Legal Director

About the Role

Accela is seeking a proactive and business-minded Legal Director to support our growing sales and services teams. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, this role will serve as a key legal advisor on commercial transactions and revenue-generating activities. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in negotiating complex SaaS and services agreements, particularly in the public sector, and will thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

This is a hands-on role that requires strong business acumen, excellent judgment, and the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives. You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams including Sales, Services, Finance, and Operations to support deal flow and help scale legal processes as the company grows.

Specific Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including SaaS, software licensing, professional services, and maintenance agreements.
• Partner with Sales and Services teams to drive deals to closure efficiently while maintaining compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Provide strategic legal guidance on RFPs, government procurement processes, and contract structures.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop and implement scalable legal processes and templates that support revenue growth.
• Support cross-functional initiatives involving legal input, including compliance, sales operations, and risk management.
• Stay current on relevant laws, regulations, and industry trends affecting SaaS and public sector contracting.
• Identify and develop a secondary area of legal expertise (e.g., privacy, compliance, or employment law) to support broader legal team initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited U.S. law school.
• Active membership in a state bar, with eligibility for California Registered In-House Counsel if not CA-barred.
• 6+ years of legal experience, including at least 3 years in-house at a technology or SaaS company.
• Strong experience negotiating commercial contracts, particularly with government entities.
• Solid understanding of SaaS business models and software licensing.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a collaborative, team-first mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with revenue recognition principles and their impact on contract terms.
• Experience supporting enterprise software sales and professional services engagements.
• Exposure to privacy, compliance, or government relations is a plus.