Junior Corporate Counsel

Margaritaville at Sea•Orlando, FL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Classica Cruise Operator, Ltd., doing business as Margaritaville at Sea ("MVAS" or the "Company"), is a cruise line operating a fleet of Bahamas-flagged vessels from Florida homeports. Our ships sell escape. Our Legal team makes sure the escape is built on sound contracts, fair claims handling, and real compliance with the laws that govern life at sea. The Corporate Counsel is a generalist, in-house lawyer who supports the business across contracts, claims, and compliance. Reporting directly to the Chief Legal and Administration Officer, the Corporate Counsel handles a high volume of day-to-day legal work independently, escalates sensitive matters with judgment, and grows into a trusted adviser to operational, commercial, and shipboard leaders. This is a hands-on role on a small team: the work is varied, the turnaround is real, and the exposure to the business is immediate.

Requirements

Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school (preferably with honors)
Active license to practice law, in good standing, preferably in Florida
One to three years of legal experience at a law firm, in-house legal department, or government agency.
Excellent legal writing and drafting skills, with strong attention to detail.
Sound judgment, discretion with confidential information, and the ability to manage several matters at once.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint).
A candidate who is not a member of The Florida Bar must be eligible for, and obtain, certification as Authorized House Counsel under Chapter 17 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, and must maintain that certification throughout employment.
Resume.
Cover letter describing the candidate's relevant experience and interest in the role.
Law school transcript. An unofficial transcript is acceptable at the application stage; an official transcript will be required before an offer is extended.
Two writing samples, each no longer than 10 pages, that are the candidate's own work and have not been substantially edited by others. Confidential client information must be redacted.
A certificate of good standing from each jurisdiction of admission will be required before an offer is extended.

Nice To Haves

Experience with commercial contracts, litigation, particularly in maritime, cruise, hospitality, or travel.
Familiarity with maritime law and regulation or employment law.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including vendor and supplier, services, technology, marketing, sponsorship, entertainment, charter and port-related agreements, as well as non-disclosure agreements.
Review counterparty paper against the Company's contract positions, prepare redlines, and summarize key business and legal risks for internal stakeholders in plain language.
Track contract status, renewals, insurance requirements, and key obligations; maintain organized contract records.
Support the management of guest and crew claims, including intake, investigation, evaluation, and reserve recommendations.
Coordinate with outside counsel on litigated matters: gather documents and witness information, review drafts, and help prepare discovery responses.
Issue and track legal holds.
Support the maintenance of accurate claim and matter records and report status to the Chief Legal and Administration Officer.
Advise on maritime and regulatory compliance, including the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA), the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006), and privacy and consumer-protection requirements.
Draft and update Company policies, standard operating procedures, and forms and support their rollout and training.
Provide legal support to Human Resources on employment matters, including shoreside employment questions and seafarer contract issues.
Assist with regulatory inquiries, incident response, and internal investigations as directed.
Answer day-to-day legal questions from business teams accurately and promptly, and know when to escalate.
Conduct legal research and prepare clear, concise memoranda.
Perform other legal duties as assigned.