Graduate Legal Counsel - Tech Sector

Canonical; Los Angeles (CA); Remote; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering open source software company as a Graduate Legal Counsel in a remote role. This exciting opportunity allows recent graduates to engage with global legal matters in technology and enterprise software. You'll draft and negotiate contracts, provide legal support, and collaborate with diverse teams. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, this role offers a chance to grow in a dynamic environment that values your contributions. Embrace the opportunity to work with a global team and make a significant impact in the tech sector while enjoying a supportive and flexible work culture.

Benefits

Annual learning and development budget of USD 2,000

Generous leave policies

Wellness programs and support

Opportunities for travel and community engagement

Qualifications

• Law degree with active license or current progress towards licensure.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment.

Responsibilities

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts globally.
• Providing legal support to internal teams and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Skills

Commercial Judgment

Organizational Skills

English Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Self-Motivation

Education

Law Degree (JD or equivalent)

Exceptional Academic Record

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 leading public cloud and silicon providers, as well as industry leaders across sectors. We have a global, distributed team of 1200+ colleagues in 75+ countries, with few office-based roles. Teams meet a few times a year in interesting locations worldwide.

The company is founder-led, profitable, and growing. We are expanding our in-house legal team and are offering an opportunity for a recent graduate to join as a junior Legal Advisor or Junior Legal Counsel. The ideal candidate will be academically accomplished, socially engaged, and eager to work on transactional matters related to technology and enterprise software, including contracts for global employment, partnerships, and more. The role emphasizes ability over experience; applicants with a relevant degree are encouraged to apply, regardless of extensive work experience. 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 a candidate with a strong work ethic, attention to detail, conscientiousness, and a desire to find opportunities for improvement.

Location: This is a remote role 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. Managing contract data using Canonical's system
6. Working with local counsel in various countries for legal advice

Qualifications:

• Exceptional academic record from high school and university
• A law degree (JD or equivalent) with active license or current progress towards licensure
• Drive, ambition, and a record of exceeding expectations
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work in a multicultural, fast-paced environment
• Effective independently and as part of a team
• Passion for technology demonstrated through personal projects
• Excellent English communication, drafting, and presentation skills
• Confidence to share ideas and give feedback respectfully
• Appreciation for diversity and ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment
• Interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability
• Self-motivated and thoughtful
• Result-oriented with a commitment to meet deadlines
• Ability to travel twice a year for company events, up to two weeks each time

Nice-to-have skills:

• Experience in commercial transactions, IP, or corporate law
• Leadership skills and influence
• Understanding of open source community and values
• Knowledge of the technology industry
• Experience in in-house legal teams or law firms

What we offer:

• Distributed work environment with biannual team sprints
• Annual learning and development budget of USD 2,000
• Performance reviews and recognition rewards
• Generous leave policies, including maternity and paternity leave
• Wellness programs and support
• Opportunities for travel and community engagement

About Canonical

Canonical is a pioneering open source software company, publishing Ubuntu, a key platform for AI, IoT, and cloud. We hire globally, set high standards, and value excellence. Working here is innovative and challenging, encouraging continuous learning and growth.

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