Founding Legal Counsel

Founding Legal Counsel

Full-Time 63000 - 77000 £ / year (est.) Remote
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead legal operations, manage contracts, and ensure compliance in a fast-paced HR tech environment.
  • Company: Join a high-growth HR tech company with a strong product and happy customers.
  • Benefits: Enjoy unlimited holidays, comprehensive healthcare, and a learning budget for personal growth.
  • Other info: Remote role with occasional team meetups and a dynamic work culture.
  • Why this job: Be the first dedicated legal counsel and shape the legal function from the ground up.
  • Qualifications: Qualified lawyer with commercial contracting experience, ideally in a scaling startup.

The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.

Hi I'm Ellis, COO at Pinpoint. We're a high growth HR tech company building software that helps in house recruitment teams attract, hire, and onboard the right talent. Today we have a strong foundation in place: a mature product, rapid growth, strong product market fit, and happy customers. We've built strong operational foundations, but we've never had a dedicated lawyer. Legal work has been landing on the ops team, and the volume is climbing fast: contract volume is up sharply, and the product is moving into even more regulated territory. We need someone to own the legal end to end so our deals keep moving and our customers stay confident. That's where you come in.

The fine print (but way more exciting): This is a remote role based in the UK with occasional in-person team meetups. You'll be our first dedicated legal hire, so you're building the function and inheriting the old contracts and processes at the same time. You'll be the sole member of the legal team and will own both the judgment and the tactical work: marking up contracts, chasing signatures, building templates, and staying on top of compliance. There's no one to delegate to, and there's no escalation for the day-to-day slog. The volume is heavy, and the pace is fast. This role suits someone who likes to build and who's hands-on; it's not a quiet compliance desk. Our values actually matter here. We hire people who reflect them in how they work, collaborate, and make decisions.

About the Role

  • Sales legal (35%)
    • Own commercial contracting end to end: our MSA, DPA, and customer red lines. You're who the Account Executives bring a marked up agreement to, and you're who closes it out.
    • Turn around a high volume of reviews at pace. Contract volume is spiking, driven by growth and by the rise in AI usage, and we need someone commercial and pragmatic to own it.
    • Set and publish a legal SLA for sales, so turnaround is a promise, not a guess.
    • Own our risk tolerance and playbook: liability caps, indemnities, termination. Know where we flex, where we hold, and when to escape.
    • Run legal intake: triage what needs you, what sales can self serve, and what genuinely needs external counsel.
    • Build the playbooks, fallback positions, and templates that let AEs answer the easy questions without you.
  • Product legal (20%)
    • Partner with Product and Engineering as we build in a regulated space: background screening, right to work, DBS and credit checks, and AI-assisted hiring features.
    • Own regulatory compliance as the landscape shifts: UK and EU GDPR, FCRA, the EU AI Act, and a growing patchwork of US state law.
  • Partnerships, NDAs, and supplier terms (15%)
    • Draft and negotiate partnership, reseller, and referral agreements, including integration and marketplace partners.
    • Own NDAs, supplier and vendor terms, and the contract lifecycle from template to signature to renewal.
    • Negotiate with suppliers and integration partners so those terms stay robust and commercial.
  • Data protection, governance, and audit readiness (30%)
    • Own data protection across the business: our DPA, sub processor management, DPIAs, DSARs, records of processing, and international transfers.
    • Keep us on the right side of UK and EU GDPR, US state privacy law, and the local regimes that surface in deals (Quebec Law 25 and China's PIPL are recent examples).
    • Make audit readiness a habit, not a scramble, with policies that reflect what we actually do.
    • Lead due diligence readiness: corporate housekeeping, share and option documentation, and cleaning up historic contractual exposure before someone else finds it.

About You

  • A qualified lawyer (England and Wales, or an equivalent common law jurisdiction) with real commercial contracting experience, including in-house time at a SaaS business.
  • Experience as in-house counsel in a scaling startup (50–250 people) where you've built legal infrastructure from limited resources and moved at fast pace.
  • Time served on both sides: trained at a firm, then moved in-house, with enough SaaS contracting to have a clear point of view.
  • Breadth over narrow specialism: comfort owning legal end-to-end, from a small order form to our data posture to exit readiness, across commercial contracting, data protection, and product legal.
  • A bias toward finding the defensible yes and containing the risk, rather than blocking deals and calling it caution.
  • Comfort making the call: assessing the ask, proposing the route, and escalating only the genuine trade-offs, rather than needing every decision to be precedented or signed off from above.
  • Technically adept and quick to pick up new tools. Pinpoint leans heavily on AI, Claude in particular, so comfort getting up to speed fast and pushing it further matters.
  • Clear, concise communication that enables other teams rather than blocking them.
  • Happy working independently and highly self-motivated, with a habit of unblocking problems and proposing a route forward.

What We Offer

We want Pinpoint to be the best place you've ever worked—somewhere you feel valued, supported, and excited to grow. Here's what you'll get:

  • Comprehensive healthcare – Excellent medical, dental, & vision coverage for you and your family.
  • Unlimited holidays – Take the time you need to rest and recharge.
  • Mental health support – Unlimited, immediate access to professional counseling via Spill.
  • Retirement contributions – 401k or pension contributions depending on your location.
  • Remote-first – Work where you're most productive, with flexibility and trust as the default.
  • Equity with real upside – Share in the long-term value you help create.
  • Fully paid parental leave – Up to 16 weeks of paid leave for new parents.
  • Learning budget – Annual funds for courses, books, or anything that supports your growth.

A detailed overview of our benefits can be found here.

Founding Legal Counsel employer: Pinpoint

Network Plus is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the North West where you can thrive as a Contract Manager. With a strong commitment to employee development and a culture that celebrates diversity, we provide competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, ensuring that every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute to impactful infrastructure projects. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking company that prioritises safety, quality, and the growth of its people.

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Contact Details:

Pinpoint Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Founding Legal Counsel

✨Get Involved in Law Societies

Join local law societies and attend their events – they're often a goldmine for networking and job opportunities in the legal field. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other budding lawyers and experienced solicitors who could provide vital insights and connections.

✨Tap into Online Legal Communities

Don’t underestimate the power of online platforms like LinkedIn and specific legal forums. Get active in discussions or share your thoughts on recent legal developments – this not only builds your visibility but also showcases your passion and knowledge in law.

✨Attend Career Fairs and Workshops

Look out for career fairs and workshops specifically focused on law. Many law firms, including Pinpoint, will be scouting for fresh talent, so bring your A-game and don’t shy away from making a memorable impression.

✨Leverage Your University’s Career Services

If you’re still in university or have recently graduated, latch onto your career services! They often have connections with law firms looking for graduates and can guide you through the application process tailored for the legal sector.

We think you need these skills to ace Founding Legal Counsel

Commercial Contracting
Regulatory Compliance
Data Protection
Negotiation Skills
Legal Drafting
Risk Assessment
Project Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Highlight Your Legal Knowledge:When applying for a full-time role in legal services at Pinpoint, make sure to demonstrate your understanding of key legal principles and areas of law relevant to the position. Include any specific coursework, modules, or certifications, like LPC or BPTC qualifications, that showcase your legal expertise directly on your CV.

Showcase Your Research Skills:In the legal field, strong research skills are crucial. Use your application to illustrate how you've utilised these skills in past studies or work experiences – whether that's through past internships or significant projects. Mention any legal databases or tools you’re proficient in, as this can give you an edge.

Tailor That Cover Letter!:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Make it personal by expressing your genuine interest in Pinpoint and the specific role of Founding Legal Counsel. Talk about why you want to be part of their team, how your unique experiences align with their values, and why you’re passionate about the legal sector.

Stay Formal but Friendly:While we all know the legal world can be pretty formal, don’t be afraid to let a bit of personality shine through in your written application. Use a respectful tone, but feel free to inject a little warmth; this approach can help you stand out and show you're a great fit for Pinpoint’s culture!

How to prepare for a job interview at Pinpoint

✨Know Your Legal Principles

Brush up on foundational legal principles relevant to the specific area of law you’re applying for, whether it’s corporate, criminal, or family law. We might get asked situational questions to test your knowledge, so being articulate about key concepts will make you stand out.

✨Be Ready for Case Studies

Full-time legal roles often involve case studies during interviews. Prepare to analyse a hypothetical case and discuss your approach to it. Practising this with a peer or mentor can help us refine our reasoning and articulate a solid legal argument.

✨Show Off Your Research Skills

As legal professionals, strong research skills are a must. Have examples ready of how you've effectively used legal databases or conducted thorough legal research in your past experiences. It's a great way to demonstrate your readiness for the role at Pinpoint.

✨Exude Professionalism and Confidence

In the legal field, professionalism is key. During the interview, we should maintain good eye contact and communicate clearly to show that we’re not just knowledgeable, but also confident. This can make a positive impression on your potential colleagues at Pinpoint.