Legal Counsel

About the Role

The Wikimedia Foundation is a nonprofit organization that operates Wikipedia and other free knowledge projects. Our vision is a world where every single human can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. As a Legal Counsel, you will be contributing to this mission by ensuring that our products and services are developed and launched in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

The Legal team at Wikimedia is a collaborative and dynamic team that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a Legal Counsel, you will be working in a highly transparent environment, partnering with teams across the organization to achieve our mission. You will be reporting to the Associate General Counsel and will be an essential part of the team.

What You Will Do

• Advise product, engineering, and design teams on legal issues related to feature development, launches, and ongoing platform operations
• Support legal review of new products, product changes, and technical initiatives around the Wikimedia projects
• Support the draft, review, and maintenance of user-facing terms, disclosures, policies, FAQs, and internal guidance
• Counsel on product, privacy, data use, consumer protection, intellectual property, accessibility, online safety, and related product issues
• Partner with cross-functional teams to identify legal risk early and develop practical, mission-aligned solutions
• Monitor and help assess legal and regulatory developments that may affect Wikimedia’s projects globally
• Collaborate with external counsel and other stakeholders as needed
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including product, engineering, and design teams
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and developments in technology, law, and policy

What We Are Looking For

• J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school or equivalent foreign degree, and admission to practice law in that jurisdiction
• 2-5 years of experience with legal review of technical products or online services
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail, with full fluency in written and spoken English
• Ability to learn on the job, spot issues, think fast, and comfortably deal with complex and ambiguous issues with sound judgment
• Dedicated, hardworking, passionate, and able to complete projects independently
• Ability to assess and manage complex risks and triage issues appropriately
• Mission-driven with a public service orientation and high personal integrity
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative, multicultural, transparent environment

Nice to Have

• Experience with open source, free culture, free software, or online communities
• A degree in computer science, engineering, or related experience, with a good understanding of software engineering processes and issues
• Experience with public policy, government relations, or other policy-facing functions
• Ability to speak other languages, experience living or working outside the United States, or past work on international legal issues

Benefits and Perks

• The opportunity to work with a talented and dedicated team of professionals who are passionate about making knowledge accessible to everyone
• A competitive salary and benefits package
• The ability to work remotely and collaborate with a global team
• Professional development opportunities, including training and conferences
• A dynamic and supportive work environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion
• The opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven organization that is making a positive impact on the world
• Flexible working hours and a healthy work-life balance
• Access to a wide range of online resources and tools to support your work
• The opportunity to participate in Wikimedia’s annual conference and other events

• Make sure to highlight your experience in legal review of technical products or online services in your application
• Demonstrate your knowledge of current regulatory issues and trends in the tech industry
• Be prepared to provide examples of how you have identified and managed complex legal risks in your previous roles
• Show your passion for Wikimedia’s mission and your commitment to making knowledge accessible to everyone
• Be prepared to discuss your experience working in a collaborative and transparent environment
• Keep your application concise and focused on the key qualifications and skills required for the role
• Research Wikimedia’s values and culture and be prepared to discuss how you align with them