Senior Research Analyst

Friedman Williams has partnered with a full-service international law firm with 1,000 lawyers to hire a Senior Research Analyst. This role provides advanced research support to the Firm's attorneys and business professionals by delivering high value legal, business, and industry research across all practice areas. In addition to handling complex and high risk research requests, the Senior Research Analyst serves as a leader in AI enabled research, mentoring team members, guiding attorneys on responsible and effective use of AI tools, and helping shape research workflows, standards, and best practices. This role plays a critical part in sustaining research quality, driving innovation, and supporting firmwide strategic initiatives.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Deliver complex, high stakes legal and business research for attorneys and senior firm leadership using a wide range of digital and print resources; bill research time to client matters as appropriate.

• Serve as a lead research resource for assigned practice groups, business professional teams, or strategic initiatives, providing subject matter expertise and consultative support.

• Act as a subject matter expert and internal leader in AI powered research tools, guiding attorneys on effective and responsible adoption, validating AI generated outputs, and advising on appropriate use cases.

• Mentor and train Research Analysts, including coaching on advanced research techniques, AI assisted research workflows, quality standards, and professional development.

• Support onboarding and ongoing education for attorneys, including AI research training, best practices, and risk awareness.

• Monitor news, litigation activity, and legislative and regulatory developments; lead or contribute to alerts, updates, newsletters, and internal communications.

• Maintain advanced knowledge of the library’s digital platforms, print collections, interlibrary loan networks, and document delivery services; demonstrate deep proficiency in search strategy, database functionality, and licensing considerations.

• Participate in and often lead evaluation of research tools, including pilots, product comparisons, vendor discussions, feedback analysis, and preparation of recommendations for leadership.

• Partner closely with the Director and Research & Reference Services Manager on departmental strategy, process improvements, AI governance, and special projects.

• Provide coverage for email monitoring and ensure adherence to internal workflows, service standards, and request handling procedures.

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to professionalism, delivering high-quality service, and maintaining a positive, solution-oriented (“can-do”) approach. Effectively supports internal departments, external clients, and vendors through clear, courteous communication via electronic correspondence, telephone, and in-person interactions.

Required Skills and Experience:

Advanced working knowledge of print and digital legal research platforms, business information databases, and research methodologies.

• Advanced proficiency with AI powered research tools, including generative AI and analytics platforms, with demonstrated ability to validate outputs, mitigate risk, and design effective AI assisted research workflows.

• Ability to train, mentor, and guide others in both traditional and AI enabled research techniques.

• Strong judgment and analytical skills, with the ability to assess research risk, escalate issues appropriately, and advise attorneys on research strategy.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to present findings clearly and build trust with attorneys and senior stakeholders.

• Highly organized, with strong time management skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast paced environment.

• 5 years of progressively responsible research experience required.

• Experience in a large law firm or comparable professional services environment, strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated experience mentoring junior researchers or leading research initiatives, preferred.

Required Education:

• BA/BS required.

• JD, MLS, or MLIS required