Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer Company: Lawhive Location: London, England, United Kingdom Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / Engineering Date Posted: 2026-02-05 Experience Level: 8+ Years Remote Status: On-site (with potential for remote elements based on role context)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design for Lawhive's core Legal OS and AI-powered product suite, ensuring seamless integration of advanced technologies.
• Collaborate intimately with engineering, product management, and leadership to rapidly iterate and ship high-quality, user-centric digital products in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Contribute to the strategic evolution of the product development process and foster the growth of the design team through mentorship and process improvement initiatives.
• Design and maintain sophisticated design systems, ensuring consistency, scalability, and polish across all product interfaces, with a keen eye for detail and edge case handling.
• Develop compelling digital assets for marketing campaigns, product launches, and landing pages, contributing to the overarching visual identity and brand evolution of Lawhive.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job lists as "TELECOMMUTE" and "On-site" in different fields, the description emphasizes "Design in or alongside the browser" and "Work daily with product and engineering," strongly suggesting a preference for on-site or hybrid work for close collaboration, especially with a "Senior" title. The "TELECOMMUTE" tag might indicate flexibility rather than full remote. Given the emphasis on rapid iteration and close collaboration with engineering, an on-site presence in London is likely preferred for this Senior role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for Lawhive's Legal OS and AI products, from initial concept and user research through to high-fidelity design and post-launch iteration.
• Translate complex legal workflows and AI functionalities into intuitive, usable, and aesthetically pleasing interfaces for both legal professionals and clients.
• Actively participate in design sprints, user testing sessions, and cross-functional team meetings to ensure design alignment with business objectives and technical feasibility.
• Develop and implement robust design systems, component libraries, and style guides to ensure brand consistency and accelerate development cycles.
• Design and iterate on AI-native user experiences, addressing challenges related to trust, transparency, human-in-the-loop interactions, and ambiguity in AI-driven processes.
• Create impactful digital assets for marketing, sales enablement, and public-facing communications, collaborating closely with the Creative Studio and Marketing teams.
• Contribute to the strategic product roadmap by providing design insights, identifying user needs, and proposing innovative solutions that leverage AI and technology.
• Mentor junior designers, share best practices, and actively contribute to the continuous improvement of Lawhive's product design processes and team culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Core Product Design" and "How You'll Work" sections highlight a unique approach: "Design in or alongside the browser, not just in Figma." This implies a need for designers comfortable with front-end primitives (HTML/CSS, React) and potentially prototyping with code or AI tools. This responsibility goes beyond traditional UI/UX and touches on the engineering-adjacent aspects of design, a key differentiator for this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is highly beneficial. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered. Experience: A minimum of 8+ years of progressive experience as a Product Designer, with a proven track record of shipping complex, high-impact digital products to large, real-world audiences.

Required Skills:

• End-to-End Product Design: Demonstrated expertise in owning the entire design process, from user research and strategy definition to prototyping, visual design, and iteration.
• UX/UI Design Expertise: Proficient in crafting clear, usable, and engaging user interfaces with a strong understanding of interaction design principles and user flows.
• Visual Craftsmanship: Exceptional visual design skills, with a keen eye for typography, color, layout, and branding, evidenced by a strong portfolio.
• Figma Proficiency: Deep expert-level command of Figma and modern design tooling for wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative design.
• Front-End Familiarity: Comfortable working with front-end primitives, including components, design tokens, and a foundational understanding of HTML/CSS and React.
• Rapid Prototyping & Validation: Proven ability to quickly research, prototype, and validate design ideas using various methods, including code-based or AI-assisted tools where beneficial.
• AI-Native Experience Design: Experience designing for AI-driven products, understanding concepts like human-in-the-loop systems, trust models, and managing ambiguity.
• Design Systems Development: Experience in creating, maintaining, and scaling design systems, component libraries, and style guides.
• Product Judgment: Strong, opinionated, pragmatic, and user-centered product judgment, capable of making strategic design decisions.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams and articulate design decisions clearly.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the legal tech industry or with complex enterprise software.
• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and their application in product design.
• Experience with A/B testing and data-driven design optimization.
• Contributions to open-source design systems or communities.
• Experience working in a high-growth, venture-backed startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "design in or alongside the browser" and comfort with "front-end primitives (components, tokens, HTML/CSS, React)" is a critical differentiator. This suggests Lawhive values designers who can bridge the gap between design and development, potentially reducing handoff friction and accelerating iteration cycles. Candidates should highlight projects where they've worked closely with engineers or directly contributed to front-end implementation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 comprehensive case studies detailing your process from problem identification to shipped solution. Each case study should highlight your strategic thinking, UX research, UI design, and visual execution.
• Problem/Solution Framing: Clearly articulate the business or user problem you were addressing and the rationale behind your proposed design solutions.
• Process Documentation: Illustrate your design process, including user research methodologies, ideation techniques, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iteration cycles.
• Visual Craft & Polish: Demonstrate exceptional UI design skills, attention to detail, and a strong understanding of visual hierarchy, typography, and branding.
• Technical Integration: Include examples that showcase your ability to work with front-end primitives, design systems, or collaborate effectively with engineering teams. Highlight any experience designing within or alongside code.
• AI Product Design: If possible, include a case study related to designing AI-native experiences, showcasing your understanding of user trust, human-in-the-loop systems, and managing ambiguity.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Optimization: Detail how you've identified and improved existing workflows through design interventions, leading to increased efficiency or better user outcomes.
• Design System Implementation: Showcase your experience in building or contributing to design systems, illustrating how they ensure consistency and scalability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Provide examples of how you've collaborated with product managers and engineers to translate requirements into functional designs and ensure successful implementation.
• Impact Measurement: Where possible, quantify the impact of your design work using relevant metrics (e.g., conversion rates, task completion times, user satisfaction scores).

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "design in or alongside the browser" and "shipping real products fast," the portfolio should ideally include examples that demonstrate a pragmatic approach to design execution, potentially showing how design artifacts are directly usable or integrated with development workflows. Quantifiable impact and a clear articulation of the design process are paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £80,000 - £110,000 GBP per annum. Benefits:

• Meaningful early-stage equity: Opportunity to own a stake in one of Europe's fastest-growing startups.
• Generous Annual Leave: 33 days of annual leave (including 25 standard days plus bank holidays), plus your birthday off.
• Pension Contribution: Contribution to a Nest pension scheme.
• Legal Fee Discount: 20% off legal services provided by Lawhive.
• Top-Spec Macbook: Provision of high-performance hardware to facilitate work.
• Team Building & Socials: Regular company-sponsored activities and social events to foster team cohesion.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with an emphasis on productivity and fast iteration, suggesting a dynamic work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range of £80,000 - £110,000 for a Senior Product Designer in London is competitive and aligns with industry standards for experienced professionals in high-growth tech companies. The benefits package is attractive, particularly the equity component, which is typical for early-stage, well-funded startups aiming to attract top talent.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Legal Technology (Legal Tech) / Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Software Development. Lawhive is disrupting the traditional legal industry by leveraging AI and a bespoke operating system. Company Size: Lawhive is a rapidly scaling startup, having recently secured $60M in Series B funding. This indicates a growth phase with a team size likely ranging from 50-200 employees, transitioning from a small team to a more structured organization. Founded: Lawhive was founded with a mission to make law accessible, reinventing the legal industry model from the ground up. The company's founding principles revolve around innovation, technology, and client accessibility.

Team Structure:

• Product & Engineering Focus: The core of Lawhive's innovation lies in its "Lawhive Labs," a frontier lab combining engineering, design, and AI talent. The product design team operates within this structure, working closely with product management and engineering.
• Reporting: The Senior Product Designer will report to the Head of Design, indicating a clear design leadership structure.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Daily collaboration with product managers and engineers is a cornerstone of the workflow, emphasizing a highly integrated and iterative product development process.

Methodology:

• AI-Native Product Development: Lawhive builds AI-native platforms, meaning design and development processes are inherently geared towards integrating AI functionalities.
• Agile & Iterative: The culture emphasizes "Speed is a feature" and "We ship fast and learn quickly," pointing towards agile methodologies and continuous iteration based on user feedback and data.
• Data-Driven Insights: While not explicitly detailed, the "Learning by doing" and "Empathy for users" values suggest a data-informed approach to design and product decisions.
• User-Centricity: A strong focus on "Empathy for users" and designing for the "realities of legal work" underscores a commitment to understanding and serving the target audience effectively.

Company Website: https://lawhive.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by rapid growth, innovation, and a strong emphasis on technology, particularly AI. The "Lawhive Labs" concept highlights a commitment to pushing boundaries. The product culture explicitly states "Ownership," "Speed is a feature," "Empathy for users," "High standards," and "Learning by doing," which are crucial indicators for potential hires.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a mid-to-senior level individual contributor role. It requires significant experience and the ability to operate both strategically and at an execution level. The role carries substantial ownership over key product areas. Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer reports directly to the Head of Design. This provides a clear line of mentorship and guidance, with opportunities to influence design strategy at a higher level. Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer will have a direct and significant impact on Lawhive's core product suite, including its AI operating system. Their work will influence user acquisition, retention, client satisfaction, and the overall effectiveness of the platform, directly contributing to the company's mission and business goals.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead Product Designer or Design Manager role as the company scales and the design team expands.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in AI-native product design, legal tech, or complex enterprise systems.
• Strategic Influence: Contribute to high-level product strategy and roadmap planning, influencing the direction of Lawhive's innovative platform.
• Skill Expansion: Develop practical front-end skills and coding-adjacent design capabilities, bridging the gap between design and development.
• Impactful Projects: Work on groundbreaking projects that are redefining an entire industry, offering a unique and rewarding career path.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title combined with the emphasis on "owning the UX" and contributing to "product process and team growth" suggests that while this is an individual contributor role, there's a clear path for leadership and strategic influence within Lawhive's rapidly expanding product organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Lawhive is headquartered in London and emphasizes collaboration, suggesting a modern, potentially open-plan office environment designed to foster teamwork and innovation. The "TELECOMMUTE" designation might imply a hybrid model where some remote work is possible, but the emphasis on "daily work with product and engineering" and "design in or alongside the browser" points towards a strong preference for in-office presence for collaboration. Office Location(s): London, England, United Kingdom. Specific office address details are not provided but can be inferred to be in a central London location suitable for a tech startup. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The workspace is designed to support close collaboration between design, product, and engineering teams, facilitating rapid iteration and problem-solving.
• Technology-Rich: Expect access to high-spec hardware (Top-spec Macbook) and modern design and developer tooling, supporting efficient workflows.
• Innovation-Focused: The environment likely encourages experimentation, learning, and a proactive approach to tackling complex challenges within the legal tech space.

Work Schedule: While not explicitly detailed, a standard full-time schedule is implied, likely around 40 hours per week. The company culture emphasizes speed and iteration, suggesting a dynamic work environment where efficiency and timely delivery are valued. Flexibility may exist, but the core expectation is active participation in daily team activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "TELECOMMUTE" vs. "On-site" ambiguity should be clarified during the application process. However, the emphasis on close collaboration and "designing in or alongside the browser" strongly suggests that regular on-site presence in London will be a key component of this role, even if some hybrid flexibility is offered.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Introductory Call: Initial screening with the Talent team to assess general fit, motivation, and basic qualifications.
• Hiring Manager 1:1: In-depth discussion with the Head of Design to evaluate experience, design philosophy, and alignment with the role's strategic and execution requirements.
• Technical Interview: Focus on design skills, process, tooling proficiency (especially Figma), and understanding of front-end concepts (HTML/CSS, React) and AI-native design challenges.
• Values Interview: Conversation with a Founder to assess cultural fit, alignment with Lawhive's core values (Ownership, Speed, Empathy, High Standards, Learning by Doing), and long-term potential.
• Offer: Extension of a formal job offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling is Key: Structure your portfolio around compelling narratives for each case study. Clearly define the problem, your process, your role, the solutions you designed, and the outcomes achieved.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows) extensively. For this role, include examples of how your designs integrate with or inform front-end code, or how you've worked alongside engineers.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion times, positive user feedback).
• Highlight Process: Detail your thought process, research methods, and how you iterated on designs based on feedback and data. For this role, emphasize pragmatic execution and speed.
• Tailor to Lawhive: Ensure your portfolio showcases relevant experience, particularly in complex digital products, AI-native design, and working in fast-paced environments.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a practical design exercise, potentially a take-home challenge or a live design session, focusing on solving a specific product problem relevant to Lawhive's domain. This might involve rapid ideation, wireframing, and presenting your approach.
• Technical Acumen: Brush up on front-end concepts (HTML, CSS, React components) and AI design principles. Be ready to discuss how you approach designing for AI and how you collaborate with engineering.
• Value Alignment: Prepare specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate how you embody Lawhive's core values.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess a blend of design craft, technical understanding, strategic thinking, and cultural fit. The "Values interview with one of our Founders" is a significant step, indicating that cultural alignment is highly valued. The emphasis on "design in or alongside the browser" means a portfolio showcasing this practical, code-adjacent design capability will be highly advantageous.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool, expected to be used at an expert level for all design activities.
• Design Systems Tools: Proficiency in creating and managing design systems, likely leveraging Figma's component features, potentially integrated with tools like Storybook or other front-end documentation platforms.
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping methods, including code-based prototyping or AI-assisted design tools, is beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed for the designer, familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) and understanding how design decisions impact key metrics will be crucial for demonstrating impact.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the designer's core tools but understanding how design impacts CRM or automation workflows within the Legal OS could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "design in or alongside the browser" and comfort with "front-end primitives (components, tokens, HTML/CSS, React)" suggests that the ideal candidate will not only be a Figma expert but also have a strong understanding of how their designs translate into functional code. Experience with tools that bridge design and development, such as Storybook for component documentation or a deep understanding of React component structures, would be highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership: Take full responsibility for your work, from conception to successful implementation and impact. Care deeply about the quality and outcomes of your designs.
• Speed is a Feature: Embrace rapid iteration, quick learning, and efficient delivery. Be comfortable shipping fast and learning from real-world usage.
• Empathy for Users: Design with a deep understanding of the end-users' needs, workflows, and constraints, particularly within the legal profession.
• High Standards: Strive for excellence and aim to create category-defining products. Maintain a high level of craft and attention to detail in all aspects of design.
• Learning by Doing: Be open to experimentation, pragmatically adopting new technologies and approaches to solve problems and drive innovation.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Work closely and daily with product managers and engineers, fostering a highly collaborative and communicative environment.
• Pragmatic & Iterative: The approach to collaboration is action-oriented, focusing on shipping quickly and iterating based on feedback rather than lengthy theoretical debates.
• Cross-Functional Influence: As a Senior Designer, you'll influence product strategy and process, contributing to team growth and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicitly stated values are critical. Candidates should prepare to discuss how they embody each of these in their day-to-day work, providing concrete examples from their career. The emphasis on "Speed is a feature" and "Learning by Doing" suggests a culture that values experimentation and resilience.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing AI-Native Experiences: Effectively designing for complex AI functionalities, ensuring user trust, transparency, and intuitive human-in-the-loop interactions within the legal domain.
• Balancing Speed and Polish: Meeting the company's demand for rapid iteration ("shipping fast") while maintaining high standards of design quality and polish.
• Bridging Design and Development: Effectively collaborating with engineers and potentially contributing to front-end implementation or design-in-browser workflows.
• Evolving Industry Landscape: Navigating the rapidly changing legal tech and AI landscape, staying abreast of new technologies and user needs.
• Scaling Design Systems: Ensuring design systems remain robust, scalable, and efficient as the product suite and user base grow.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Legal Tech & AI: Gain specialized knowledge and experience in the intersection of law, AI, and technology.
• Front-End Design Integration: Enhance practical skills in working with front-end code primitives and potentially contributing to design-adjacent coding tasks.
• Strategic Product Influence: Grow into a key voice in product strategy, influencing the direction of a well-funded, ambitious startup.
• Leadership Mentorship: Receive guidance from the Head of Design and potentially Founders, paving the way for future leadership roles.
• Industry Exposure: Work on groundbreaking products that have the potential to reshape an entire industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge and opportunity lie in the unique intersection of advanced technology (AI), a complex domain (legal), and a fast-paced startup environment. Candidates who thrive on ambiguity, rapid learning, and direct impact will find this role particularly appealing.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex digital product you've designed from start to finish. What was your process, what were the key challenges, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on end-to-end ownership and impact).
• "How do you approach designing for AI-native experiences? Can you give an example of a project where you designed for human-in-the-loop systems or managed user trust with AI?" (Demonstrate understanding of AI design nuances).
• "Lawhive emphasizes 'Speed is a feature.' How do you balance shipping quickly with maintaining high design standards and polish?" (Showcase pragmatic execution and iterative design skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Lawhive's mission to make law accessible?" (Connect your passion to the company's purpose).
• "How have you embodied 'Ownership' or 'Learning by Doing' in your previous roles?" (Prepare specific anecdotes related to Lawhive's values).
• "Describe a time you collaborated closely with engineers or product managers. What was your contribution, and how did you ensure alignment?" (Highlight cross-functional collaboration skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Process & Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role, your design process, the solutions you proposed, and the measurable outcomes.
• Highlight Technical Collaboration: Showcase examples where you worked closely with developers or demonstrated an understanding of front-end constraints. If you have experience designing "in or alongside the browser," make this a central point.
• Demonstrate AI Design Thinking: If you have AI-related projects, explain the unique challenges and your design rationale for addressing them.
• Be Concise and Engaging: Present your work clearly and enthusiastically, allowing time for discussion and questions. Tailor your presentation to the specific requirements of the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience with Figma and front-end primitives in detail. The interviewers will likely probe the depth of their understanding of how design integrates with code, especially given the "design in or alongside the browser" requirement. Be ready to defend your design decisions with user-centric reasoning and business impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Ashby link.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features end-to-end case studies that highlight complex digital product design, your UX/UI process, and visual craft. Crucially, include examples demonstrating your ability to work with front-end primitives (HTML/CSS, React) or design closely with engineering teams.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 8+ years of experience, specific achievements in shipping complex products, proficiency in Figma, and any experience with AI-native design or legal tech. Use keywords like "UX," "UI," "Figma," "design systems," "AI-native," and "front-end primitives."
• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review Lawhive's company values and product culture. Prepare specific examples from your career that demonstrate how you embody these values. Practice articulating your design process and impact, especially concerning speed, ownership, and user empathy.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Lawhive's mission, recent Series B funding, and their AI-native platform approach. Understand their market position in legal tech and their vision for the future of law.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.