Associate Director, Responsible AI

About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we don’t just meet the standard for legal excellence — we set it. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to continuous growth. We tackle the most sophisticated legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, powered by the exceptional experience and ambition of our 7,000+ people, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 23 offices worldwide. Our dedicated professionals share our lawyers’ commitment to excellence and show up each day to do meaningful work that helps drive global business, investment and innovation forward.

What You’ll Do

You are energized by emerging technologies and thrive at the intersection of technology, risk, and the practice of law.  You are motivated by the responsible adoption of AI technologies and are driven to translate complex governance and ethical considerations into pragmatic policies and processes. You are comfortable with evolving environments and are seeking an opportunity to be a key contributor shaping AI governance. You execute professional judgment and are adept at collaboration across functions. 

• Impact. Reporting to the Director of Responsible AI, you will collaborate closely across Innovation, OGC, IT, Risk, Security teams, and attorney stakeholders to support, develop, and will play a critical role in developing and executing on the Firm’s Responsible AI program to enable the responsible, ethical, and sustained use of generative AI tools.  You will build trusted relationships with attorneys and administrative colleagues to drive alignment and support for the Innovation program’s initiatives.
• Responsible Use Frameworks, Processes, and Policies:   Contribute to the development and implementation of best-in-class responsible AI governance, policies, and processes, focusing on enabling use of generative AI technologies in compliance with responsible AI principles, attorney ethical obligations, client commitments, and legal and regulatory obligations.  Collaborate across attorney stakeholders and functions including Risk, Security, IT, and Procurement, to facilitate engagement on GenAI Policy compliance and responsible use.
• RAI Governance Meetings and RAI Documentation:  Manage internal AI governance committee meetings, including working with stakeholders to prepare and disseminate agendas, review intakes, and coordinate with stakeholders on action items. Support documentation efforts, including AI committee meeting minutes, RAI intakes and assessments, and managing RAI databases and trackers. 
• Attorney Enablement.  Support Innovation’s attorney enablement program by serving as a contributor to training and communications related to the AI Policy, Innovation program, and responsible use of Firm-approved tools. 
• Client Engagement.  Working in collaboration with Innovation, Risk, and attorney stakeholders on the development of and responses to client inquiries related to the Firm’s responsible and ethical use of AI technologies.  
• Monitor AI developments.  Keep a continuous eye on emerging risks and regulatory trends, and assist in supporting updates to leadership, governance policies, guidelines, training, and/or processes to respond to changes. 

What You’ll Bring

•    Education – Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school strongly preferred; equivalent experience in AI governance, risk, or emerging technology environments will also be considered. 
•    Experience – Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in legal, risk, or AI governance roles within a law firm, professional services organization, or client-facing environment (or 7+ years with deep expertise in emerging technology risk). 
•    AI & Innovation Mindset – Strong interest in the transformative impact of AI on legal practice, with a focus on governance, ethics, and policy development. 
•    Problem-Solving & Adaptability – Ability to navigate ambiguity, tackle complex challenges, and build scalable, standardized solutions in a rapidly evolving space. 
•    Collaboration & Influence – Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence diverse stakeholders, including attorneys and senior leadership. 
•    Professional Judgment & Ownership – High level of accountability, discretion, and sound decision-making, with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently. 

If you’re driven to shape how AI is responsibly integrated into the future of legal practice while working at the intersection of innovation, risk, and strategy, we’d love to hear from you.
 

Compensation

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in New York. This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations. At Kirkland & Ellis, we consider compensation more than just a base salary. We offer an exceptional range of flexible benefits including comprehensive healthcare, paid time off, and retirement. We also offer personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work.

Compensation Range:

New York: $254,000 - $279,000

How to Apply

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Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others at Kirkland.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law. #LI-Hybrid #LI-SM1

Salary : $254,000 - $279,000