About Us:

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP (Cassels) is a leading national law firm focused on serving the transaction, advocacy and advisory needs of Canada’s most dynamic business sectors. We have one of the largest business law practices in the country, serving multinational, national and mid-market clients from our offices in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.

Our Culture:

At Cassels, our mission is to attract, retain and promote individuals of exceptional ability and talent from as broad a range of backgrounds as possible. We offer meaningful career opportunities, invest in professional growth, and foster an inclusive environment. Our Firm’s success is built on the unique skills, perspectives, experiences and values of each individual. We encourage a corporate culture that respects and celebrates the dignity, value and diversity of all.

Role Overview:

Cassels is currently recruiting for an Assistant Director in our Professional Resources Department, reporting to the Director of Learning & Development. This role requires a candidate who can lead the design and implementation of the firm's artificial intelligence (AI) training programs for legal professionals across offices. The Assistant Director will work in collaboration with Cassels cross-functional AI team, including Knowledge and Practice Innovation (K&PI) and Information Technology (IT).

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

Program Design and Development

In collaboration with the Director, Learning & Development, designing and implementing a multi-year AI learning strategy for legal professionals aligned with the firm's talent and innovation goals
In collaboration with AI experts in K&PI and IT, developing and maintaining a firm-wide AI curriculum that emphasizes responsible use and client service excellence, and supports AI fluency and advanced, practice-specific needs

Learning Delivery

Create and deliver engaging training (leveraging technology and best practices for adult learning) that embeds AI fluency with core competencies of legal practice
Partner with K&PI to incorporate AI into Learning & Development materials for legal professionals
Create AI skills programming tailored to the needs of Cassels summer students, articling students, associates, partners and counsel
Set and monitor metrics to evaluate learning outcomes and skill development over time, building mature learning programs
Collaborate with K&PI and IT on the firm's collective AI initiatives across practices and business departments to build and maintain internal expertise
Collaborate with lawyers, K&PI and IT to identify opportunities for technology solutions to enhance learning efficiency and effectiveness
Maintain competence in firm AI tools and applications and stay updated on new technologies

Adoption and Change Management

Promote responsible AI use that aligns with firm policies, client expectations and professional obligations, and elevate mentoring and training abilities for legal professionals
Support change management by equipping legal professionals with the skills, tools, and confidence to adopt AI in daily workflows

The successful candidate must have the following education, experience and/or demonstrated skills:

J.D/LL.B or MEd (Adult Education) required
Former practicing lawyer and member in good standing with a Canadian law society strongly preferred
Proven experience designing and delivering legal training or professional development programs
Strong understanding of emerging AI technologies in legal practice
Strong foundation in learning design, with experience developing effective training solutions
Proven experience with learning technologies, tools and modes of delivery
Experience in change management and project management
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across offices, practices and business functions
Strong internal client focus and strives for optimal client service and employee experience
Strategic, nimble thinker with the ability to engage different stakeholders, including Partners and operations leaders, on developing and executing plans
Proactive, highly adaptable, flexible, innovative and energetic
Highly organized and able to manage time efficiently, including re-prioritizing tasks as workloads evolve
Strong emotional intelligence with the ability to inspire, engage and empower others
Highly professional, and approaches role with high level of discretion, tact and maturity

Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Salary: $135,000 - $150,000

What we offer:

Competitive compensation + Extended Health & Dental Care
RRSP Matching Program for your financial future
Education/tuition allowance to support your growth
Fitness Reimbursement to keep you active
A culture that champions Diversity and Inclusion
A holistic Wellness Program for your physical and mental health
Well-stocked kitchen with healthy snacks, coffee, and more
A business casual dress code (client/day specific)
Employee referral bonus
A hybrid work environment

Cassels is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity and an accessible environment. It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities and/or people with intersectional identities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, and we will provide appropriate accommodation for candidates with disabilities or accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process, upon request. Please contact our recruiter for any questions, accommodations or specific requests.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. We regret that we are unable to respond to individual inquiries about application status, unless required for accommodation purposes.

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP jobs

Assistant Director of Professional Resources - Learning & Development (AI Strategy)