models, client expectations and the competitive legal market.
• Strong understanding of litigation processes and the litigation lifecycle.
• Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of artificial intelligence, legal technology, automation, and practice innovation.
• Ability to identify opportunities to improve legal service delivery through AI, technology, process enhancement, and operational excellence.
• Understanding of eDiscovery principles, document review processes, and the management of electronically stored information (ESI).
• Strong project management, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence, build consensus, and drive change across diverse groups of stakeholders, including lawyers, paraprofessionals, and business services teams.
• Technologically proficient with the ability to quickly learn and evaluate new AI tools, platforms, and emerging technologies.
• Experience developing AI-enhanced workflows, technology adoption programs, training materials, or practice innovation initiatives is considered an asset.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Dentons is committed to equitable and competitive compensation. This target range falls within our internal salary ranges, which are based on comparable roles in the external market. We strive to hire, promote, and transfer individuals at the entry point of the range, with consideration given to prior experience, relevant skills, and market conditions.

We recognize that rewarding exceptional talent goes beyond salary. Our comprehensive total rewards package includes inclusive and flexible benefits that support the wellbeing and development of our people. This includes extended health and mental health benefits, paid time off, retirement savings plans, a fitness subsidy, parental leave top-up, and more.

In addition, our learning and development programs - such as mentorship opportunities, employee networks, and leadership development initiatives - are designed to support personal and professional growth.

At Dentons, all candidate screening, assessment, and hiring decisions are made by people. From time to time, we use AI-enabled tools to assist in enhancing our recruitment process and materials; however, these tools do not screen candidates or make hiring decisions.

Note: Availability of benefits and programs may vary depending on your location and employment type and may be subject to eligibility criteria. Dentons reserves the right to modify or discontinue offerings, in whole or in part, at its discretion and without prior notice.

Equal Opportunity Statement

At Dentons Canada, inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) are not just ancillary values, they are foundational to our business. We believe that IDEA is essential to the shared success of our team and our clients. Our forward-thinking and inclusive culture supports the professional development of all our people, enhances the leading services we offer to our clients, and informs our commitment to make a positive impact in the communities where we live and work. As a testament to our commitment to IDEA, we have been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employer’s for 16 consecutive years (2011-2026), as well as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People (2026) for the ninth time.

Dentons Canada is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome your application. All employment decisions, including hiring, will be made without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, colour, creed, disability, ethnic origin, family status, gender identity, marital status, place of origin, race, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable human rights legislation.

We are committed to providing you with an inclusive, barrier-free, and accessible workplace to support your success. Should you require accommodation during the recruitment process, for example as a result of a disability, please contact us at careers.canada@dentons.com.