Corporate Counsel

Duolingo•New York, NY

8h•$153,000 - $207,000•Onsite

About The Position

Our mission at Duolingo is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. It’s a big mission, and that’s where you come in! At Duolingo, you’ll join a team that cares about educating our users, experimenting with big ideas, making fact-based decisions, and finding innovative solutions to complex problems. You’ll have limitless learning opportunities and daily collaborations with world-class minds — while doing work that’s both meaningful and fun. Join our life-changing mission to develop education for our half a billion (and growing!) learners around the world. Read our blog to learn more. We’re looking for a Corporate Counsel to work closely with our Managing Counsel to support corporate matters, including, securities, governance, and M&A and strategic transactions. This is also an opportunity to work with the Managing Counsel to support a broader portfolio as a generalist in areas such as: international, employment, real estate/workplace, and risk management/insurance. You’ll be a member of the Legal team and collaborate with cross‑functional partners, including Finance, People, Workplace, and senior leadership, and outside counsel where needed, exercising sound judgment, crisp communication, and a practical, business‑forward approach.

Requirements

J.D. (or international equivalent) and active bar membership in good standing.
2-5 years of relevant legal experience, preferably in a fast-paced environment, with direct exposure to public company securities, corporate governance and corporate transactions.
Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills; ability to balance risk, speed, and business impact with clear, actionable guidance under tight timelines.
Clear, concise communicator who can explain complex topics to non‑lawyers and build trust with senior stakeholders.
Proven ability to prioritize, create effective processes, and keep cross‑functional partners unblocked in a fast‑moving environment.
Ability to work from our Pittsburgh, PA office.

Nice To Haves

Strong interest in Duolingo and its mission.
Hands‑on experience running ’34 Act reporting cycles, proxy statement preparation processes, annual stockholder meetings, Section 16 and insider trading matters, and disclosure-related workflows.
Experience supporting board/committee governance and preparing high‑quality materials and minutes.
Experience counseling on and managing international matters.
Experience building templates/playbooks and delivering brief stakeholder trainings.
Experience drafting, negotiating, and advising on commercial contracts.
Exposure to employment and real estate matters.
Interest and experience in leveraging AI tools and technology to drive legal practice.

Responsibilities

Support securities and public‑company workstreams, including periodic and current reporting, proxy statement/annual meeting preparation, Section 16 matters, and disclosure processes.
Counsel on policies and procedures relating to securities law compliance and disclosure matters; support the administration of Duolingo’s Insider Trading Policy
Advise on corporate governance, related policies and approvals, board materials, and subsidiary management; maintain templates, processes and playbooks to keep operations efficient and compliant.
Support executive compensation, equity compensation, and incentive compensation plan matters.
Provide guidance on international operations.
Partner on corporate development strategy and help support mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships, investments, and other complex corporate transactions.
Serve as a legal partner to People on recruiting and hiring practices, policies and handbooks, accommodations, investigations, performance/separations, and employment documents (offers, confidentiality/IP, consulting/contractor agreements).
Support real estate and workplace matters, including office leases, amendments, construction and services agreements, vendor MSAs/SOWs, and facilities operations issues.
Draft, review, and negotiate a range of commercial agreements related to the above areas; create and iterate templates and checklists that increase speed and consistency.
Monitor and synthesize relevant legal and regulatory developments (e.g., SEC, exchange rules, wage/hour, pay transparency, workplace safety), and translate them into practical guidance and training for stakeholders.
Manage outside counsel efficiently, set clear scopes and budgets, and drive toward timely, high‑quality outcomes.
Support other matters based on interest and business need.