- Senior
- Optionales Büro in Lehi
About the role
As our first General Counsel, you’ll build and lead SchoolAI’s legal function from the ground up, shaping how we innovate responsibly in a rapidly changing AI and education landscape.
You’ll serve as a strategic advisor to the leadership team, balancing speed and compliance as we scale. From student data privacy to emerging AI regulation, you’ll help SchoolAI move fast, stay secure, and uphold the trust of educators and families everywhere.
As we grow, this role will evolve into building and leading a small legal and compliance team to support our expanding operations and ensure we continue scaling responsibly.
Your goal isn’t to slow the business down with red tape: It’s to use your legal expertise to enable innovation, reduce friction, and help our teams move confidently and responsibly.
Why this role matters
Education, especially pertaining to student data, is one of the most sensitive and regulated spaces in technology. Your leadership will ensure that SchoolAI’s innovations protect students, respect educators, and set the standard for ethical and innovative AI in schools.
What you'll do
- Own SaaS Contracting: Draft, review, and negotiate SaaS agreements with schools, districts, and vendors, ensuring alignment with education-specific privacy and data protection laws.
- Lead Data Privacy and Compliance: Oversee compliance with FERPA, COPPA, and state-specific student privacy laws, as well as international frameworks such as GDPR.
- Navigate AI-Related Legal and Regulatory Topics: Stay ahead of evolving domestic and international laws governing artificial intelligence, data use, and algorithmic accountability. Partner with product and engineering to ensure responsible innovation and ethical use of AI in education.
- Manage Intellectual Property: Safeguard SchoolAI’s IP portfolio, including trademarks, copyrights, and software IP.
- Support Corporate Governance: Partner with Finance and the executive team on board matters, equity, and investor relations.
- Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Advise People, Product, and Engineering teams to balance innovation with legal integrity.
- Build Scalable Systems: Develop contract templates, playbooks, and scalable legal processes to support growth.
- Engage and Manage Outside Counsel: Retain specialized law firms for complex or high-risk matters (e.g., data privacy, AI regulation).
- Be a Trusted Partner: Offer practical, business-oriented counsel that helps teams move quickly while managing risk effectively.
What We’re Looking For
- J.D. and active license to practice law in the United States.
- 8–12+ years of legal experience, including time at a law firm and in-house at a tech company (SaaS or edtech preferred).
- Deep expertise in education-related compliance and data privacy laws and frameworks, including FERPA, COPPA, GDPR, and state-specific laws.
- Strong background in SaaS contracting and intellectual property management.
- Demonstrated curiosity and commitment to staying current on emerging AI laws, regulations, and ethical standards — both in the U.S. and internationally.
- Proven ability to balance risk and speed, using legal insight to accelerate rather than obstruct business progress.
- Comfortable operating as the sole legal leader in a startup — willing to handle both strategic and hands-on work.
- Exceptional communicator and collaborator who can partner effectively with leadership and teams across disciplines.
- Genuine passion for improving education and a belief in technology’s potential to empower teachers and students.
Bonus points if you’ve supported products in regulated industries (education, healthcare, or finance) or managed global compliance frameworks.
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation
- Stock options to share in our success.
- Health and dental insurance.
- Generous PTO for balance and rest.
- A passionate, supportive team and the chance to transform K12 education with AI.
