Practice Innovation Assistant

OverviewOrrick currently has an excellent opportunity for an Practice Innovation Assistant, with a preference for candidates based in our Washington, DC, New York and Boston offices or one of our West Coast U.S. offices (Los Angeles, Orange County, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Silicon Valley, or Seattle).The Role: The Practice Innovation Assistant (PIA) is a key member of our Team Support department in the firm's Innovation group. The PIA provides high-impact administrative, operational, and legal practice support to assigned attorneys while also driving innovation at the firm. This role is designed for professionals who are passionate about technology, eager to develop expertise in legal operations, and committed to supporting high-performing legal and operations teams. The PIA functions as a strategic partner to attorneys - acting as an extension of their practice, proactively managing priorities, anticipating needs, exercising independent judgment, and ensuring that attorneys' time, focus, and resources are aligned to the highest-value work. The PIA acts as a digital fluency coach - learning, mastering, and training peers and attorneys on firm tools and platforms, including emerging technology such as AI and automation. They proactively manage workflows, coordinate projects, and ensure seamless execution of administrative tasks, while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and discretion. This role goes beyond task execution to include decision support, prioritization, and end-to-end ownership of administrative and operational outcomes for assigned attorneys. The PIA is both an individual contributor and a collaborative team player, engaging positively with colleagues, adapting to change, and driving continuous improvement. They are assigned as a point of contact for lawyers and maintain skills related to their assigned lawyers' specific practice group needs. Responsibilities General Support * Proactively coordinates administrative details for assigned attorneys, anticipating needs, flagging risks, and independently resolving issues before escalation, ensuring smooth workflow between clients, timekeepers, and staff. * Engages regularly with the firm's Team Support Center, picking up requests proactively or as assigned by Workflow Coordinators, while determining when matters require direct ownership versus delegation. * Acts as a resource for organizational knowledge, advising attorneys on firm processes, best practices, and trade-offs to support sound decision-making. * Encourages attorneys to delegate non-billable tasks, actively shaping delegation habits and reinforcing sustainable ways of working. * Develops a deep understanding of assigned attorneys' practices, clients, priorities, working styles, and business objectives. * Fosters strong relationships internally and externally, representing the firm's standards of professionalism and client service. * Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced environment, willing to take on new responsibilities and embrace change with a positive mindset. * Communicates effectively with all levels of the organization and with clients, demonstrating high emotional intelligence and relationship-building skills. * Holds their own in a traditional environment, remaining nimble and resilient, and modeling a growth mindset. * Proactively manage calendars, coordinate meetings and events (internal and client-facing), arrange travel, and oversee logistics for assigned attorneys, with a focus on prioritization, sequencing, and protecting attorney time. * Provide on-site office coverage as needed, demonstrating flexibility and professionalism. Digital Fluency & Technology Coaching * Serve as a digital fluency expert and coach for attorneys and peers, mastering firm technology and training others on effective use - including Microsoft 365, Copilot, PowerAutomate, PowerBI, and emerging