[Hiring] Attorney, Corporate & Startup Law @Shepherd AI

Role Description

We're seeking our second attorney to join our founding team. This isn’t just a job — it’s a chance to help build and shape the future of legal services from the ground up. You’ll work directly with our founding attorney, collaborate on strategic decisions, and play a critical role in defining how we serve our clients and scale the practice. As an early member of the team, you’ll have meaningful ownership over both client outcomes and the systems, workflows, and standards that power the firm. This is a rare opportunity to combine high-quality legal work with building a modern, AI-native legal platform designed specifically for startups.

What You'll Do

• Advise startups and growth companies on corporate law matters, including entity formation, governance, and compliance
• Structure and negotiate venture capital financings, SAFEs, convertible notes, and other funding instruments
• Develop and implement IP strategies to protect client innovations
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, employment contracts, and vendor agreements
• Ensure corporate compliance across multiple jurisdictions
• Collaborate on building efficient, AI-enhanced legal workflows
• Help shape firm culture, processes, and client service standards
• Contribute to thought leadership and business development efforts

Qualifications

• Active Arizona Bar membership in good standing
• 8+ years of corporate law experience
• Proven track record advising startups and leading venture financings
• Strong understanding of corporate governance and compliance
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills
• Tech-savvy and comfortable working with AI-powered tools

Requirements

• Experience with IP strategy and protection & Fundraising
• Prior in-house experience at a startup or growth-stage company
• Familiarity with AI and legal technology platforms

Essential Qualities

• Entrepreneurial mindset - You thrive in ambiguity and enjoy building from zero
• Collaborative spirit - You believe great outcomes come from tight partnership
• Client-focused - You care deeply about helping founders succeed
• Change-maker - You’re motivated to rethink and improve how legal services are delivered
• Adaptable - You’re comfortable with rapid iteration and evolving systems

Benefits

• Competitive compensation: $145,000 – $160,000 base salary
• Meaningful equity: Early-stage ownership with significant upside
• Full autonomy: Remote work with flexible scheduling
• Direct impact: Shape the firm’s direction, culture, and service model
• Cutting-edge tools: Work with AI-powered legal technology from day one
• Professional growth: Build your practice while helping build the firm
• Mission-driven work: Help democratize access to high-quality legal services for startups

Our Core Values

• Be Bold & Take Intelligent Risks - We believe ambitious outcomes are possible. We explore unconventional ideas, test them rigorously, and act on the data- learning fast without distraction or comparison.
• Demand Excellence - Mediocrity has consequences. We set the highest standard in our execution, judgement, and how we show up everyday- because excellence compounds.
• Execute Relentlessly - Speed and urgency are habits that when modeled consistently and scaled through automation, become contagious across the team, the product, and our customers.
• Earn Trust Through Action - Legal work runs on trust, not features. We earn trust by being responsive, transparent, and accountable to our customers- particularly when it’s uncomfortable.
• Be a Good Person - We pair high standards with empathy and ambition with humanity. Respect and integrity are NOT separate from winning- they are how we win.