JOB TITLE: Chief Innovation Officer

STATUS: Exempt

Type: Full Time

We are a respected, midsize law firm headquartered in Raleigh, NC, serving clients across a wide array of practice areas. As we continue to evolve to meet the needs of modern legal practice, we are seeking a forward-thinking Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) to lead the firm’s strategic innovation efforts. This is an executive leadership role with direct oversight of the firm’s IT, data, research, knowledge management, and litigation technology functions.

As Chief Innovation Officer, you will be responsible for shaping and driving the firm’s innovation strategy. Your mandate is to improve efficiency, foster collaboration, and enhance the client experience through the intelligent application of technology, knowledge systems, and data analytics. You will work closely with firm leadership and department heads to align operational initiatives with strategic goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and integrate the firm’s Information Technology, Research Services, Knowledge Management, Data Analytics, and Litigation Technology teams.
• Identify opportunities to leverage technology and process improvements that enhance legal service delivery and internal workflows.
• Develop and execute a firmwide innovation roadmap in alignment with the strategic vision.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement throughout the firm.
• Guide the selection, implementation, and integration of legal tech tools, AI-powered research platforms, collaboration systems, and litigation support technologies.
• Collaborate with practice groups to develop knowledge-sharing platforms and internal resources that elevate client value.
• Establish KPIs and reporting frameworks to track operational performance, adoption, and ROI for key initiatives.
• Stay abreast of legal industry trends and emerging technologies to keep the firm at the forefront of legal innovation.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in legal innovation, legal operations, or law firm technology.
• Deep understanding of law firm operations and the legal services industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Strategic thinker with strong execution and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities to engage with lawyers, staff, and clients.

Education:

• Bachelor degree required; advanced degree (MBA, JD, MLIS, or similar) strongly preferred.

Smith Anderson is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and maintaining a diverse work force. It is the policy of this Firm to recruit, hire, train, develop, promote, and compensate employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, genetic information, disability or covered veteran status.

About Smith Anderson

Since our law firm’s founding in 1912, Smith Anderson has grown to become the largest Research Triangle-based business and litigation law firm and one of the largest in North Carolina. Representing diverse organizations with local, state, national and international interests, for our 99-year history our lawyers have remained committed to understanding clients' businesses and customizing legal solutions accordingly. Our commitment also extends to our community and the legal profession.

Connections working at Smith Anderson