Corporate Counsel

Duolingo; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 153,000 - 207,000; Full time

Job summary

Duolingo seeks a Corporate Counsel to partner with Managing Counsel on corporate matters, including securities, governance, and M&A. You’ll also support international, employment, real estate, and risk management initiatives, collaborating with Finance, People, Workplace, and leadership, while managing outside counsel efficiently.

The role emphasizes practical, business-forward guidance, templates, and playbooks to scale operations and ensure compliance, with a Pittsburgh-based office at the

Qualifications

• J.D. and active bar membership in good standing.
• 2+ years of relevant legal experience with exposure to public company securities, governance and corporate transactions.
• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills with ability to balance risk, speed, and business impact.
• Clear, concise communicator who can explain complex topics to non-lawyers and build trust with senior stakeholders.
• Ability to work from our Pittsburgh, PA office.

Responsibilities

• Support securities and public-company workstreams, including reporting, proxy materials, Section 16, and disclosures.
• Advise on securities policy, insider trading, and disclosure processes; help administer Insider Trading Policy.
• Governance support—board materials, approvals, templates, and subsidiary management.
• Support executive compensation and equity incentive plan matters.
• Provide guidance on international operations.
• Assist corporate development including M&A, JVs, partnerships, investments, and other complex transactions.
• Partner with People on recruiting, policies, and employment documents.
• Support real estate/workplace matters—leases, MSAs/SOWs, vendor agreements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a range of commercial agreements; build templates.
• Monitor regulatory developments and translate into practical guidance for stakeholders.
• Manage outside counsel budgets and scopes for timely, high-quality outcomes.
• Support other matters as needed.

Skills

Securities law

Governance

M&A experience

Contract drafting

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

J.D. or international equivalent

Job description

Our mission at Duolingo is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. It’s a big mission, and that’s where you come in!

About The Role

We’re looking for a Corporate Counsel to work closely with our Managing Counsel to support corporate matters, including, securities, governance, and M&A and strategic transactions. This is also an opportunity to work with the Managing Counsel to support a broader portfolio as a generalist in areas such as: international, employment, real estate/workplace, and risk management/insurance. You’ll be a member of the Legal team and collaborate with cross‑functional partners, including Finance, People, Workplace, and senior leadership, and outside counsel where needed, exercising sound judgment, crisp communication, and a practical, business‑forward approach.

You will

• Support securities and public‑company workstreams, including periodic and current reporting, proxy statement/annual meeting preparation, Section 16 matters, and disclosure processes.
• Counsel on policies and procedures relating to securities law compliance and disclosure matters; support the administration of Duolingo’s Insider Trading Policy
• Advise on corporate governance, related policies and approvals, board materials, and subsidiary management; maintain templates, processes and playbooks to keep operations efficient and compliant.
• Support executive compensation, equity compensation, and incentive compensation plan matters.
• Provide guidance on international operations.
• Partner on corporate development strategy and help support mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships, investments, and other complex corporate transactions.
• Serve as a legal partner to People on recruiting and hiring practices, policies and handbooks, accommodations, investigations, performance/separations, and employment documents (offers, confidentiality/IP, consulting/contractor agreements).
• Support real estate and workplace matters, including office leases, amendments, construction and services agreements, vendor MSAs/SOWs, and facilities operations issues.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a range of commercial agreements related to the above areas; create and iterate templates and checklists that increase speed and consistency.
• Monitor and synthesize relevant legal and regulatory developments (e.g., SEC, exchange rules, wage/hour, pay transparency, workplace safety), and translate them into practical guidance and training for stakeholders.
• Manage outside counsel efficiently, set clear scopes and budgets, and drive toward timely, high‑quality outcomes.
• Support other matters based on interest and business need.

You have

• J.D. (or international equivalent) and active bar membership in good standing.
• 2+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably in a fast‑paced environment, with direct exposure to public company securities, corporate governance and corporate transactions.
• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills; ability to balance risk, speed, and business impact with clear, actionable guidance under tight timelines.
• Clear, concise communicator who can explain complex topics to non‑lawyers and build trust with senior stakeholders.
• Proven ability to prioritize, create effective processes, and keep cross‑functional partners unblocked in a fast‑moving environment.
• Ability to work from our Pittsburgh, PA office.

Exceptional candidates will have

• Strong interest in Duolingo and its mission.
• Hands‑on experience running ’34 Act reporting cycles, proxy statement preparation processes, annual stockholder meetings, Section 16 and insider trading matters, and disclosure‑related workflows.
• Experience supporting board/committee governance and preparing high‑quality materials and minutes.
• Experience counseling on and managing international matters.
• Experience building templates/playbooks and delivering brief stakeholder trainings.
• Experience drafting, negotiating, and advising on commercial contracts.
• Exposure to employment and real estate matters.
• Interest and experience in leveraging AI tools and technology to drive legal practice.

The offered salary is dependent upon several factors, including work experience, skills, and internal peer comparisons. The posted range is subject to change in the future. For this role, base salary is supplemented by equity compensation. We encourage you to talk with your recruiter for more information related to compensation for this role!

Salary Range

$153,000—$207,000 USD

Benefits

Take a peek at how we care for our employees' holistic well-being with our benefits here.

Accommodations

We will do everything within reason to make sure that your interview takes place in an environment that fairly and accurately assesses your skills. If you need assistance or accommodation, please contact [e-mail].

Equal Employment Opportunity

Duolingo is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Fraud Warning

Unfortunately, there is a rise in scammers pretending to be real Duolingo employees. Duolingo and our employees will never ask for your Social Security number, bank details, or passport info, and we’ll never ask you to deposit a check, purchase equipment, or exchange money during the interview process. Real Duolingo employees always use an email that ends in @duolingo.com or @recruiting.duolingo.com. Stay alert and double-check these details before sharing any information.

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