Graduate Legal Counsel - Tech Sector

Canonical; Fresno (CA); Remote; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a Graduate Legal Counsel to join its dynamic legal team. This role offers a unique opportunity to work on transactional matters in technology and enterprise software, focusing on contracts related to global employment and partnerships. Ideal for recent graduates, this position emphasizes academic excellence and a proactive approach to legal challenges. Join a global team that values diversity, fosters a remote-first culture, and encourages professional growth through travel and development opportunities. Embrace the chance to make a meaningful impact in an exciting and evolving sector.

Benefits

Annual Learning and Development Budget of USD 2,000

Generous Leave Policies

Wellness Programs

Opportunities for Travel

Qualifications

• Strong academic record from high school and university.
• A law degree with progress towards licensing.

Responsibilities

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts globally.
• Providing legal support to internal teams, including sales.

Skills

Commercial Judgment

Organizational Skills

Legal Research

Interpersonal Skills

English Communication

Education

Law Degree (JD or equivalent)

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. We operate with a global distributed team of over 1200 colleagues in more than 75 countries, with few office-based roles. Teams meet periodically in interesting locations worldwide to align on strategy and execution.

The company is founder-led, profitable, and growing. We are expanding our in-house legal team and seeking an exceptional recent graduate for the role of junior Legal Advisor or Legal Counsel. The ideal candidate will demonstrate academic excellence and social engagement, with the opportunity to work on transactional matters in technology and enterprise software, including contracts related to global employment, partnerships, and other commercial agreements. We prioritize ability over experience; candidates with a relevant degree but limited work experience are encouraged to apply. You will collaborate with our legal team and international colleagues.

Candidates should have good commercial judgment, be organized, efficient, and capable of providing high-quality legal and commercial advice. We value a rigorous work ethic, attention to detail, conscientiousness, and a proactive approach to improving processes.

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. Maintaining contract data in Canonical's system
6. Consulting with local counsel in various countries

What we are looking for in you

• Strong academic record from high school and university
• A law degree (JD or equivalent) and active license or progress towards licensing
• Drive and a history of exceeding expectations
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills
• Ability to work independently and in teams
• Passion for technology demonstrated through personal projects
• Professional English communication skills, including drafting and presentation
• Confidence in sharing ideas and providing feedback
• Appreciation for diversity and multicultural environments
• Interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability
• Self-motivation and result-oriented mindset
• Willingness to travel twice a year for company events, up to two weeks

Nice-to-have skills

• Experience in commercial, IP, or corporate law
• Leadership qualities and influence skills
• Understanding of open source software and industry
• Knowledge of technology hardware and software
• Experience in in-house legal teams or law firms

What we offer colleagues

• Distributed work environment with biannual in-person team sprints
• USD 2,000 annual learning and development budget
• Annual pay reviews and recognition rewards
• Generous leave policies, including maternity and paternity leave
• Wellness programs and support
• Opportunities for travel and professional growth

About Canonical

Canonical pioneers in open source, publishing Ubuntu, a key platform for AI, IoT, and cloud. We hire globally, expect excellence, and foster a remote-first culture since 2004. Working here challenges you to innovate, learn, and excel.

Canonical is an equal opportunity employer, valuing diversity and inclusion. We consider all applications fairly regardless of background.