Staples is business to business. You’re what binds us together.

Join a team of legal and risk professionals that work collaboratively with clients in providing practical solutions to grow businesses in multiple industries and different jurisdictions. We help our varied businesses assess risk, drive results and mitigate problems. With diverse projects and a transformative culture, you’ll grow and learn with our businesses. Work with appreciative clients and supportive peers in a flexible environment that helps you gain the experience you want to develop your career. 

Staples is seeking a Staff Attorney to support its commercial contracting and other operational needs across its merchandising, procurement, sales, supply chain, retail, and other functions, to be based in the Legal Department of our Framingham, MA office. This position is appropriate for law school graduates (with bar certification) with 1–3 years of prior legal practice. This position will not entail the management of other lawyers.

The Staff Attorney will be expected, with supervision when required, to manage and perform a number of legal support functions for Staples’ commercial operations across the company’s business units. Such functions include:

The Staff Attorney will work with some independence, having direct client contact, and also may work with outside counsel when required. The Staff Attorney may also assist other members of the Legal Department with general corporate or strategic legal matters and transactions. The selected candidate will possess excellent legal judgment, interpersonal skills, and project management skills, and will have the ability to balance multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

What you’ll be doing: 

• Review, revise, restructure, and draft standard (form) and non-standard contracts in compliance with company and department policies
• Conduct conference call contract negotiations with Staples’ customers and vendors
• Working directly with internal clients and third parties
• Manage the intake process for the submission of client matters and provide substantive responses to inquiries
• Develop strategy for negotiations, clearly and concisely explaining terms and legal risks, and presenting options for negotiations
• Assuming a project management role relating to strategic initiatives or disputes with third parties as needed
• Analyze and advise internal clients regarding risks and operational guidelines associated with new business initiatives and programs

What you bring to the table: 

• Assist with creating and presenting training on legal issues for internal clients
• Develop standard forms, legal guidelines, and playbooks for business units, update templates, and maintain databases of client support tools
• Work on legal department projects or as part of a cross-functional business team to advise on critical business priorities from a legal perspective
• Comply with the company’s contracting policies and global company policies, and instruct clients to follow required processes and policies
• Analyze and help resolve complaints, disputes, or litigation with third parties (such as customers, vendors, government agencies)
• Reliable, self-starter with strong interpersonal skills; ability to effectively communicate with clients, colleagues, and outside counsel
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; adaptable to new situations and challenges
• Positive, inclusive, team-oriented, and collaborative attitude

What’s needed- Basic Qualifications 

• Masters – Juris Doctorate required
• Licenses – Massachusetts Bar or Registered In-House Counsel certification; Active status in good standing is required; Professional integrity/ability to maintain confidentiality
• Minimum 1–3 years’ experience in a law firm or in-house, with general exposure to or experience in commercial contracts; however, recent law school graduates with strong academic credentials but less experience may be considered
• Contract drafting skills: A solid understanding of legal terms and contract formulation principles is required. Must have the ability to comprehend and modify legal terms, including indemnity, termination, warranties, UCC provisions, and other remedies provisions
• Legal Research Skills: Associate must have the ability to conduct legal research and review and understand legislation/case law, as well as understand and communicate the implications of legal requirements to in-house clients and supervising attorneys

What’s needed - Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent judgment, able to operate independently, and knowing when to escalate issues to the supervising attorney
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; capable of identifying and prioritizing issues and providing alternative solutions
• Strong business acumen and ability to understand and react to issues with business considerations in mind. Willing to self-educate and adapt to changing needs of internal clients’ businesses
• Strong negotiation/communication skills, capable of working directly with third parties in both cooperative and potentially adversarial scenarios. 
• Associate should have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be able to write in a clear and concise manner
• Strong organizational, project management, and computer skills

We Offer:

• Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups 
• Flexible PTO (22 days) and Holiday Schedule (7 observed paid holidays) 
• Online and Retail Discounts, Company Match 401(k), Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs, and more!

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Staples is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.