Junior Legal Counsel Peter Lang Group AG

About

Peter Lang is one of Europe's leading independent academic publishers, specialising in Humanities, Social Sciences and Law. Back in 1970, the Swiss entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter Lang founded his academic publishing company in his own name. In over fifty years since then, the company has undergone growth and change and overcome many challenges as an independent, internationally focused business. We are now a dynamic, entrepreneurial group of colleagues working across the globe to deliver excellence in academic publishing.  You will experience an international work environment with lean management. 

Your tasks

You will be a real contributor to our in-house legal function, working directly with senior management on a genuinely varied workload. In a single month, you might review a distribution agreement, draft an employment contract for a new colleague, research and advise on copyright or licensing questions, help prepare materials for an M&A process, or correspond with external counsel on a financial dispute.  

Draft, review and negotiation of commercial contracts with suppliers and distributors 
Support with author agreements, publishing licences and copyright queries 
Update and maintain contract templates 
Employment and HR contract support across multiple European jurisdictions 
Research and document preparation for M&A and corporate transactions 
Monitoring and supporting financial dispute and debt collection matters 
Research and monitoring of AI-related legal developments relevant to publishing 
Facilitate internal discussions around contracts and policies 
Communicate with clients, customers and consultants 
Communication and coordination with external lawyers and advisors world-wide 
Legal research briefs and written summaries for management 

Your profile

Currently enrolled in a law degree (final years preferred) or recently graduated 
Strong written and spoken English — our working language across the group 
Organised, curious and comfortable taking initiative in a small team 
Competent with MS Office, especially Word (track changes, document formatting) 
Any prior experience in a law firm, legal clinic or in-house team is a plus — not a requirement 

Desired Qualifications & Skills: 
Company secretarial experience (CS qualification) 
Experience in the publishing industry, including familiarity with copyright and licensing 
Interest in or exposure to AI related topics 
International or cross-border work experience 
A second European language is a genuine advantage (German, French, Spanish, Italian,...) 

What we offer

Real international exposure: Contracts, disputes and HR matters across multiple countries and legal systems — from day one 
Variety, not repetition: Contracts, disputes, M&A, HR, IP and emerging AI questions: get into the details of diverse topics — no two weeks are the same 
Small team with flat hierarchy: Your work lands on the desks that matter. In a lean international group, you'll have direct access to senior management and the CEO. 
Fits around your studies: Flexible hours, remote 

Your application

Location: remote (we all work from home), CET time zone   
Employment rate: 10-40hours/week, freelance or employment (internship or student position) 
Paid position  
   
If you are ready to contribute to the excellence of the Peter Lang Group and thrive in a dynamic publishing environment, we invite you to apply. Join us in shaping the future of academic publishing!