Product Counsel San Francisco, California, United States

Checkr; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Equity compensation

L&D allowance

Fertility/adoption support

Flexible PTO

Wellness stipend

Relocation help

Job summary

Checkr is seeking a Product Counsel to provide practical, solutions‑oriented legal guidance across the product lifecycle. You will advise on consumer protection, privacy and AI risks, partnering with Product, Engineering and Customer Success to move fast while managing risk.

Ideal candidates have 4+ years of product counseling experience, strong written and verbal communication, and a track record in regulated environments.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active state bar membership.
• 4+ years in product counseling, privacy or tech law, preferably in-house.
• Experience with regulated products and global frameworks a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day legal counsel to Product and Engineering through design, launch and iteration.
• Lead reviews of new features and product changes, identifying risks and offering practical solutions.
• Advise on consumer reporting, privacy, and AI-related compliance issues (FCRA, DPPA, CCPA/CPRA, GDPR).
• Partner with Customer Success to answer questions about product compliance in clear terms.
• Track regulatory developments and translate them into actionable guidance for product teams.
• Help scale the legal function with playbooks, templates, and processes.

Skills

Communication

Product counseling

Privacy compliance

Risk assessment

Cross-functional collaboration

Legal writing

Education

J.D./law degree

Bar admission in US

Job description

About Checkr

Checkr is building the data platform to power safe and fair decisions. Over 140,000 companies and millions of people rely on Checkr for AI verification in the moments that matter most: getting a new job, a new place to live, a car ride, childcare, even a date. Customers include Uber, Pennymac, Airbnb, Doordash, and Anthropic.

We’re a team that thrives on solving complex problems with innovative solutions that advance our mission. Checkr is recognized on Forbes Cloud 100 2025 List and is a Y Combinator 2024 Breakthrough Company.

Reporting to Checkr’s Director of Product & Privacy Legal, the Product Counsel will provide practical, solutions-oriented legal guidance that helps Checkr build and launch products that are both innovative and compliant. You'll own day-to-day product counseling across the product lifecycle, advising on consumer protection, privacy, and emerging AI issues in a highly regulated environment. You'll partner closely with Product, Engineering, and Customer Success to help teams move fast while managing risk, directly supporting Checkr's growth as we scale new products and serve more customers. This role is ideal for someone looking for career growth, who is comfortable taking a generalist approach in learning new areas of the law, and who thrives in a fast-moving environment and wants to deepen expertise while shaping how products are built.

What you'll do

• Provide day-to-day legal counsel to Product and Engineering teams, from early design and requirements through launch and iteration
• Lead and execute legal reviews of new features and product changes, identifying risks early and recommending practical, business-friendly solutions
• Advise on consumer reporting, consumer protection, and privacy issues affecting Checkr's products, including FCRA, DPPA, GLBA, CCPA/CPRA, GDPR, and AI-related risk
• Partner with Customer Success to answer customer questions about product compliance, translating legal requirements into clear, credible responses
• Track regulatory developments, enforcement trends, and litigation affecting Checkr's products, and turn them into actionable guidance for product teams
• Contribute to scaling the Product & Privacy legal function by building and improving processes, templates, and playbooks that help the team move faster

What you bring

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing of at least one U.S. state bar
• 4+ years of experience practicing law, with meaningful exposure to product counseling, privacy, consumer protection, or technology law (in-house experience a plus), preferably with B2B and international experience
• Experience supporting products or businesses in a regulated industry and serving as internal subject matter expert, with working knowledge of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), CCPA, GDPR, AI-related risk, and related global frameworks a large plus
• Ability to calibrate risk to business objectives and product stage, and to deliver clear, actionable guidance to non-lawyers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal concepts concisely and approachably
• An A-player mindset with a strong bias for action: you raise the bar, move with urgency, stay resilient through ambiguity, and take ownership to deliver meaningful outcomes.

Pay Transparency Disclosure

We use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop ranges for our roles and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range. If this role is remote, we have listed the top to the bottom of the possible range, but we will specify the target range for an exact location when you are selected for a recruiting discussion. For more information on our compensation philosophy, see our website.

On-target Earnings OR Base Salary range (San Francisco, CA)

$157,000 - $155,000 USD

What We Offer

• A fast-paced and collaborative environment
• Learning and development allowance
• Competitive cash and equity compensation, and opportunity for advancement
• 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Up to $25K reimbursement for fertility, adoption, and parental planning services
• Flexible PTO policy
• Monthly wellness stipend

At Checkr, we believe an in office work environment strengthens collaboration, drives innovation, and encourages connection. Our hub locations are Denver, CO; San Francisco, CA; Nashville, TN; and Santiago, Chile. Individuals are expected to work from the office 3+ days a week. In-office perks are provided, such as lunch five times a week, a commuter stipend, and an abundance of snacks and beverages. A relocation stipend may be available for those willing to relocate to a Checkr hub location.

Equal Employment Opportunities at Checkr

Checkr is committed to building the best product and company, which requires hiring talented and qualified individuals with a diverse set of perspectives and lived experiences. Checkr believes in hiring people of all backgrounds, including those whose histories are impacted by the justice system in accordance with local, state, and/or federal laws, including the San Francisco’s Fair Chance Ordinance.

Applicant Privacy Policy

If you are a California resident or are located in Alberta or British Columbia, our Applicant Privacy Policy applies to our collection and processing of your personal information when you apply for a role with us or otherwise participate in our recruitment process.

For applicants in Massachusetts:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.