Graduate Legal Counsel - Tech Sector

Canonical; Charlotte (NC); Remote; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a recent graduate for the Graduate Legal Counsel role. This position offers a unique opportunity to work on diverse legal matters in the tech sector, including commercial contracts and global employment issues. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong academic achievements and a passion for technology. With a focus on professional growth, this role provides a supportive environment for developing legal expertise while engaging with cross-functional teams. Join a forward-thinking company that values diversity and innovation, and be part of a dynamic legal team that influences technology on a global scale.

Benefits

Annual Learning and Development Budget

Comprehensive Benefits

Parental Leave

Wellness Programs

Travel Opportunities

Biannual Team Sprints

Qualifications

• Excellent academic record from high school and university.
• Law degree with active licensing or progress towards it.

Responsibilities

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts globally.
• Providing legal support to internal teams and collaborating on initiatives.

Skills

Commercial Judgment

Organizational Skills

Legal Drafting Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Self-Motivation

Education

Law Degree (JD or equivalent)

High School Diploma

Tools

Contract Management System

Job description

Join to apply for the Graduate Legal Counsel - Tech Sector role at Canonical.

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is widely used in enterprise initiatives such as public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation, and IoT. Our customers include top public cloud and silicon providers, and industry leaders across sectors. The company is founder-led, profitable, and growing.

We are expanding our in-house legal team and are looking for an exceptional recent graduate as a junior Legal Advisor or Legal Counsel. The successful candidate will be a diligent and effective practitioner with strong academic achievement and social engagement. They will have the opportunity to work on transactional matters in technology and enterprise software, as well as contracts related to global employment, contracting, and partnerships. We prioritize ability over experience; a relevant degree is required, but extensive work experience is not necessary. The candidate will work closely with our legal team and colleagues worldwide.

Candidates must demonstrate good commercial judgment, be organized, efficient, and capable of providing high-quality legal and commercial advice. We seek a rigorous work ethic, attention to detail, conscientiousness, and a desire to identify opportunities for improvement.

Location: This role is home-based in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, or the Americas, with an option to work from our London office.

The role entails:

1. Reporting to our global general counsel
2. Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts globally
3. Providing legal support to internal teams, including sales
4. Collaborating with cross-functional teams on company initiatives
5. Using Canonical's contract management system for accurate data maintenance
6. Working with local counsel in various countries for legal advice

What we are looking for in you:

1. An excellent academic record from high school and university
2. A law degree, JD, or equivalent, with active licensing or progress towards it
3. Drive and a history of exceeding expectations
4. Strong organizational and prioritization skills
5. Ability to work independently and in a team
6. A passion for technology demonstrated through personal projects
7. Professional proficiency in English, with excellent drafting skills
8. Confidence to communicate effectively and share ideas
9. Appreciation for diversity and effective communication in a multicultural environment
10. Interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability
11. Self-motivation and thoughtfulness
12. Result-oriented with a commitment to meet deadlines
13. Willingness to travel twice a year for up to two weeks

Nice-to-have skills:

1. Experience in commercial transactions, IP, or corporate law
2. Leadership qualities and influence skills
3. Understanding of the open source community and values
4. Knowledge of the technology industry
5. Experience in in-house legal teams or law firms

What we offer colleagues:

1. Distributed work environment with biannual in-person team sprints
2. USD 2,000 annual learning and development budget
3. Annual compensation review and performance rewards
4. Comprehensive benefits including leave, parental leave, wellness programs, and travel opportunities

About Canonical

Canonical pioneers open source technology, publishing Ubuntu, a key platform for AI, IoT, and cloud. We recruit globally and uphold high standards for excellence. Since 2004, most colleagues work remotely. Working here challenges you to think differently and grow professionally.

Canonical is an equal opportunity employer, fostering diversity and inclusion.