Founding Partner, Lawyer

Overview

The organization is seeking one admitted California lawyer to help build an AI-native law firm and co-found the management services organization (MSO) that powers non-legal operations.

• Location: San Francisco
• Employment type: Full time
• Work arrangement: Remote
• Department: Other

Responsibilities

• Own and operate the law practice: Maintain responsibility for licensing, entity decisions, client relationships, and professional judgment. No involvement from the organization side in these areas.
• Co-found the MSO (management services organization): Partner with a named co-founder to incorporate and establish the MSO.
  • The MSO builds and runs everything other than the practice of law, including the AI systems the firm runs on, engineering, operations, finance, marketing, administration, and recruiting.
• Coordinate legal practice with MSO services: The MSO will serve the firm under an arm’s-length services agreement and charge a services fee.
• Build the practice from the ground up: Both the legal practice and the MSO start empty and must be created together.

Requirements

• California admission: Must be admitted in California and in good standing.
• Senior client-facing credibility: Senior enough that clients hire you directly rather than based on branding or secondary representation.
• Business development track record: Bring a book of business and know key relationships (e.g., GCs, partners, founders, alumni) who will take your call and convert into engagements.
• Prior planning for starting a firm: Have considered leaving to start your own firm, but previously did not proceed because you did not want to spend three years building a back office.
• Ownership mindset: Prefer ownership and founder equity (including MSO equity and the economics of your own firm) over a salary line or traditional partnership track.
• Ethics expertise: Demonstrate strong knowledge of legal ethics, including independence of judgment, fee-sharing, confidentiality, and unauthorized practice; understand how MSO structures intersect with applicable limits.
• Motivation for legal craft: Prefer solving cases to discussing case-solving; legal craft is a primary source of energy.
• Tech curiosity: Comfortable with AI in law; view it as a meaningful and interesting development in your career.
• Comfort with early-stage execution: Comfortable operating early with limited brand, precedent, and support staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building or advising on MSO, ABS, or other alternative legal service structures.
• Prior ownership experience of a P&L or a practice group.
• Litigation experience alongside advisory work.
• Proficiency in a second language.

Compensation & Benefits

• Equity and ownership: Founder equity in the MSO plus the economics of your own law firm.
• Services fee model: The MSO serves the firm under an arm’s-length services agreement and takes a services fee.

Location

• San Francisco
• Remote