Graduate Legal Counsel - Tech Sector

Canonical; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Remote; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading software provider is seeking a Graduate Legal Counsel to join their expanding legal team. This role offers the chance to work on transactional matters in technology and enterprise software, collaborating with international colleagues. Ideal for recent graduates with a law degree and a passion for technology, this position emphasizes academic excellence and social engagement, providing a unique opportunity in a global, remote work environment.

Benefits

USD 2,000 annual learning and development budget

Recognition rewards

Wellness programs

Travel opportunities

Parental leave

Qualifications

• Excellent academic record from high school and university.
• Law degree (JD or equivalent) with active license or in progress.
• Passion for technology demonstrated through personal projects.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts globally.
• Provide legal support to internal teams, especially sales.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams on company initiatives.

Skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Proactive attitude

Curiosity

Education

Law degree (JD or equivalent)

Job description

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

About 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. With a global team of over 1200 colleagues in 75+ countries, we operate with few office-based roles, meeting in person 2-4 times a year at various locations worldwide.

Role Overview

We are expanding our in-house legal team and seeking an exceptional recent graduate for the position of Junior Legal Advisor or Junior 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 global employment, contracting, and partnerships. We prioritize ability over experience; relevant degrees are required but extensive work experience is not necessary. The role involves close collaboration with our legal team and international colleagues.

Key Responsibilities

1. Report to our global general counsel.
2. Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts globally.
3. Provide legal support to internal teams, especially sales.
4. Coordinate with cross-functional teams on company initiatives.
5. Manage contract data using Canonical's contract management system.
6. Collaborate with local counsel in various countries for legal advice.

Candidate Requirements

1. Excellent academic record from high school and university.
2. Law degree (JD or equivalent) with active license or in progress.
3. Drive, ambition, and a proactive attitude.
4. Strong organizational skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment.
5. Effective independently and in teams.
6. Passion for technology demonstrated through personal projects.
7. Professional English communication skills, both written and spoken.
8. Confidence in sharing ideas and giving feedback.
9. Appreciation for diversity and intercultural communication skills.
10. Interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability.
11. Self-motivated and thoughtful.
12. Result-oriented with a commitment to meet deadlines.
13. Ability to travel twice a year for company events.

Nice-to-Have Skills

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

What We Offer

We provide a competitive global compensation package, annual reviews, performance bonuses, and benefits reflecting our values. Our offerings include:

• Distributed remote work environment with biannual in-person team sprints.
• USD 2,000 annual learning and development budget.
• Recognition rewards, holiday leave, parental leave.
• Wellness programs and travel opportunities.

About Canonical

Canonical is a pioneer in open source, known for Ubuntu, and at the forefront of AI, IoT, and cloud platforms. We recruit globally, uphold high standards, and foster a diverse, inclusive workplace. Working remotely since 2004, we challenge our colleagues to think differently and innovate continually.

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