Director, Legal Counsel

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is one of the fastest-growing professional sports leagues in the U.S., powered by 16 clubs and a deep roster of the world’s best players, and built on record-shattering fan, media and commercial growth. Now in its 13th season, the league’s momentum continues to accelerate, with viewership and attendance numbers growing rapidly, social media fandom on the rise, team valuations massively increasing and new top sponsors investing in the NWSL brand.

This unprecedented growth in audience, media reach, and franchise value reflects the NWSL’s expanding fan base and increasing dominance in the sports-media landscape and popular culture. The future of the NWSL is now — and we’re looking for world-class talent like you to help us continue the momentum.

The Role

As we continue to expand and elevate the profile of professional women's soccer in the United States, we are seeking to fill a Counsel role on our Legal team. This individual will provide day-to-day legal support across a broad range of matters and collaborate closely with internal departments and external stakeholders.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, collaborative, and proactive, with the ability to independently manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated attorney to gain experience in a dynamic legal and business setting while contributing to the continued success and integrity of the League.

What You Will Own & Drive

• Support Senior Counsel, Legal in the administration, interpretation, and enforcement of the League’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Advise internal stakeholders on labor relations issues to ensure consistent application of League rules and CBA provisions.
• Assist in the grievance process, including conducting preliminary fact-finding, drafting responses, and preparing materials for arbitration hearings.
• Assist in managing the litigation lifecycle, including drafting discovery responses, coordinating document production, and liaising with outside counsel.
• Conduct in-depth legal research on topics as necessary, including emerging labor and employment law trends to provide proactive risk mitigation advice.
• Contribute to the drafting, review, and updating of League policies, handbooks, and other rules to ensure they remain current and enforceable.
• Assist Legal Department and League Safety in managing and conducting internal investigations regarding employment-related or rule-based misconduct.
• Assist Senior Counsel, Legal in managing the vetting and background check process for prospective employees, contractors, and other League-affiliated personnel to ensure alignment with League standards and safety protocols.
• Manage immigration matters and work authorization workflows, including visa processing for international personnel/athletes, in coordination with outside immigration counsel.
• Monitor compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, as well as League-specific risk management and insurance requirements.
• Assist in other legal matters, such as League-wide litigation, as necessary.
• Collaborate on cross-functional League projects, providing legal support to departments such as HR, Operations, and Security.
• Assist in developing and delivering training presentations to League staff and member clubs regarding workplace conduct, CBA compliance, and reporting protocols.

What You Will Bring

Core Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school
• 3+ years of sophisticated legal experience , with a preference for candidates from a top-tier law firm’s labor/employment or litigation practice or an in-house legal department with a labor, litigation or employment focus.
• Solution-Oriented Drafter: Ability to draft complex agreements and policies from scratch, write clear and persuasive communications, moving beyond templates to create legal frameworks that support a rapidly scaling business.
• Tech-forward proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
• Operational Agility: Demonstrated ability to manage high-volume workflows and shifting priorities in a fast-paced, "startup-like" environment without sacrificing attention to detail.
• Collaborative Partner: A track record of building strong relationships with non-legal business units (e.g., Marketing, HR, Soccer Ops) to provide practical, actionable legal advice.
• Unwavering Integrity: Experience handling highly confidential and sensitive matters with the utmost professionalism and discretion.
• Women’s Sports Advocate: A demonstrated passion for the growth and professionalization of women’s sports

Our Investment in You

In addition to working in an incredible, inclusive, and committed-to-diversity culture, we offer:

• Competitive Compensation: $170,000 - $190,000 (Salary is contingent upon candidate qualifications and functional business needs).
• Time & Flexibility: Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO), sick days, and an end-of-year office closure.
• Hybrid Work Model: Three days in-office and two remote days per week.
• Robust Health Coverage: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Mental Health benefits for employees and dependents.
• Financial Future: 401k with employer match and safe harbor contributions.
• Additional Perks: Commuter benefits, Short/Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, Gym On-Site, and Voluntary Pet Insurance.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The NWSL is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We celebrate diversity and are deeply committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all employees. All employment decisions—including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, compensation, and termination—are made without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected].