Corporate Counsel, Product

AppFolio • Santa Barbara, CA

1d • $152,000 - $190,000

About The Position

AppFolio is more than a company. We’re a community of dreamers, big thinkers, problem solvers, active listeners, and multipliers. At every opportunity, we set the pace while delivering innovation built to carry real estate into the future. One in which every experience feels effortless, yet meaningful. Where customers are empowered to take on any opportunity. We show up as one team, connected by our values to be a force for good. Because together, we have the power to create extraordinary outcomes for our customers, our communities, and ourselves. As Corporate Counsel, Product, you will sit at the intersection of innovation and integrity, helping shape how we build and deliver the next generation of real estate technology. You will be a dedicated legal partner to our Product and Engineering teams, ensuring that legal guidance is embedded into the development lifecycle from concept to launch. Your goal is to enable business velocity by translating complex regulatory requirements into clear, actionable, and simple solutions. This is an individual contributor role reporting to the Associate General Counsel, Product.

Requirements

• Inquisitive Product Lawyer : You are a talented product lawyer with a familiarity with the product development lifecycle and an innate curiosity for how software is built. You are a self-starter who proactively digs into technical details and cross-functional context, ensuring your legal advice is grounded in a deep understanding of how the product actually functions.
• Insurance & InsurTech Expertise : You possess a strong understanding of the U.S. insurance regulatory landscape and have experience applying those frameworks to technology products.
• Thriving in Ambiguity : You excel in a role where there is no pre-defined roadmap. You are energized by issues of first instance and possess the drive to figure things out independently.
• Decision Maker : Proven ability to reach sound, practical, confident decisions and provide clear legal guidance, even when faced with incomplete information or tight deadlines.
• Effective Communicator : Ability to distill complex legal risks into clear, succinct analysis that resonates with product managers and engineers.
• Bias for Simplicity: An individual who demonstrates thought, discipline, and inclination toward simple versus complex solutions.
• Collaborative Spirit : A low-ego team player who thrives on building trust and working cross-functionally to achieve business outcomes.
• Must have JD degree from an ABA-accredited law school and an active license in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
• 5+ years of sophisticated legal experience, with a primary focus on product counseling within a U.S. technology or SaaS environment.
• Significant experience practicing in one or more heavily regulated U.S. industries (e.g., FinTech, insurance, etc.).
• A willingness to adjust your role to the shifting needs of the Legal team and the ability to quickly adapt to the evolving priorities of the organization.

Responsibilities

• Product Development Lifecycle Partnership : Serve as a key legal advisor to Product and Engineering teams from initial ideation through to launch and beyond.
• Regulatory Navigation : Stay current with the evolving landscape of U.S. laws and regulations applicable to AppFolio’s products and services. Research and translate complex laws and regulations into actionable product requirements, particularly for products in heavily regulated sectors (e.g., consumer protection, AI, insurance, etc.).
• Proactive Problem Solving : Identify potential legal and regulatory hurdles early and propose creative, practical solutions that maintain momentum and enable innovation.
• Scalable Frameworks : Develop and maintain internal playbooks, product-specific user terms, and automated processes that allow the Legal team to scale alongside our rapid product growth.
• Vendor & Partner Strategy : Collaborate with Procurement and Partnership teams to negotiate high-stakes agreements and integrations that power our products.
• Technical Integration : Maintain a comprehensive grasp of AppFolio’s technical stack to provide nuanced advice on data flows and API integrations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed