Overview

Microsoft’s Corporate and External Legal Affairs (CELA) organization has multiple openings on the Experiences + Devices (E+D) legal team to support some of our most strategic products, including Microsoft Office, M365, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and core Office apps and service experiences.

In the role of Corporate Counsel, you will partner with engineering and business teams building next generation AI solutions—such as AI agents, and autonomous business capabilities—to enable safe, compliant, and innovative product development. You will provide world-class engineers with practical legal guidance on topics including responsible AI, privacy and data protection, data use, copyright and IP, licensing, marketing, competition, regulatory compliance, and commercial transactions. Success requires collaboration across CELA to support rapidly evolving legal and policy issues impacting AI-powered experiences across enterprise, consumer, and business applications.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, and we are dedicated to this mission across every aspect of our company. Our Culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. Join us and help shape the future of the world.

Responsibilities Legal Advice and Counsel

• Act as the primary legal contact for engineering teams across Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, OneNote), Microsoft 365, M365 Copilot and Copilot Chat, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and industry-specific AI agents. Provide product counseling to understand engineering concepts and identify and anticipate legal risks, including regulatory, policy, and contractual issues.

• Advise on legal and business matters across product development, privacy/data protection, AI, content moderation, accessibility, consumer protection, competition, intellectual property, and compliance for consumer and enterprise services.

• Analyzes and help solve complex and cutting-edge legal issues, including advising on ambiguous situations.

• Draft and negotiate commercial and technology focused agreements; develop new templates and guidance to accelerate transactions.

•  Demonstrate planning, strategic thinking, and execution of legal and business outcomes.

Operational Excellence

• Develop and implement processes, templates, and best practices, shares knowledge across the Microsoft legal community.

• Provide feedback to improve process efficiencies; identifies tools and opportunities to enhance operational performance.

• Manage project expenses in line with budget and propose efficiencies.

• Model compliance, confidentiality, attorney client privilege, privacy, and data security.

• Supports initiatives to expand M365 Copilot extensibility and the third-party agent and connector ecosystem.

Communication

• Collaborate effectively within CELA and with cross-functional business clients. Appropriately engages and escalates to stakeholders across CELA and the business.

• Organize issues and ideas clearly in written and verbal communication and demonstrate effectiveness across diverse technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

• Embody our culture and values.

Qualifications Required Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor Degree or international equivalent degree AND 1+ year(s) experience as a practicing attorney

• OR equivalent experience.

• Active license to practice law in a jurisdiction and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction.

Preferred or Additional Qualifications

• 4 years’ experience working as an attorney supporting engineering and business teams on commercial, technology contracts.

• Experience providing legal counsel in areas such as IP, AI or related technologies.

#CELA

• Experience working as in-house counsel.

Legal Counsel IC3 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $105,800 - $204,000 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $136,200 - $223,300 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.