Senior Product Designer, Practice Areas

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer, Practice Areas Company: Clio Location: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (Hybrid), with remote options in Canada and USA Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design / UX/UI Date Posted: October 6, 2025 Experience Level: 6+ Years Remote Status: Hybrid (with remote options for Canada/USA)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design strategy and execution for Clio's practice area-specific legal solutions, focusing on end-to-end workflow development.
• Drive the integration of AI and automation into core legal workflows to simplify and enhance the legal professional's daily tasks.
• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, and AI teams to build scalable systems supporting diverse practice areas and firm types.
• Champion accessibility and inclusion in design, ensuring the platform is usable by all legal professionals and their clients.
• Contribute to the evolution of Clio's design system and foundational UX patterns, ensuring consistency and performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the primary focus is Product Design, this role has significant implications for Revenue Operations and Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy by directly impacting user adoption, platform scalability, and the ability to enter new market segments within the legal tech industry. The emphasis on workflow automation and AI integration positions this role as crucial for improving operational efficiency for Clio's customers, which in turn drives revenue growth and customer retention.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the design direction and implementation for expanding Clio's offerings into new and existing practice areas, from client intake through case resolution.
• Develop and refine user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs for complex legal workflows, considering various firm sizes and specialties.
• Conduct and leverage user research, data analysis, and competitive insights to identify user needs and opportunities for design innovation.
• Partner with Product Managers to define product roadmaps and feature sets aligned with strategic business objectives and customer demands.
• Work closely with Engineering teams to ensure design feasibility, quality implementation, and adherence to technical constraints.
• Contribute to and advocate for the use of Clio's design system, ensuring a cohesive and high-quality user experience across the platform.
• Mentor and guide junior designers, sharing expertise in complex systems design, prototyping techniques, and impactful storytelling for design presentations.
• Actively promote and implement accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design principles in all design outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "drive the agenda and make their mark" in a "nascent space for Clio" indicates a high level of autonomy and strategic influence for this Senior Designer. This implies a need for strong business acumen, understanding of market entry strategies, and the ability to influence cross-functional roadmaps, which are critical for GTM success.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for senior-level design roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered. Experience: 6+ years of professional product design experience, with a strong preference for experience within SaaS or enterprise software environments.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record in designing complex, high-impact domains, such as workflow management tools or enterprise automation platforms.
• Mastery of UX craft, encompassing user research methodologies, data analysis, interaction design, visual design principles, and advanced prototyping.
• Proficiency with design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma.
• Solid understanding of service design and systems design, including experience in mapping, automating, and optimizing collaborative workflows.
• Experience designing for or experimenting with AI/ML solutions, intelligent workflows, personalization, or automation features.
• Deep knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and a commitment to inclusive design practices.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor junior designers and foster a collaborative team environment.
• Enthusiasm for continuous learning and adapting to new technologies and design trends.

Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience working within the legal industry or legal technology sector.
• Familiarity with cloud-based software architecture and its implications for user experience.
• Experience in defining and scaling design systems across large product portfolios.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "6+ years of product design experience" and the expectation to "coach and mentor designers" firmly place this role at a senior individual contributor level, requiring not only strong individual design skills but also leadership potential and the ability to elevate the entire design team's output.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end design process for complex SaaS or enterprise software products, highlighting problem definition, user research, ideation, prototyping, and final implementation across various practice areas.
• Demonstrate experience in designing intricate, collaborative workflows and systems, with clear articulation of how these solutions simplified user tasks and improved efficiency.
• Include case studies that feature the integration of automation, AI, or intelligent features, detailing the user impact and design rationale.
• Present examples of contributions to or creation of design systems, illustrating how consistency, scalability, and accessibility were maintained.
• Highlight projects that required significant cross-functional collaboration with Product, Engineering, and Data Science teams, showcasing your ability to influence and align stakeholders.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly document the user research methodologies employed, including qualitative and quantitative data analysis used to inform design decisions.
• Detail the design exploration and iteration process, including rationale for key design choices and trade-offs made.
• Provide visual representations of workflow mapping, system architecture, and user journey maps where applicable to illustrate complex systems.
• Quantify the impact of your design solutions, ideally with metrics related to user adoption, task completion rates, efficiency gains, or error reduction.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role focused on complex workflows and practice areas, a portfolio is critical. It should not just display visual work but also a deep understanding of problem-solving, strategic thinking, and the ability to articulate the "why" behind design decisions, especially in a domain like legal tech where complexity is inherent.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $128,400 - $173,600 CAD annually.

• The target hiring range is between the minimum and the midpoint ($128,400 - $151,000 CAD).
• The upper portion of the band ($151,000 - $173,600 CAD) is reserved for internal high performers.
• Salary bands may differ based on location and local currency.

Benefits:

• Competitive, equitable salary.
• Top-tier health benefits, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible time off policy, with an encouraged minimum of 20 days per year.
• $2000 annual counseling benefit.
• RRSP matching.
• RESP contribution.
• Clioversary recognition program (special acknowledgement at 3, 5, 7, and 10 years).

Working Hours:

• This is a full-time role. While specific daily hours are not detailed, the hybrid work environment and flexible time off policy suggest a degree of flexibility. Standard professional working hours are expected, with the understanding that occasional adjustments may be needed for project deadlines or cross-time zone collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided in CAD, indicating a strong focus on Canadian talent. However, remote roles are also available in the USA, where separate salary bands based on local currency and cost of living will apply. The explicit mention of salary bands for internal employees reinforces a performance-driven compensation structure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Legal Technology (LegalTech) and Software as a Service (SaaS). Clio is a leader in modernizing the legal industry, aiming to improve access to justice and the lives of legal professionals. Company Size: While not explicitly stated in the raw data, Clio is a well-established and rapidly growing tech company, likely in the mid-to-large enterprise category, with a significant global presence. Founded: Clio was founded in 2008. Its history is marked by consistent growth, innovation, and a mission-driven approach to transforming the legal sector.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will be part of the core Design team, which is deeply integrated with Product Management, Engineering, Research, and Data Science.
• This role is a strategic individual contributor, expected to work closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads on the "Practice Areas" initiative.
• Collaboration is key, with frequent interaction with AI/ML teams to leverage advanced technologies in product development.
• The role also includes mentoring responsibilities, indicating a supportive and knowledge-sharing culture within the design team.

Methodology:

• Clio emphasizes a user-centered design approach, driven by deep understanding of user needs, leveraging research and real-world data.
• There's a strong focus on building "smart, scalable systems" that support a wide range of practice areas and firm types, suggesting a commitment to robust architecture and design thinking.
• Integration of AI and automation is a strategic priority, guiding how workflows are designed to be more efficient and intelligent.
• The company values accessibility and inclusion, ensuring their products are usable by everyone.

Company Website: https://www.clio.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Clio's mission to "better legal professionals' lives" and "increase access to justice" is a strong cultural anchor. For a designer, this means working on a product with a tangible positive impact, which can be a significant motivator and a key selling point for candidates. The emphasis on "human" workflows also suggests a focus on user empathy and intuitive design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, which typically signifies an experienced individual contributor with the ability to lead projects, mentor others, and influence product strategy. It's a critical role within the product development lifecycle, bridging user needs with business objectives. Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Director of Product Design. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads on specific product initiatives. Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant. By owning the design for "practice area expansion" and integrating AI/automation, the designer directly influences:

• Revenue Growth: Enabling deeper adoption of Clio by lawyers in specialized practice areas, and facilitating entry into new legal domains.
• Customer Retention: Creating more intuitive and efficient workflows that make Clio indispensable to legal professionals.
• Platform Scalability: Designing flexible systems that can accommodate future growth and new legal practice areas without requiring complete redesigns.
• Market Differentiation: Leveraging AI and automation to create a superior user experience that sets Clio apart from competitors.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, and potentially move into a Lead Designer or Management role in the future.
• Strategic Influence: Direct involvement in shaping the future direction of Clio's product suite, particularly in emerging areas like AI integration and practice area specialization.
• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in complex systems design, workflow automation, AI-driven product features, and legal tech.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain extensive experience collaborating with Product, Engineering, AI/ML teams, and potentially GTM teams to understand the full product lifecycle.
• Industry Expertise: Become a subject matter expert in legal tech design and workflow optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "nascent space for Clio" aspect of this role presents a unique growth opportunity for a designer to truly build and shape a significant part of the product from the ground up, offering substantial career development and impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Clio operates a hybrid work model. For employees located near their hubs (Burnaby, Calgary, Toronto, Dublin), there's an expectation to be in the office a minimum of two days per week on designated "Anchor Days." This suggests a collaborative, in-person component to the work environment. Office Location(s):

• Primary hubs mentioned: Burnaby, BC; Calgary, AB; Toronto, ON; Dublin, Ireland.
• Remote work is permitted for candidates across Canada and the USA.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model promotes a blend of focused individual work (remote) and collaborative team sessions (in-office).
• The expectation of "Anchor Days" in the office is designed to foster team cohesion, spontaneous collaboration, and stronger working relationships.
• Designers will have access to modern design tools and technologies, with Figma explicitly mentioned as the primary tool.
• The close collaboration with Product, Engineering, and AI teams suggests a fast-paced, innovative, and intellectually stimulating work environment.

Work Schedule:

• This is a full-time position. While specific hours aren't detailed, the hybrid model and flexible time off policy suggest a modern, employee-centric approach to work-life balance. Standard professional working hours will apply, with flexibility for remote work across different time zones within Canada and the USA.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Anchor Days" in the office are a strategic choice to balance the benefits of remote work with the advantages of in-person collaboration for key team activities. This setup is common in tech companies aiming to maintain culture and foster innovation.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will likely conduct an initial review of applications and conduct a brief screening call to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Candidates will be asked to submit a portfolio showcasing relevant work. A design challenge or a deep dive into portfolio case studies will be a key component, assessing problem-solving skills, design process, and strategic thinking. Expect to discuss your approach to complex workflows, AI integration, and accessibility.
• Hiring Manager/Team Interviews: Interviews with the hiring manager (likely a Design Lead or Manager) and potential cross-functional collaborators (Product Managers, Engineering Leads, other Designers) to evaluate technical skills, collaboration style, and alignment with team dynamics.
• Final Round: Potentially a discussion with senior leadership or a final presentation to assess strategic thinking, communication skills, and overall fit with Clio's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 projects that best demonstrate your experience with complex workflows, SaaS products, and ideally, AI/automation or systems design. Prioritize projects where you had significant ownership.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role and process, the key design decisions you made (and why), the challenges you faced, and the measurable impact of your work. Use visuals effectively but focus on the narrative.
• Highlight Workflow & Systems Thinking: Explicitly show how you mapped, analyzed, and optimized workflows. Demonstrate your understanding of interconnected systems and how your designs fit into the larger product architecture.
• Showcase AI/Automation Experience: If you have relevant projects, detail your approach to designing for AI-powered features or automation. Discuss how you ensured user trust, transparency, and desirable outcomes.
• Emphasize Accessibility: Detail your approach to incorporating WCAG standards and inclusive design principles.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased user engagement, reduced task time, improved conversion rates).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design exercise that may involve analyzing a complex problem space, mapping out user flows, or proposing design solutions for a given scenario related to legal workflows or AI integration.
• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, as if presenting to stakeholders. Focus on your problem-solving approach, not just the final UI.
• Research Clio's existing products and understand their current design language and user experience. Consider how your proposed solutions would integrate.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Senior" title and focus on "practice areas," expect interviewers to probe deeply into your strategic thinking, ability to handle ambiguity, and your approach to designing for domain-specific complexity. Your portfolio should reflect this depth.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as the primary tool for design and prototyping. Proficiency in Figma, including its collaboration features, is essential.
• Design System Tools: Experience with tools for managing and contributing to design systems (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight, or Figma's own capabilities).
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools for complex interactions or user testing might be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Hotjar, SurveyMonkey).
• Data Analysis Tools: Familiarity with how to interpret user data and analytics to inform design decisions. While not a data analyst role, understanding how to leverage data is key. This might include tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or internal BI tools.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM/Automation role, understanding how product designs integrate with CRM systems (like Salesforce, which Clio itself might use internally for sales/support) and workflow automation tools is advantageous.
• Familiarity with AI/ML platforms or tools that enable intelligent workflows would be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mastery of Figma is non-negotiable. Given the emphasis on complex workflows and AI, understanding how to design for data integration, automation triggers, and intelligent feedback loops within the product will be highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to improving the lives of legal professionals and increasing access to justice. This should translate into a passion for solving real-world problems for users.
• User-Centricity: Deep empathy for users and a dedication to understanding their needs through research and data.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: A culture that values working together across disciplines to achieve common goals. The hybrid model and "Anchor Days" reinforce this.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: An environment that encourages experimentation, learning, and the adoption of new technologies like AI.
• Inclusion & Belonging: A commitment to creating a diverse and equitable workplace where everyone can thrive.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly cross-functional, involving close partnerships with Product Management, Engineering, AI/ML, and potentially Marketing/GTM teams.
• Emphasis on open communication, constructive feedback, and shared ownership of product outcomes.
• Designers are expected to be advocates for the user while balancing technical feasibility and business objectives.
• Mentorship and knowledge sharing are encouraged, fostering a supportive learning environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Clio's stated values of "Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Equity (DIBE)" are central. Candidates should demonstrate how they embody these values in their work and interactions, particularly in how they approach inclusive design and team collaboration.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complexity: The legal industry is inherently complex, with diverse practice areas, regulations, and user workflows. Designing intuitive solutions for this complexity is a significant challenge.
• Balancing Nascent Space with Scalability: Developing new practice area solutions from the ground up while ensuring they are built on a scalable, future-proof foundation.
• Integrating AI Effectively: Designing AI-powered features that are genuinely helpful, transparent, and trustworthy for legal professionals, avoiding "black box" experiences.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent vision and execution across Design, Product, and Engineering, especially when working with AI/ML teams who may have different development cycles.
• Remote/Hybrid Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and maintaining strong team cohesion in a hybrid work environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Legal Tech: Gain invaluable expertise in the unique challenges and opportunities within the legal technology sector.
• AI/ML Product Design: Develop specialized skills in designing for AI-driven products, a rapidly growing and in-demand field.
• Systems and Workflow Design Mastery: Hone skills in mapping, optimizing, and automating complex business processes.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunities to grow as a mentor and potentially take on more strategic leadership responsibilities.
• Industry Conferences & Training: Potential for participation in relevant design and legal tech conferences or specialized training.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "nascent space for Clio" presents a significant challenge but also a prime opportunity for a designer to leave a lasting impact and build a strong portfolio of work in a cutting-edge area of legal tech.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a highly complex domain or industry. What was your approach, and what were the key challenges?" (Focus on your process for understanding domain specifics and translating them into user-centric solutions.)
• "How would you approach designing an AI-powered feature to automate a specific legal task, like document review or client intake? What are the ethical considerations?" (Demonstrate your understanding of AI UX, transparency, and user trust.)
• "Clio is expanding into new practice areas. How would you ensure your designs are flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of legal disciplines while maintaining a cohesive user experience?" (Discuss your approach to systems thinking, modular design, and scalable patterns.)
• "How do you balance user needs with technical constraints and business objectives when designing complex software?" (Highlight your collaboration with Product and Engineering, and your ability to make trade-offs.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Clio and our mission to transform the legal industry?" (Show genuine interest in the mission and impact.)
• "How have you contributed to fostering an inclusive and equitable design environment in your previous roles?" (Provide specific examples of your commitment to DIBE.)
• "Describe your experience mentoring junior designers. What is your philosophy on mentorship?" (Show your leadership potential and willingness to support others.)
• "How do you approach collaboration in a hybrid work environment?" (Discuss your strategies for effective communication and teamwork across different work settings.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Research & Insights -> Design Process (Ideation, Iteration, Challenges) -> Solution -> Impact/Results.
• Focus on "Why": Be prepared to explain the rationale behind every significant design decision.
• Demonstrate Workflow Expertise: Use diagrams, flowcharts, or journey maps to visually represent your understanding of complex workflows.
• Quantify Impact: Present metrics clearly. If exact metrics are unavailable, discuss potential impact and how you would measure success.
• Accessibility Integration: Specifically point out how accessibility was considered and implemented in your designs.
• Engage the Interviewer: Treat it as a collaborative discussion, inviting questions and feedback throughout your presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior role, expect questions that probe your strategic thinking, problem-solving methodology, and ability to lead and influence. Your portfolio presentation should reflect this senior-level capability.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Clio Careers portal via the provided URL.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience with SaaS, complex workflows, AI/automation, and systems design. Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible and prominently features projects that align with the role's requirements, especially those demonstrating end-to-end design ownership and impact.
• Resume Optimization: Use keywords from the job description such as "Product Design," "SaaS," "Workflow Tools," "Automation," "AI Solutions," "Figma," "Accessibility," and "Systems Design." Quantify your achievements with specific metrics wherever possible.
• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research Clio, its mission, products, and design philosophy. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and practice articulating your design process and portfolio projects clearly and concisely. Be ready to discuss your approach to complex problems and cross-functional collaboration.
• Company Research: Understand Clio's position in the legal tech market, their commitment to DIBE, and the benefits of their hybrid work model. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.

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