Legal AI Engineer, Corporate

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is seeking a Legal AI Engineer, Corporate to join its Practice Systems & Applied AI team. This role supports corporate practice and client engagements by leading client-facing discussions on AI and helping lawyers apply artificial intelligence responsibly within corporate legal workflows.

Role Overview

Working closely with the Head of Practice Systems & Applied AI, the position focuses on translating corporate legal needs into practical, responsible AI use across matters and client teams. The role combines corporate legal subject-matter knowledge with hands-on AI guidance, client training, and support for the firm’s applied AI roadmap.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Head of Practice Systems & Applied AI to implement the Firm’s AI strategy and expand responsible AI use across corporate practices and client engagements.
• Prepare for and lead client-facing presentations, meetings, demonstrations, trainings, and continuing legal education programs covering AI concepts, capabilities, risks, and legal use cases.
• Act as a subject-matter expert to help lawyers explain the Firm’s AI capabilities, approach, governance, and experience to clients.
• Advise corporate clients on applying AI in legal departments and matter teams, including use-case development, workflow design, adoption considerations, and responsible-use practices.
• Partner with Partners, Counsel, and Associates in the Corporate Department to understand legal workflows, identify high-value AI opportunities, and develop practical integration approaches.
• Apply knowledge of corporate legal practice to evaluate how AI may support drafting, review, diligence, transactions, fundraisings, M&A, capital markets, private equity matters, and related corporate processes.
• Provide hands-on support for lawyers using AI on specific matters, including use-case selection, workflow design, prompt development, quality control, and attorney review.
• Develop corporate practice-specific AI guidance, demonstrations, use cases, talking points, playbooks, and training materials for lawyers and client teams.
• Contribute AI-related content and presentations to support pitches, requests for proposals, client alerts, panel discussions, and other business development activities.
• Educate attorneys on communicating with clients about AI accurately and credibly, including capabilities, limitations, risks, governance, and potential value.
• Translate legal and client needs into business and functional requirements for the Applied AI Engineering & Solutions team and other technical stakeholders.
• Support evaluation and rollout of new AI tools by assessing relevance to legal practice, developing adoption strategies, and assisting incorporation of approved capabilities.
• Contribute to the Applied AI roadmap by identifying corporate practice and client priorities, assessing potential impact, and recommending initiatives for research, development, or implementation.
• Prepare communications, briefings, and recommendations for Firm leadership and other stakeholders regarding AI adoption, corporate client activity, practice opportunities, and emerging legal-industry developments.
• Stay current on advances in AI, legal technology, legal-service delivery, client expectations, professional responsibility, and industry practices to keep guidance practical and up to date.

Required Qualifications

• J.D. required; minimum of three years working as a practicing attorney, legal innovation professional, knowledge management attorney, practice support attorney, or similar law firm professional.
• Demonstrated knowledge of corporate legal practices, transactional matter workflows, attorney work product, and delivery of legal services in a corporate practice context.
• Proven ability to independently lead presentations, meetings, trainings, and substantive discussions with clients, lawyers, and senior stakeholders.
• Experience advising lawyers or clients on AI, legal technology, knowledge management, innovation, legal operations, or technology-enabled legal-service delivery.
• Strong working knowledge of generative AI, large language models, prompt design, AI-assisted legal workflows, and the opportunities and limitations of AI in legal practice.
• Experience developing legal or business requirements and working with technical teams to design, evaluate, or implement technology solutions.
• Understanding of confidentiality, privilege, data governance, professional responsibility, privacy, and ethical considerations associated with the use of AI in legal services.
• Proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional initiatives from opportunity identification through implementation, adoption, and ongoing support.
• Exceptional presentation and public-speaking skills, including the ability to lead credible, engaging discussions with clients, Partners, Firm leadership, attorneys, and professional staff.
• Deep understanding of corporate legal practice areas and the ability to analyze workflows across different corporate matter types, transactions, and stages of legal work.
• Strong understanding of AI concepts and legal use cases, with the ability to explain capabilities, limitations, risks, and technical concepts in clear, practical language.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive briefings, client materials, training content, demonstrations, and practice-specific guidance.
• Strong judgment, professional credibility, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and navigate sensitive considerations.
• Ability to translate legal and corporate client needs into clear use cases, functional requirements, implementation priorities, and recommendations for technical teams.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills to manage multiple corporate client, practice, training, and implementation initiatives in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualification

• Experience supporting client development, pitches, requests for proposals, client training, or other business development initiatives.

Technologies

• Generative AI
• Large language models
• Prompt design
• AI-assisted legal workflows

Location & Compensation

• Location: New York, NY (onsite)
• Salary: USD 240,000 - 300,000 per year

How to Apply

• A resume is required to apply.
• Please include salary requirements and indicate where you saw the position posted.
• Send required materials to: Human Resources; [email protected]; 212.909.8310.