Application Guide

How to Apply for Convergent Research General Counsel

at Convergentresearch

🏢 About Convergentresearch

Convergent Research is a nonprofit that operates at the intersection of science and entrepreneurship, funding high-risk, high-reward research initiatives. Its unique model combines academic freedom with business discipline, making it an ideal workplace for those who want to drive transformative scientific impact. The remote-first culture and lean team structure offer significant autonomy and ownership.

About This Role

As the first General Counsel, you will build the legal function from the ground up, shaping IP strategy, risk management, and compliance for a portfolio of research projects. This role is highly impactful because your decisions will directly enable cutting-edge science while protecting the organization's mission and assets. You'll also have the opportunity to hire and lead a growing legal team.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a quick check-in with the CEO to discuss a new partnership opportunity, followed by reviewing a patent filing strategy for one of the research teams. You might then draft a risk assessment for a proposed licensing deal, meet with an outside counsel to discuss a compliance issue, and end the day by interviewing a candidate for your growing legal team. Flexibility is key, as priorities shift rapidly with the research cycle.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Convergentresearch Is Looking For

  • A strategic thinker who has served as a trusted legal partner to executive leadership in a scaling organization, ideally a nonprofit or research-driven entity.
  • Deep expertise in intellectual property (patents, licensing, open science) and risk management, with familiarity in nonprofit corporate governance and tax-exempt regulations.
  • A builder who enjoys creating systems, processes, and policies from scratch, and has experience managing outside counsel and internal legal teams.
  • A creative problem-solver with strong communication skills, able to translate complex legal concepts for non-legal stakeholders and negotiate effectively with partners.

📝 Tips for Applying to Convergentresearch

1

Tailor your resume to highlight experience with IP strategy, especially in a research or nonprofit context, and quantify impact (e.g., 'Managed a patent portfolio of 50+ filings').

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your past work to Convergent's mission of accelerating scientific research, using specific examples of how you enabled strategic decisions.

3

Demonstrate your ability to build systems by describing a process you created (e.g., a risk assessment framework or IP management workflow) and its outcomes.

4

Show your comfort with ambiguity by discussing a time you navigated uncharted legal territory or advised on a high-stakes decision without clear precedent.

5

Research Convergent's current Focused Research Organizations (FROs) and mention how your legal expertise would support their specific challenges (e.g., open science licensing).

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for the intersection of law and scientific innovation, and how Convergent's model aligns with your career goals.", 'Specific examples of IP strategy, risk management, or nonprofit governance successes that directly mirror the job requirements.', 'Your leadership philosophy for building a legal team and fostering a culture of proactive legal support.', 'How you would approach the challenge of balancing open science principles with IP protection and commercialization.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read about Convergent's current FROs (e.g., Arc Institute, Advanced Research Projects) to understand their legal and IP models.
  • → Review Convergent's public materials on their website, especially their approach to open science and intellectual property.
  • → Look into the nonprofit legal landscape for research institutes, including recent IRS rulings or policy changes affecting charitable research.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the founding team and key scientific advisors to understand the organization's culture and priorities.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design an IP strategy for a new Focused Research Organization that aims to both publish openly and attract industry partners?
2 Describe your experience with nonprofit tax compliance, particularly unrelated business income tax (UBIT) and charitable solicitation laws.
3 Tell us about a time you helped a leadership team make a difficult decision with incomplete information; how did you manage the risk?
4 How would you prioritize legal needs when resources are limited, and what criteria would you use to decide when to hire internally vs. use outside counsel?
5 Convergent Research operates remotely. How would you maintain strong communication and trust with scientists and executives across different time zones?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing too much on for-profit corporate experience without connecting it to the nonprofit mission or showing understanding of 501(c)(3) constraints.
  • Being overly technical or legalistic in communication; the role requires translating legal issues for non-lawyers.
  • Failing to demonstrate entrepreneurial thinking or comfort with ambiguity, as the role involves building new systems in a fast-paced environment.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Convergentresearch!

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