Legal Counsel

SkillsWave Corporation; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading upskilling platform provider is seeking a Legal Counsel to guide the organization through Canadian and U.S. law complexities. This role involves drafting and negotiating agreements, ensuring compliance, and providing practical legal guidance for internal stakeholders. The ideal candidate has 3–5 years of legal experience with a background in SaaS agreements and cross-border employment law. The position offers remote and hybrid working options.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Vacation and Rest Days

Health and Wellness

Retirement Savings Plan

Professional Development

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of legal experience, ideally with a mix of law firm and in-house exposure.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex SaaS/software agreements.
• Solid grounding in cross-border employment law.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of agreements.
• Ensure compliance in areas such as privacy and corporate governance.
• Provide practical guidance on Canadian and U.S. employment law.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication

Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities

Organized and detail-oriented

Technologically adept

Ability to manage multiple priorities

Education

L.L.B. or J.D. and called to the bar in Canada and/or the U.S.

Job description

Overview

About SkillsWave

SkillsWave is on a mission to drive people and businesses forward—building tomorrow’s most valued skills, today. By providing quality learning opportunities that align with organizational needs, we’re helping organizations transform their workforce into a competitive advantage. Our upskilling platform and strategic education partnerships deliver measurable ROI for learning. To learn more, visit SkillsWave.com.

Role

Dive into an exciting role as Legal Counsel. Reporting to the Head of Operations, you’ll guide SkillsWave through the dynamic waters of Canadian and U.S. law while supporting our people, protecting our innovations, and enabling our expansion. This role requires curiosity, adaptability, sound judgment, and the ability to simplify complexity to provide clear, business-friendly guidance. As a trusted advisor, you’ll shape SkillsWave’s legal foundation, manage external counsel relationships, and help build the organization’s legal maturity as we scale.

Your Location

This position offers a remote option along with a hybrid option if you are located in the Kitchener/Waterloo area and want to use our space at Catalyst Commons. We’re excited to welcome exceptional individuals who will bring their skills and passion to our team.

Responsibilities

• Proven ability to draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of agreements — including SaaS, licensing, vendor, and partnership contracts — with strong attention to IP, liability, and risk allocation.
• Ensure compliance in areas such as privacy, corporate governance, and workplace regulations.
• Support growth opportunities including new incorporations, financing, and strategic transactions.
• Manage relationships with external counsel in areas like IP, tax, and litigation.
• Provide practical guidance on Canadian and U.S. employment law for hiring, policies, employee relations, and terminations.
• Create scalable templates, playbooks, and processes to support scalable operations.
• Act as a trusted advisor who translates legal complexity into clear, actionable business guidance.

Qualifications

• L.L.B. or J.D. and called to the bar in Canada and/or the U.S. (dual admission is advantageous)
• 3–5 years of legal experience, ideally with a mix of law firm and in-house exposure
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex SaaS/software agreements and other commercial contracts with strong IP, liability, indemnity, and regulatory understanding
• Solid grounding in cross-border employment law and general commercial practices with practical, business-focused guidance
• Balanced approach to risk and business pragmatism

Your Skills and Expertise

• Excellent written and verbal communication; the ability to simplify complex legal topics
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities
• Organized, detail-oriented, and capable of working independently in a fast-paced environment
• Technologically adept and comfortable with modern collaboration tools
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining composure

Team Qualities

• An Enthusiastic Perspective: self-starter with curiosity and empathy for stakeholders
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: initiative, creativity, and ownership to drive innovation
• Strategic Legal Acumen: knowledge of Canadian and U.S. commercial and employment law
• Analytical Excellence: interpret complex contracts and regulations into actionable insights
• Hands-on Execution: draft, review, negotiate, and oversee compliance in a lean environment
• Communication & Influence: translate legal concepts into clear language for leaders and partners
• Adaptability & Agility: thrive in fast-paced, evolving startups
• Collaboration & Partnership: work cross-functionally with People & Culture, Finance, Product
• Integrity and Ethics: uphold high ethical standards and confidentiality

What You Will Bring to the Team

• An Enthusiastic Perspective: Independent self-starter who questions, solutions with empathy, and drives change
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Proactive with initiative and ownership to drive growth
• Strategic Legal Acumen: Applies Canadian and U.S. law to support scaling and cross-border growth
• Analytical Excellence: Interprets contracts and regulations to provide business-friendly insights
• Hands-on Execution: Comfortable drafting and negotiating while overseeing governance in a lean environment
• Communication & Influence: Distills complex concepts into clear language for stakeholders
• Adaptability & Agility: Thrives in changing startup environments
• Collaboration & Partnership: Partners with teams across the business
• Integrity and Ethics: Maintains confidentiality and ethical standards

Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Vacation and Rest Days
• Health and Wellness
• Retirement Savings Plan
• Professional Development

Background Check Notice: As part of our hiring process, SkillsWave may conduct a background check to ensure the safety and security of our workplace.

Consent and Privacy

By submitting your application, you acknowledge and consent to the following: information provided may be used to process your application, stored in vendor systems, shared with related companies and partners for processing, and may be used to contact you for future opportunities. Privacy policies apply.

The SkillsWave family of companies and its partners may operate in jurisdictions different from yours. For more information, review SkillsWave Privacy Policy.

Notes: SkillsWave does not accept agency resumes. No fees will be paid for unsolicited resumes.