Senior Counsel

At 2U, we are all in on purpose. We are motivated by our mission – to make learning limitless– and connected by our shared passion to deliver world-class higher education at scale. As the parent company of edX, a leading online learning platform, 2U powers thousands of  higher education offerings – from free courses to full degrees. Together with our college, university, and corporate partners, we are helping accelerate careers and transform lives. 

What We’re Looking For:

The Senior Counsel, Degree serves as the primary attorney supporting the Degree business at 2U, LLC, with a focus on university partner contracting and day-to-day operational legal matters. The Senior Counsel,Degree has a critical role working closely with our internal business stakeholders and university partners on solidifying complex and long-term partner deals. This role is responsible for working with universities and internal stakeholders to draft, negotiate, and interpret our master service agreements and related contracts and for providing practical, risk-based legal guidance related to program operations. The Senior Counsel, Degree functions as the central point of contact for legal support for the Degree business and coordinates with colleagues across the Legal, Privacy, and Compliance teams, as appropriate, to address specialized or cross-functional matters. 

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

• Serve as the primary legal counsel to the Degree business on commercial, contracting, operational, and strategic legal matters
• Draft, review, and negotiate master services agreements and related agreements and supporting documents with current and prospective university partners
• Lead and manage the entire contracting process with university partners, including coordinating with business, finance, operations, privacy, compliance, and other internal stakeholders on deal structure and key legal and commercial terms
• Advise business leaders and owners on contractual interpretation, rights and obligations, compliance with partner agreements, and legal and business risks arising from partnerships, including compliance with applicable higher education laws and regulations
• Counsel program management and university-facing operations teams on day-to-day legal matters, including contract interpretation, intellectual property, communications with university personnel, partner disputes and escalations, student-related issues, and other operational matters
• Counsel the business on legal and regulatory requirements affecting the Degree business and coordinate with subject matter experts across Legal, Privacy, and Compliance on specialized areas such as data privacy, regulatory requirements, accessibility, and risk management
• Advise on significant partner issues and disputes, including developing practical, business-oriented approaches to resolving contractual and operational issues
• Review and advise on external communications relating to university partnerships, including press releases and other public-facing materials
• Manage external counsel and consultants, as needed, to cost-effectively augment internal resources and support specialized matters
• Support other commercial transactions, strategic initiatives, and operational legal matters affecting the Degree business, as needed
• Monitor and advise on evolving legal, regulatory, and industry developments affecting the online education industry and their potential impact on the business

Things That Should Be In Your Background:

• J.D. from an ABA accredited law school required
• Admission to a state bar, current and in good standing
• 7-10 years of relevant legal experience in a law firm and/or in-house environment
• Practical/business experience in matters involving higher education, intellectual property, data security, e-commerce, technology and/or online accessibility all preferred
• Understanding of university operations and academia
• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills, with experience supporting multiple deals simultaneously
• Strong organizational and cross-functional coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders through issue resolution without sacrificing quality
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate in a courteous, tactful, and concise manner
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a practical business-oriented approach

Other Attributes That Will Help You In This Role:

• High attention to detail
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills
• Excellent legal research and writing skills
• Eagerness to learn
• Excellent organization skills
• Comfort leveraging AI-powered tools to enhance legal work and efficiency
• Focus on achieving defined results, and exceeding goals and objectives
• Ability to work with a diverse team in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated self-initiative

While this position is open to remote candidates across the U.S., we will prioritize those who live in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area and who are available to come into our Headquarters in Arlington, VA two days a week.

Benefits & Culture

Our global employee base is a diverse collection of innovators, dreamers, and doers working together to transform lives through higher education. We believe that every employee can advance our shared purpose, and that life at 2U should be fun and meaningful. If you’re excited by the opportunity to provide millions of learners and counting with access to world-class higher education, then join us – and do work that makes a difference. 

We offer comprehensive benefits (unique per country) and excellent work/life balance.
Full-time, U.S.benefits include: 

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life insurance, disability, and 401(k) employer match
• Free snacks and drinks in-office
• Generous paid holidays and leave policies, including unlimited PTO
• Additional time off benefits include: volunteer days, parental leave, and a company-wide winter break

The anticipated base salary range for this role is $178,000-$205,000, with potential bonus eligibility.  Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, budget for the position and cost of labor in the market in which the candidate will be hired.

2U Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At 2U, we are committed to building and sustaining a culture of belonging, respect, and inclusion. We are proud of the steps we’ve taken to bring together an employee base that embodies diverse walks of life, ideas, genders, ages, races, cultures, sexual orientations, abilities and other unique qualities. We strive to offer a workplace where every employee feels empowered by what makes us different, as well as by how we are alike. 

2U is committed to providing reasonable accommodations during our recruitment process. If you need assistance or accommodations, please reach out to us at: [email protected].

About 2U

2U partners with the world's top universities and companies to develop and deliver education programs that accelerate careers and transform lives. Through partnerships with the world’s leading colleges, universities, and companies, 2U delivers thousands of online programs to millions of learners worldwide on edX, its global learning platform. From executive education and professional credentialing to master’s degree programs and free, open courses, 2U transforms how top institutions deliver workforce-aligned online education, enabling professionals to advance without pausing their careers. Learn more at 2U.com.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position, and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

2U is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against applicants or employees and ensures equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, age, marital status, disability, citizenship, military or veterans’ status, or any other classifications protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. 2U’s equal opportunity policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, job benefits and pay.