Junior Commercial Lawyer - Manufacturing Industry Experience

Axiom; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Flexible work arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Axiom seeks a Junior Commercial Contracts Lawyer to support high-volume client projects, focusing on core commercial contracting across NDAs, MSAs, distribution, supply and services agreements.

You will draft, review, negotiate terms, advise on risk, and support contract lifecycle management while partnering with procurement, operations and finance.

This role offers remote or hybrid work arrangements and exposure to cross-border transactions and international teams.

Qualifications

• JD or equivalent with active bar membership.
• 2–5 years of post-qualification experience, ideally in-house or in a commercial-focused practice.
• Experience drafting and negotiating core commercial contracts.
• Ability to manage high-volume workloads with attention to detail.
• Strong communication, organizational, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Comfortable working remotely or in hybrid environments.
• Experience with CLM system implementation or optimization.
• Experience working with cross-functional and multinational teams.
• Comfort operating as a generalist across multiple contract types and industries.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a high volume of commercial agreements (NDAs, MSAs, distribution, supply, services).
• Support supply chain and manufacturing-focused contracts (vendor, supplier, operations).
• Provide practical legal guidance on contract terms, risk allocation, and negotiation strategy.
• Assist with large contracting initiatives, including standardization and remediation.
• Support contract lifecycle management (CLM) tasks and implementations.
• Collaborate with procurement, operations, finance, and compliance to align contracts with business goals.
• Contribute to contract playbooks, templates, and process improvements.
• Interface with international teams or counterparties as needed.

Skills

High-volume contracts

Commercial law

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

JD or equivalent

Job description

We are seeking a Junior Commercial Contracts Lawyer to support high-volume client projects.This role is well suited for junior to mid-level commercial generalists who bring solid core commercial contracting experience and exposure to manufacturing or supply chain environments, even if not a subject-matter expert.

Join Our Team as an Attorney at Axiom

We are seeking a Junior Commercial Contracts Lawyer to support high-volume client projects.This role is well suited for junior to mid-level commercial generalists who bring solid core commercial contracting experience and exposure to manufacturing or supply chain environments, even if not a subject-matter expert.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a high volume of commercial agreements, including NDAs, MSAs, distribution agreements, supply and procurement agreements, and services agreements.
• Support supply chain and manufacturing-focused contracts, including vendor, supplier, and operations-related agreements.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal guidance on contract terms, risk allocation, and negotiation strategy.
• Assist clients with large commercial contracting initiatives, including contract standardization and remediation projects.
• Support contract lifecycle management (CLM) efforts, including implementation, optimization, and ongoing contract operations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders (procurement, operations, finance, and compliance) to align contracts with business objectives.
• Contribute to contract playbooks, templates, and process improvements to support scalable contracting operations.
• Support or interface with international teams or international counterparties, as needed.

Qualifications

• JD or equivalent, with active bar membership in good standing.
• 2–5 years of post-qualification experience, ideally in-house or in a commercial-focused practice.
• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating core commercial contracts.
• Ability to manage high-volume workloads efficiently while maintaining strong attention to detail.
• Strong communication, organizational, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Comfortable working remotely or in hybrid environments.
• Experience with CLM system implementation or optimization.
• Experience working with cross-functional and multinational teams.
• Comfort operating as a generalist across multiple contract types and industries.

Preferred Skills

• Background in or support of manufacturing-related industries; any industry experience is acceptable if tied to manufacturing operations.
• Experience supporting large-scale commercial contracting projects.
• Familiarity with or hands-on experience in CLM systems and contract operations.
• International exposure, including experience working with or supporting international companies, subsidiaries, or cross-border contracts.
• Junior/mid-level commercial generalist profile suited for cost-conscious engagements and scalable legal support models.

Compensation

The estimated total compensation for full-time Axiom attorney roles is $104,500-325,000 per year and for non-attorney roles is $71,250-309,750 per year. Compensation decisions are based on various factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, certifications, location, and business needs. Employees may be eligible for additional benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance; paid holidays and PTO; flexible work arrangements; and professional development opportunities and tools.

About Axiom

For over 25 years, Axiom has pioneered the alternative legal services industry, now serving more than 1,500 legal departments globally with our unique blend of world-class legal talent and advanced AI tools, delivering innovative solutions ranging from that combine top-tier talent with cutting-edge technology. We tackle complex legal matters across 12 practice areas for clients ranging from Fortune 100 to SMBs, empowering our legal professionals to engage in meaningful work that advances their careers. Our Talent NPS score of +71% and our Client NPS score of +64% highlight our commitment to excellence Reported scores were Axiom’s average for 2025 – the legal industry average NPS score is +35%. Join our forward-thinking community where you’ll keep your career dynamic and multi-faceted, be part of a company that values agility, collaboration, and excellence, and love both the law and your life.

Learn more about life at Axiom

Axiom is the global leader in high-caliber, on-demand legal talent. Covering North America, the UK, Europe, and APAC, we enable legal departments to drive efficiency and growth and meet the demands of today’s business landscape with best inclass alterative legal services.

Diversityis core to our values and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Axiom ensures equal employment opportunity in recruitment and employment, without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, nationality, national or ethnic origin, religious creed or belief, political opinion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender identity status, pregnancy or maternity, age, disability, alienage or citizenship status, marital (or civil or other partnership recognized by law) status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation, military service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Axiom prohibits and will not tolerate any such discrimination or harassment.

Upon request and consistent with applicable laws, Axiom will provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities who require accommodations to participate in each stage of the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please [e-mail].

Axiom respects your privacy. For an explanation of the kind of information we collect about you and how it is used, our full data privacy notice is availablehere.

Employment with Axiom may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check, providing proof of identity, and possessing the necessary legal authorization to work. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, NY Fair Chance Act, and Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.