TL;DR

Employment Counsel (Legal): Advising on employment law, worker classification, and contingent labor practices for a global hybrid workforce with an accent on scalable policy design and multi-jurisdictional compliance. Focus on designing compliant workforce strategies, legal risk management, and supporting HR teams in a fast-evolving AI-powered workplace.

Location: Hybrid in Austin, Texas and Chicago, United States

Salary: $158,000 - $203,750 USD annually

Company

Upwork Inc. connects businesses with global, AI-enabled talent across contingent work types, facilitating workforce transformation and innovation.

What you will do

Advise HR and People teams on employment law and contingent labor issues across the U.S. and globally.
Design and improve policies for employee and contractor classification and engagement models.
Support compliant onboarding/offboarding, background checks, and benefits eligibility processes.
Govern contingent workforce programs with playbooks, procedures, and knowledge resources.
Monitor legislative developments and update policies accordingly.
Lead investigations, audits, and dispute resolution related to workforce compliance.

Requirements

Must have JD and bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
6+ years of labor and employment law experience with contingent workforce focus.
Deep knowledge of U.S. employment laws including Title VII, ADA, FMLA, wage/hour, and classification.
Experience drafting staffing/vendor agreements and advising on contingent labor governance.
Strong communication skills to translate legal requirements into operational guidance.
Collaborative and practical approach balancing risk and business needs.

Nice to have

Global counseling experience and familiarity with EOR/PEO models.
Prior in-house experience supporting contingent labor or HR/People teams.

Culture & Benefits

Remote-first culture with physical offices and hiring across 34 U.S. states.
Comprehensive medical coverage, unlimited PTO, 401(k) with matching, and paid parental leave.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan and long-term equity incentive program.
Focus on authenticity, inclusion, personal and professional growth.
Development programs, mentorship, and belonging communities.