Graduate Legal Counsel - Tech Sector

Canonical; Las Vegas (NV); Remote; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a Graduate Legal Counsel to join their expanding in-house legal team. This role offers a unique opportunity to work on transactional matters in the tech sector, focusing on contracts for global employment and partnerships. Ideal candidates will possess a strong academic background and a proactive approach to legal challenges. You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams and have the chance to develop your skills in a supportive environment. With a commitment to diversity and a distributed work culture, this role promises a fulfilling career path in a dynamic industry.

Benefits

USD 2,000 annual learning and development budget

Annual compensation review

Generous leave policies

Wellness programs

Opportunities for travel

Travel perks for company events

Qualifications

• Exceptional academic record from high school and university.
• A law degree (JD or equivalent) and active license or progress towards licensing.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Legal Research

Contract Negotiation

Commercial Judgment

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Education

Law Degree (JD or equivalent)

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 worldwide. We have a global, distributed team of 1200+ colleagues in 75+ countries, with few office-based roles. Teams meet periodically in interesting locations around the world to align on strategy and execution.

The company is founder-led, profitable, and growing. We are expanding our in-house legal team, creating opportunities for recent graduates as junior Legal Advisors or junior Legal Counsels. The ideal candidate will be rigorous, effective, with strong academic achievement and social engagement. They will work on transactional matters in the technology and enterprise software realm, including contracts for global employment, contracting, and partnerships. We prioritize ability over experience; relevant degrees are required, but extensive work experience is not necessary. The successful candidate will collaborate with our legal team and colleagues worldwide.

Candidates should demonstrate good commercial judgment, be organized, efficient, and capable of providing high-quality legal and commercial advice. We seek individuals with a strong work ethic, attention to detail, conscientiousness, and a proactive approach to 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. Exceptional academic record from high school and university
2. A law degree (JD or equivalent) and active license or progress towards licensing
3. Drive and a history of exceeding expectations
4. Strong organizational and prioritization skills in a fast-paced, multicultural environment
5. Ability to work independently and in teams
6. Passion for technology demonstrated through personal projects
7. Excellent English communication, drafting, and presentation skills
8. Confidence to share ideas and give/receive feedback
9. Appreciation for diversity and effective communication in multicultural settings
10. Interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability
11. Self-motivation and thoughtful approach
12. Result-oriented with a personal drive to meet commitments
13. Willingness to travel twice a year for company events (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 open source software community and values
4. Knowledge of the technology industry (silicon, data centers, connected devices, software)
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 recognition rewards
4. Generous leave policies, including maternity and paternity leave
5. Wellness programs and assistance platform
6. Opportunities for travel and meeting colleagues worldwide
7. Travel perks for company events

About Canonical

Canonical pioneers open source technology, publishing Ubuntu, a key platform for AI, IoT, and cloud. We hire globally, uphold high standards, and foster excellence. Working remotely since 2004, we challenge you to think differently, learn new skills, and innovate.

Canonical is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and fairness in hiring.