Innovation Attorney - Litigation at Davis Polk in New York

Innovation Attorney - Litigation

Location: New York · Hybrid

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (including its associated entities) is an elite global law firm with world-class practices across the board. Clients know they can rely on Davis Polk for their most challenging legal and business matters. From offices in the world's key financial centers and political capitals, our more than 1,000 lawyers collaborate seamlessly to deliver exceptional service, sophisticated advice and creative, practical solutions. Visit davispolk.com.

Position Summary

The Innovation Attorney, Litigation will play a critical role at the intersection of legal practice and artificial intelligence, acting as both a trusted advisor and a catalyst for change, while driving the strategic adoption of generative AI tools and technology-enabled workflows that enhance the quality, efficiency, and consistency of litigation work. The ideal candidate brings a deep understanding of the litigation practice and is attuned to how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping legal workflows. This role will combine a litigator’s experience with an innovator's mindset, focused on designing, testing, and scaling new tools and workflows. This is a role for a lawyer at heart and a technologist by inclination, someone who recognizes that technology adoption is a people challenge, and who can earn the confidence of senior litigators while advancing the firm's generative AI strategy.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Typical responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Collaborate with attorneys and business services professionals across the litigation department to identify and implement high-value opportunities to embed generative AI and legal technology in every aspect of the litigation process, including case strategy and assessment, legal research, discovery, motion practice, trial preparation and court filings.

• Configure and test AI-powered platforms and litigation technology tools to meet quality and accuracy standards required for litigation work.

• Develop, test, and refine prompts for generative AI systems supporting litigation workflows including legal research, case law analysis, brief and motion drafting, deposition preparation, discovery review, predictive case outcome analytics, and others.

• Drive adoption of generative AI tools among litigation attorneys and staff through tailored training sessions, workshops, and hands-on demonstrations that build confidence and address reliability and risk.

• Gather practitioner feedback to identify needs and pain points and continuously refine AI-enabled solutions for litigation work.

• Serve as a trusted resource for litigation attorneys, applying practical legal judgment and translating substantive expertise into effective knowledge and technology solutions.

• Contribute to governance frameworks, acceptable use policies, and quality-assurance processes for responsible AI use, with particular attention to confidentiality, privilege, accuracy.

• Develop documentation, playbooks, and best practices for litigation technology workflows, AI-assisted legal research and brief drafting, and prompt engineering techniques and libraries.

• Convert litigation precedents, brief banks, motion templates, and practice playbooks into structured, AI-optimized knowledge resources.

• Collaborate with the Knowledge & Innovation team, IT, and other stakeholders on firm-wide AI strategy, tool selection, and implementation priorities, including working groups, vendor evaluations, and AI pilot programs.

• Monitor developments in legal technology and generative AI to identify opportunities to improve litigation efficiency and execution.

Qualifications/Position Requirements

• Demonstrated interest in and aptitude for legal technology, innovation, or AI applications in legal practice.

• Fluency with generative AI tools (e.g., large language models, AI-assisted drafting platforms) and an understanding of prompt engineering concepts.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical guidance for practicing attorneys.

• Strong project management skills with the ability to advance multiple concurrent initiatives, pilot programs, and stakeholder relationships.

• Ability to build trusted, collegial relationships across litigation practices, earning credibility with senior litigators.

• Demonstrated ability to lead adoption efforts and overcome resistance to new tools and processes in a professional services environment.

• Self-starter who thrives in an ambiguous, evolving environment and is comfortable building and refining AI-enabled litigation programs and processes.

• Curiosity about emerging AI and legal technology and a commitment to continuous learning.

Education and/or Experience

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) required.

• Minimum of 3–5 years of substantive litigation practice at a major law firm, including case strategy, motion practice, discovery, depositions, trial preparation, and court filings, in areas such as commercial litigation, civil litigation, white collar defense, antitrust and competition, regulatory enforcement, intellectual property litigation, or appellate practice.

• Proficiency with legal AI tools such as e-discovery platforms, AI-assisted legal research, document review, or predictive analytics tools, and proficiency in AI/ML concepts, large language models, and their practical application.

Compensation

The expected base salary for this position ranges from $250,000 - $350,000. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including relevant skills, training, experience, education, anticipated assignment, and, where applicable, licensure or certifications obtained. Market and organizational factors are also considered. Davis Polk offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.