The Vacancy

We are recruiting a Senior Data Adviser to join our Lawtech department.

About Macfarlanes

Macfarlanes is a pre-eminent law firm that serves a global client base in Private Capital, Private Wealth, M&A and Disputes. Personal connection, an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to excellence are at the heart of our firm. These values drive our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.

We are big enough to undertake the most complex and demanding mandates yet small enough to know each other well and to be agile, adapting to the needs of our clients. We seek to strengthen the firm by recruiting talented people from all backgrounds who want to build long-lasting and impactful careers with us. Our culture is challenging and supportive, creating an environment where individuals can thrive.

What this means for you

Joining Macfarlanes means being part of a collaborative, approachable team who want you to succeed. You'll be encouraged to get involved and recognised for your contribution.

We take your development seriously. Our learning and development programmes are second to none and are designed to help you strengthen your skills.

Above all, you'll be part of a firm where we all work together as part of a cohesive and supportive team, value your efforts and help you to thrive.

The team

Emerging legal technologies, new tools and alternative approaches are driving significant change in how we work and deliver services to our clients. Lawtech is at the forefront of how the firm respond to this evolution. Building on our strong client relationships and in-depth understanding of their businesses, the team designs and delivers technological solutions for legal problems, offering new and innovative ways of tackling our clients' most complex issues while enhancing and streamlining the firm's existing services. Combining a broad range of insights and experiences, including law, technology, knowledge management, AI, data, design, process, and change, the Lawtech team develops a wide range of creative and forward-thinking solutions to complement the firm's trusted legal expertise.

The Lawtech department currently consists of 18 individuals and is structured around three core functions: Innovation & Change, Knowledge & Data, and AI Solutions. This role will sit within Knowledge & Data and will be the first data specialist within the team, granting the successful individual a high degree of ability to help guide strategy and direction.

Our Knowledge & Data team support the firm, working closely with Partners, Knowledge Lawyers and staff on knowledge sharing and collaboration initiatives.

The role and background

We are looking for a proactive, collaborative and entrepreneurial Senior Data Adviser to join our Lawtech department. The Senior Data Adviser plays a key role within the team, helping the firm identify, prioritise and deliver opportunities to enhance legal service delivery through the effective use of data, AI and emerging technologies.

Reporting to the Director of Innovation, this role involves designing and building the firm's legal knowledge data model, working closely with the Innovation & Change and AI Solutions functions. Working in collaboration with Finance, IT, Marketing, and Risk, the role combines advanced analytics, data strategy, knowledge management and innovation expertise to support both internal transformation and client-facing solutions. If you are looking to work with an agile team and lead strategic decisions on data in the age of AI, this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

The individual will be required to carry out a broad range of good quality work. Key responsibilities will include:

Identify data-driven innovation opportunities

• analyse and interpret data from across the firm, including matter, financial, client, marketing, operational and knowledge systems, to identify opportunities where AI, automation and technology can improve legal service delivery;
• apply advanced analytics, modelling techniques and business rule frameworks to uncover patterns, trends and opportunities that drive efficiency, enhance client service and manage risk; and
• work closely with practice groups and business services teams to translate business challenges into data-led innovation initiatives and measurable outcomes.

Develop legal knowledge assets and AI-ready repositories

• partner with Lawyers, Knowledge Lawyers and the wider Lawtech team to identify, structure and curate legal knowledge assets that can be leveraged by AI solutions;
• support the development of repositories, taxonomies, knowledge sources and reusable datasets that enable scalable AI-assisted legal services and client-facing products; and
• create and maintain internal libraries, documentation, standards and repeatable development patterns that accelerate the delivery of AI-enabled solutions.

Deliver analytics, reporting and insight

• design and develop dashboards, visualisations and reporting solutions that provide insight into the adoption, effectiveness and business impact of Lawtech solutions;
• produce statistical reporting and analysis relating to the firm's knowledge, AI and innovation platforms, helping stakeholders understand usage, value and future opportunities; and
• communicate findings, recommendations and strategic insights clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Support data governance and strategy

• work with IT and Risk teams to support the development and implementation of data governance, data quality and data risk management frameworks; and
• contribute to the development and execution of the firm's data strategy, ensuring alignment between enterprise data initiatives and Lawtech priorities.

Driving collaboration and innovation

• build strong relationships with the wider Firm to improve access to strategic data assets and facilitate cross-functional innovation;
• evaluate emerging technologies, data platforms, AI tools and vendor solutions to inform the firm's innovation strategy;
• represent the firm at vendor forums, user groups and industry events, maintaining awareness of market developments and best practice;
• support and mentor colleagues within the Lawtech team, promoting knowledge sharing and helping to strengthen the firm's data and AI capabilities; and
• contribute to a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement across the firm.

This job description outlines the principal responsibilities of the role and is not intended to be exhaustive. Duties may evolve in line with the needs of the team and the firm's strategic objectives.

The candidate

The successful candidate will be someone looking to lead strategic decisions on data and AI within an agile and highly collaborative team. We are looking for someone who combines strong technical ability with an outcomes-focused mindset to deliver modern, insight-driven solutions. They will ideally possess the following:

• at least five years' experience in data, analytics, AI or machine learning roles within a legal, professional services or corporate environment;
• a bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience;
• strong technical skills, including Python for data analysis, statistical modelling and AI prototyping, advanced SQL, and experience building data pipelines and preparing both structured and unstructured datasets;
• hands-on experience with AI platforms and technologies, including large language models, vector databases, retrieval methods, knowledge graphs and enterprise AI platforms such as OpenAI, Claude or Microsoft Azure AI services;
• experience developing and applying evaluation frameworks for AI solutions, including assessing accuracy, reliability, robustness and business suitability;
• experience using data visualisation and reporting tools such as PowerBI, Tableau or similar platforms, with the ability to translate complex analysis into clear, actionable insights;
• an understanding of how AI, data and knowledge assets can be applied to legal service delivery, including areas such as legal research, due diligence, contract review and knowledge management;
• experience working with stakeholders across technical and business functions to identify opportunities, develop solutions and drive adoption;
• strong project management, organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously;
• excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences;
• strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, combined with a high level of attention to detail;
• proven ability to mentor colleagues, share knowledge and contribute positively within multidisciplinary teams; and
• a curious, proactive and commercially minded approach, with a strong interest in emerging technologies and innovation.

Desirable

• experience working within a law firm or other legal services environment;
• experience with Microsoft Azure, Azure AI Foundry or related cloud-based AI and data platforms; and
• experience using legal AI solutions and legal technology platforms.

Application screening

Any offer of employment with us is subject to our pre-employment checks which are conducted by a third-party screening provider. These checks will be initiated with your consent, and your CV will be sent to the provider by us. The screening will include but is not limited to your employment references, professional and academic qualifications including grades and any criminal records. Your offer will be subject to the successful completion of these checks.

Our commitment to inclusion

Inclusion is one of our key priorities and it is a goal we are actively working towards. We believe that an inclusive, forward-thinking culture is intrinsically important and enables us to provide innovative solutions to our clients.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and experiences, making Macfarlanes an exciting and stimulating place to work. We seek to recruit the best candidates, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic.

As part of this commitment, we will ask you certain diversity data questions. We would really appreciate you and/or your recruiter completing these questions when submitting an application to Macfarlanes as this data enables us to measure our progress and identify any actions needed to continue to support an inclusive culture. This data is anonymised to maintain the privacy of applicants. If you have any questions relating to how this data is used, please contact a member of the recruitment team.

Should you require any adjustments during the application and/or interview process, please do not hesitate to inform your recruiter or a member of the recruitment team. Please note, the job description is available in other accessible formats (for example, large print).

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme, please email the recruitment team at recruitment@macfarlanes.com.

The Company

The Company has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years. We have a vast number of employees, and provide support to clients from all over the country.