UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer

Company: DLA Piper

Location: Northern Virginia, United States (Hybrid)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Digital Design & User Experience Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-02

Experience Level: 3-5 years

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and implement user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) solutions for DLA Piper's diverse digital properties, including websites, dashboards, intranets, apps, and extranets.

• Develop, document, and maintain comprehensive visual design systems to ensure a cohesive brand identity and consistent user journey across all digital touchpoints.

• Craft intuitive user flows, sitemaps, and detailed user personas to advocate for diverse audience needs and optimize navigation.

• Conduct user research and usability testing, leveraging website analytics to identify friction points and inform data-driven design improvements.

• Create scalable, responsive, and accessible web design components and email campaigns that align with the firm's visual identity and brand goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a legal services firm, indicating a need for design solutions that are not only user-friendly and visually appealing but also adhere to strict brand guidelines, accessibility standards (WCAG), and potentially complex information architecture common in enterprise environments. The emphasis on "digital design systems" and "scalable web design components" points towards a need for operational efficiency in design, enabling quicker deployment and consistent application of brand elements across various digital platforms. The inclusion of "GEO" (Generative Engine Optimization) alongside SEO suggests a forward-thinking approach to digital discoverability.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and implement UX and UI solutions for a variety of digital platforms, including websites, microsites, dashboards, intranets, apps, and extranets.

• Develop, document, maintain, and build comprehensive visual design systems under the guidance of the Sr Manager, Digital Design.

• Map out intuitive user flows, sitemaps, and journeys to ensure logical navigation and enhance user understanding.

• Utilize Figma to create low-to-high fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes to visualize functionality before development.

• Create and refine detailed user personas to advocate for the user and ensure design strategies align with the specific needs of diverse audience groups.

• Conduct comprehensive UX research, usability testing, and analyze website analytics data to gather insights on user friction points and behaviors, implementing educated, data-driven design improvements.

• Create scalable web design components to be used across multiple digital touchpoints, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

• Apply a strong understanding of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) best practices to ensure digital designs are optimized for discoverability and performance.

• Assist in the design and creation of visually engaging email campaigns, ensuring alignment with brand standards and overall communication goals.

• Actively participate in weekly team meetings; comprehend project expectations, communicate updates effectively, and consistently meet deadlines.

• Manage assigned project tasks from concept to completion, ensuring clarity and consistency in the firm's branding and messaging.

• Assist with day-to-day operations of the brand function, contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the team.

• Availability to work outside regular hours for high-profile projects if necessary, demonstrating commitment and flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative design execution and operational management of design assets. The expectation to "develop, document, and maintain comprehensive visual design systems" is a core operational responsibility, ensuring scalability and consistency. The emphasis on "data-driven design improvements" through UX research and analytics underscores the analytical component of the role, crucial for optimizing digital performance and demonstrating ROI.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in UX/UI Design, Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field.

• Master's Degree in UX/UI Design or a related field is preferred. Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in print and digital design.

• Proven work experience as a Graphic Designer or similar role, with a focus on UX/UI.

• Experience working within enterprise Content Management Systems (CMS) such as Sitecore and Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a strong plus. Required Skills:

• Strong and dynamic design portfolio showcasing a solid foundation in UX/UI and visual design principles.

• Advanced, high-level proficiency in Figma for creating comprehensive design systems and branded assets.

• Experience crafting intuitive components for multimedia web platforms.

• Experience in the design and creation of email campaigns.

• Solid understanding of UX research methodologies and usability testing.

• Understanding of current SEO and GEO best practices for digital optimization.

• Understanding of responsive design principles and accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Basic knowledge of front-end development concepts (HTML/CSS) for effective developer handoff.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a focus on customer service.

• Willingness to adapt to evolving project needs and work on diverse projects.

• Solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office software, including PowerPoint and Word.

• Demonstrated follow-through and self-starter mentality.

• Ability to successfully work within a team environment and collaborate effectively.

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

• Excellent organizational skills for managing multiple projects.

• Excellent digital file management skills. Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud software (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.) is a plus.

• Ability to leverage AI tools to enhance the design workflow is highly desired.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for advanced Figma proficiency and the emphasis on "design systems" and "scalable web design components" suggest that candidates should be adept at creating reusable elements and establishing design frameworks. The inclusion of "basic front-end development (HTML/CSS) for better developer handoff" indicates the need for practical understanding of implementation, bridging the gap between design and development operations. The explicit mention of Sitecore and Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) points to a preference for candidates with experience in enterprise-level CMS platforms, which are critical for managing large-scale digital operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3 years of professional digital design work, with a strong emphasis on UX/UI principles.

• Feature comprehensive design system examples created in Figma, demonstrating scalability and brand consistency across various digital touchpoints.

• Include case studies detailing user journey mapping, persona development, and the application of UX research and usability testing to inform design decisions.

• Present examples of interactive prototypes created in Figma, illustrating intuitive user flows and web page functionality.

• Demonstrate proficiency in creating scalable web design components and visually engaging email campaigns.

• Highlight understanding and application of SEO and GEO best practices within design solutions.

• Include examples of designs adhering to responsive design principles and accessibility standards (WCAG). Process Documentation:

• Detail the process of developing and maintaining design systems, including documentation standards and version control.

• Illustrate the methodology for conducting UX research, usability testing, and analyzing website analytics to drive design improvements.

• Showcase the workflow for creating user personas, user flows, and sitemaps, emphasizing clarity and user advocacy.

• Document the process for collaborating with developers, including best practices for handoff and ensuring accurate implementation of designs.

• Explain how design solutions were aligned with broader business objectives and brand goals, demonstrating strategic thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, a portfolio is not just a collection of past work but a demonstration of operational design capability. Candidates should highlight their ability to create and manage design systems, which are foundational to efficient and consistent digital operations. The emphasis on process documentation within the portfolio should focus on the methodologies used for research, testing, and collaboration, showcasing a structured and analytical approach to design problem-solving.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $41.20 - $65.52 per hour (approximately $85,700 - $136,000 annually, assuming a 40-hour work week)

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical insurance.

• Dental insurance.

• Vision insurance.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan.

Working Hours: Standard 40 hours per week, with potential for overtime outside regular hours for high-profile projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided hourly range of $41.20 - $65.52 for a UX/UI Designer with 3-5 years of experience in the Northern Virginia area is within the typical market rate for such a role, especially within a large professional services firm. This range reflects a blend of specialized design skills, the required proficiency in Figma, and the operational demands of managing digital design systems. The inclusion of "non-exempt positions will be paid on an hourly basis and paid overtime in accordance with applicable laws" confirms the role's classification and the expectation of overtime compensation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Legal Services

Company Size: DLA Piper is a large, global law firm, indicating a complex organizational structure and a significant digital footprint. This size suggests a need for robust, scalable design operations that can support a wide array of internal and external digital initiatives.

Founded: DLA Piper has a long history, established through mergers of prominent law firms, bringing together extensive legal expertise and established operational practices.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Designer will likely be part of a broader Digital Design or Marketing/Communications team, reporting to a Sr Manager, Digital Design.

• Collaboration will be cross-functional, involving developers, content strategists, SEO specialists, and potentially project managers across various departments within the firm.

• The team structure emphasizes a blend of specialized roles within a supportive environment, aligning with the firm's stated values of being collaborative and supportive. Methodology:

• Data-driven design improvements through UX research and analytics will be a core methodology.

• Development and maintenance of digital design systems will ensure consistency and efficiency in design operations.

• Agile or iterative approaches to design and development are likely employed, given the need to adapt to evolving project needs and work on diverse projects.

• Emphasis on clear communication and project management for concept-to-completion task execution.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: As a global legal firm, DLA Piper's culture likely values precision, professionalism, and efficiency. For a UX/UI Designer, this translates to a need for designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, compliant, and supportive of complex legal workflows and client interactions. The "bold, exceptional, collaborative and supportive" ethos suggests an environment where innovation is encouraged, but within a structured framework.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is an intermediate-level position (3-5 years of experience), focusing on the execution and operational management of UX/UI design within a large enterprise. It's a crucial role for maintaining digital consistency and user experience across a global firm.

Reporting Structure: The UX/UI Designer reports to the Sr Manager, Digital Design. This structure allows for direct guidance, mentorship, and alignment with broader digital strategy and operations.

Operations Impact: The UX/UI Designer directly impacts the firm's digital presence, influencing client engagement, internal user productivity, and brand perception. By creating intuitive and efficient digital interfaces, they contribute to smoother operations, better information access, and enhanced user satisfaction, which indirectly supports business development and client retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as design system management, accessibility standards (WCAG), or UX research methodologies.

• Leadership: Potential to move into a Senior UX/UI Designer role, leading projects or mentoring junior designers, and contributing more significantly to design strategy.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Develop a stronger understanding of front-end development, CMS operations (Sitecore, AEM), and SEO/GEO strategy through close collaboration.

• Project Management: Gain experience managing design projects from inception to completion, enhancing project management and operational planning skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for a UX/UI Designer at a firm like DLA Piper often involves moving from execution to strategic contribution. The emphasis on design systems and enterprise CMS platforms provides a solid foundation for operational leadership in digital design. The opportunity to influence "digital properties" and "brand goals" suggests a role with significant visibility and impact on the firm's overall digital strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work schedule, allowing for a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration.

Office Location(s): Multiple U.S. office locations are available, including Northern Virginia, Reston, VA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, and Wilmington, DE. This offers flexibility for candidates.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires active participation in weekly team meetings and cross-functional collaboration, suggesting an environment that values teamwork and shared problem-solving.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma and potentially Adobe Creative Cloud, along with enterprise CMS platforms, will be available.

• Operations Focus: The workspace will support the operational demands of managing digital assets, adhering to brand guidelines, and executing design projects efficiently.

Work Schedule: Primarily standard business hours, but with an expectation of availability outside regular hours for high-profile projects, reflecting the demands of a global professional services firm.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model is a significant aspect of the work environment, offering flexibility while maintaining opportunities for in-person collaboration essential for design system development and team cohesion. The availability across multiple locations provides geographic options, which can be a crucial factor for operations professionals seeking to balance work and personal life.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio, focusing on demonstrated UX/UI skills, Figma proficiency, and design system experience.

• Skills Assessment: Potentially a design challenge or a portfolio walkthrough session where candidates present their work, explain their design process, and discuss problem-solving strategies. This will assess their understanding of UX research, usability testing, and data-driven improvements.

• Team/Manager Interviews: Discussions focused on collaboration style, adaptability, communication skills, and understanding of enterprise design operations within a legal context. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they handle feedback and manage competing project demands.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to assess cultural fit and strategic alignment with the firm's digital goals and brand initiatives.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Design Systems: Dedicate a significant portion of your portfolio to showcasing your experience in creating, documenting, and maintaining design systems. Emphasize reusability, scalability, and consistency.

• Figma Proficiency: Clearly demonstrate advanced Figma skills, including component libraries, auto layout, prototyping, and collaboration features.

• Process & Rationale: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your process (research, ideation, testing), the rationale behind your design decisions, and the impact or results achieved. Use data where possible to support your claims.

• Accessibility & SEO/GEO: Explicitly show how you incorporated accessibility (WCAG) and SEO/GEO best practices into your designs.

• Case Studies: Structure your portfolio around compelling case studies that tell a story about how you solved a user problem or improved a digital experience.

• Conciseness: While thoroughness is key, ensure your portfolio is well-organized and easy to navigate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design System Exercise: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building or expanding a design system for a specific digital property within a law firm.

• Problem-Solving Scenario: Anticipate questions about how you would handle a complex UX challenge, such as improving the user experience of a legal document management portal or optimizing a client intake form. Focus on your analytical and problem-solving approach.

• Collaboration & Handoff: Prepare to discuss your process for collaborating with developers and other stakeholders, ensuring smooth design handoffs and clear communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process will heavily rely on the candidate's portfolio as a primary indicator of their design system capabilities and operational efficiency. The interview will likely probe into their ability to translate design principles into actionable, scalable solutions within a corporate legal environment, emphasizing their understanding of process and collaboration.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for creating wireframes, mockups, interactive prototypes, and comprehensive design systems. High-level proficiency is a mandatory requirement.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Proficiency in software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is a plus for graphic design tasks and asset creation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Website Analytics Tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics): Used for gathering insights on user behavior, friction points, and performance metrics to inform design decisions.

• UX Research Platforms: Tools for conducting usability testing, surveys, and user interviews to gather qualitative and quantitative data.

CRM & Automation:

• Enterprise Content Management Systems (CMS): Direct experience with Sitecore and Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a strong plus for managing and deploying digital content and experiences.

• Project Management Software (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello): Likely used for managing project tasks, workflows, and team collaboration.

• Microsoft Office Suite: Solid working knowledge of PowerPoint for presentations and Word for documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma as a primary tool, coupled with the desire for experience in enterprise CMS platforms like Sitecore and AEM, highlights the operational aspect of this role. Proficiency in these tools is critical for maintaining and scaling the firm's digital presence effectively. The mention of "AI tools to enhance the design workflow" indicates a forward-looking approach to leveraging technology for operational efficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence: A commitment to delivering high-quality, exceptional design work that meets rigorous professional standards.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with cross-functional teams, sharing knowledge, and supporting colleagues to achieve shared goals.

• Supportiveness: A culture where team members are encouraged to grow, learn, and support each other's professional development.

• Efficiency: A focus on streamlined processes, reusable components (design systems), and data-driven improvements to optimize digital operations.

• Client-Centricity: Designing with the end-user (clients, internal staff) in mind, ensuring intuitive and effective digital experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with developers, SEO specialists, content strategists, and potentially project managers to ensure seamless execution of digital projects.

• Feedback Exchange: An open culture for providing and receiving constructive feedback on designs and processes, crucial for iterative improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement to share best practices, insights from research, and learnings from design system development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The firm's stated values of "bold, exceptional, collaborative and supportive" are directly reflected in the team culture expectations. For an operations-focused design role, this means a blend of innovative thinking, a commitment to high standards, and a practical approach to teamwork and process improvement.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with User Needs: Ensuring that design solutions adhere to strict legal firm branding while also meeting the diverse and evolving needs of various user groups.

• Managing a Large Design System: Maintaining and scaling a comprehensive design system across a global enterprise presents ongoing challenges in version control, documentation, and adoption.

• Integrating New Technologies: Staying abreast of and integrating emerging technologies like AI tools into the design workflow efficiently and effectively.

• Cross-Functional Communication: Effectively communicating design rationale and technical requirements to non-design stakeholders, including legal professionals and developers with varying technical backgrounds.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Management: Opportunities to lead the development and implementation of advanced design system features and governance models.

• UX Research Specialization: Deepen expertise in qualitative and quantitative UX research methodologies, contributing to more strategic insights.

• Enterprise CMS Mastery: Gain in-depth experience with Sitecore and Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), becoming a subject matter expert in their operational use for design.

• AI in Design: Explore and implement AI-powered tools for design automation, content generation, and user insights.

• Professional Certifications: Potential for certifications in UX/UI design, accessibility, or specific CMS platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges in this role are deeply rooted in the operational complexities of a large, established organization. Successfully navigating these challenges offers significant opportunities for professional growth, particularly in areas of system governance, strategic design implementation, and cross-functional operational leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed or significantly contributed to a design system. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and what were the results?" (Focus on process, documentation, and scalability)

• "How do you approach balancing a firm's established brand guidelines with the need for innovative and user-centric design solutions?" (Highlight strategic thinking and negotiation skills)

• "Walk us through your process for conducting UX research and usability testing. How do you translate findings into actionable design improvements?" (Emphasize data-driven decision-making and analytical skills) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you ensure accessibility (WCAG) is a core consideration in your design process, especially for an enterprise like DLA Piper?" (Demonstrate understanding of compliance and inclusivity)

• "What is your experience with hybrid work environments and collaborating with remote teams? How do you maintain team cohesion and productivity?" (Showcase adaptability and collaborative spirit)

• "How do you stay current with design trends and new technologies like AI, and how might you apply them in a legal firm context?" (Highlight continuous learning and forward-thinking) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation around 2-3 key projects that best showcase your design system, UX research, and Figma capabilities.

• Narrative: For each project, tell a clear story: the problem, your approach, the solutions you designed, and the impact. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Process Emphasis: Clearly articulate your design process, research methodologies, and the rationale behind your decisions.

• Tool Proficiency: Be ready to demonstrate your Figma skills live or by showing detailed examples of component libraries, interactive prototypes, and design system documentation.

• Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, how you handle feedback, and your experience with enterprise-level projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design talent, but also operational capability – the ability to build, maintain, and scale design solutions within a structured corporate environment. Your portfolio should be the centerpiece, illustrating your process and impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application directly through the DLA Piper careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature your experience with design systems, advanced Figma usage, and UX research. Highlight projects that demonstrate scalability, brand consistency, and data-driven design improvements relevant to an enterprise or professional services context.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 3+ years of professional design experience, highlighting specific skills in UX/UI, Figma, accessibility (WCAG), SEO/GEO, and any experience with enterprise CMS platforms like Sitecore or AEM. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on your design process, problem-solving approach, and the operational impact of your work. Prepare to discuss your experience with hybrid work and cross-functional collaboration.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with DLA Piper’s digital presence, brand identity, and values. Understand the unique operational challenges and opportunities within the legal industry for UX/UI design.

⚠️ 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.