Job Summary
The Uncommon Business is looking for a General Counsel to build and run our legal function from the ground up. This is an in-house counsel role for someone who has operated as a legal department of one before — someone comfortable owning intellectual property enforcement, contract management, and employment compliance without waiting on outside counsel or approval chains.
Responsibilities
- Own intellectual property protection and enforcement, including monitoring for copyright violations and affiliate fraud, and issuing cease and desist letters within 24 hours of a verified violation
- Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements including vendor contracts, affiliate agreements, partnership deals, and client terms
- Build and maintain a contract intake and review system, reducing turnaround time from the current 10 days to a target of 48 hours
- Advise on employment law and compliance across a distributed workforce in the US (multi-state), Canada, UK, Colombia, and the Philippines
- Ensure NDA enforceability and IP assignment language across all offer letters and employment agreements
- Develop legal infrastructure including policy documentation, compliance calendaring, and entity structure guidance
- Serve as the primary legal point of contact during quarterly launch cycles, providing real-time legal support and rapid response to violations
Qualifications
- Active Minnesota bar license required
- 5-10 years of experience in intellectual property law, employment law, and commercial contracts
- Prior experience working as in-house counsel, ideally as a legal department of one
- Experience in digital products, online education, or content-driven businesses preferred
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain legal risk clearly to non-lawyers
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with minimal oversight
- Demonstrated ability to build repeatable legal systems and documentation rather than handling issues case-by-case
Compensation & Benefits
- Base salary: $120,000–$175,000, based on experience and licensure
- Direct W2 employment preferred; highly dedicated contractor arrangements considered with a clear path to conversion
- Monthly wellness stipend and access to wellness coaching
- $1,500–$3,000 annual professional development budget
- Coworking membership allowance or home office setup budget
- Unlimited PTO, with company-wide closure from December 25 through January 1
Applications are initially reviewed using AI-assisted screening tools to assess alignment with role requirements. All hiring decisions are made by humans.
This role is open to candidates in most U.S. states. Certain states may have additional requirements. Final compensation may vary based on location.
The Uncommon Business is an equal opportunity employer. We believe diverse teams build better companies.
The Uncommon Business | People-First. Systems-Driven. Built for Scale.
Pay: $120,000.00 - $175,000.00 per year
Work Location: Remote
