Counsel, AI Risk & Compliance (Washington)

Build your big career with the firm that does Big Law, Better . McDermott Will & Schulte is a leading global law firm that brings together more than 1,700+ lawyers and 1,400 business professionals. We celebrate excellence, collaboration, and community and have been recognized as a top workplace by USA Today, Fortune, The American Lawyer, Vault and others. We are also certified by Great Place to Work.

At McDermott, we don’t just invest in your future, we accelerate your career – wherever it may lead. That includes supporting you both in and outside of the office.

With us, you’ll find:

• A firm where everyone belongs: Our award-winning culture prioritizes warmth and authenticity — we encourage you to be yourself!
• Enthusiasm for all perspectives: We’re smarter and stronger when everyone has a voice and a seat at the table. We welcome unique viewpoints and ideas, and we make opportunities for you and your career to thrive.
• Support to feel your best and do your best: Wellness is integral to building a successful career and a rich life. That’s why our benefits program supports your physical, emotional, mental, and financial health, with an emphasis on work-life balance.
• Real rewards for real work: We offer generous compensation packages that recognize hard work and excellence.

Job Description:

The Counsel, AI Risk & Compliance serve at the intersection of legal, technology, risk management, regulatory compliance, and professional responsibility. This role guides the evaluation, deployment, and governance of artificial intelligence tools and related technologies across the firm, while partnering closely with business, technology, and risk stakeholders.

The Counsel provides guidance on issues involving confidentiality, attorney-client privilege, professional conduct obligations, client contractual commitments, and reputational risk, in addition to the legal, operational, cybersecurity, and regulatory issues associated with enterprise AI adoption. This role helps shape the firm’s approach to AI governance and plays a central role in enabling innovation while helping the firm manage legal, regulatory, operational, and reputational risk in a rapidly evolving environment.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary legal advisor for AI tools, applications, vendors, and initiatives being evaluated, implemented, or used across the firm
• Partner closely with IT, Information Security, Procurement, Marketing and Business Development, Knowledge Management, and other stakeholders throughout the lifecycle of AI initiatives, from evaluation through deployment and ongoing governance
• Provide practical legal guidance on how AI technologies interact with firm systems, internal data, client information, and operational infrastructure
• Advise on legal issues involving data access, permitted use, privacy, cybersecurity, intellectual property, confidentiality, and professional responsibility
• Support vendor diligence, contracting, and risk management processes for AI-related tools and services, including issues involving data rights, model training, service improvement, testing, analytics, retention, subprocessors, and cross-border data transfers
• Establish legal and governance standards for vendor terms and AI-related practices that align with client commitments, legal obligations, and firm risk expectations
• Assess risks associated with emerging and agentic AI systems, including risks related to autonomy, workflow execution, unauthorized access, prompt manipulation, data leakage, privilege escalation, and operational disruption
• Work with Information Security, Privacy, and other control functions to evaluate how AI capabilities may affect existing control environments and legal, regulatory, contractual, and ethical obligations
• Review proposed uses of firm and client data in connection with AI development, testing, training, deployment, and related innovation initiatives
• Identify and advise on restrictions applicable to sensitive or regulated data, including personal data, health information, and other categories of information subject to contractual, statutory, or ethical limitations
• Monitor and interpret evolving AI-related legal and regulatory developments at the federal, state, and international levels, and translate those developments into practical guidance for the firm
• Develop and deliver guidance, policies, and training for lawyers and business professionals regarding appropriate AI use, client restrictions, confidentiality obligations, and related compliance expectations
• Partner with marketing and business development teams on AI-related messaging, client communications, proposals, presentations, website content, and external representations regarding the firm’s AI capabilities and governance practices

Job Specifications:

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing
• Significant legal experience in one or more relevant areas, such as technology transactions, product counseling, privacy, cybersecurity, data governance, regulatory compliance, or professional responsibility
• Strong legal judgment
• Ability to advise on complex, cross-functional initiatives involving emerging technologies and evolving regulatory requirements
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to provide clear, business-focused guidance
• Ability to handle and maintain confidential information
• Experience advising on artificial intelligence, machine learning, data use, or technology governance issues in a law firm, regulated industry, or sophisticated in-house legal environment
• Familiarity with AI governance frameworks, privacy and cybersecurity concepts, vendor risk review, and contractual allocation of data and intellectual property rights
• Technical fluency sufficient to work effectively with technology, information security, and operational teams on how AI systems function in practice
• Experience developing policies, training, templates, and scalable processes that support responsible innovation and compliance

Successful candidates will be provided with outstanding career opportunities and will receive a competitive total rewards package with the opportunity to earn performance-based bonuses.

Target Hiring Range $167,000 - $235,000

Please note that quoted salary ranges are not guarantees of what final salary offers may be. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. Base pay is only one part of the Total Rewards that MWS provides to compensate and recognize our staff professionals for their work. Full time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, talk and hear
• Employee must occasionally lift up to twenty (20) pounds

Work Environment

Typical indoor office environment

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people within this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this job.