Dear future colleague

This page will help you decide if Legalloyd is right for you.

This isn't for everyone

We're looking for lawyers who see their craft as something to master, not just practice. People who get energy from the ambition of founders, not drained by it. If you need to be convinced why this work matters, you probably won't thrive here.

We work with companies building the future. That means pressure, urgency, and complexity. It also means impact, learning, and the satisfaction of work that actually makes a difference.

Finally, you have to do it out of love for the craft. We work for impact or very early ventures with limited resources alongside fast-growing, well-funded organizations. You can't be picky and only work for the latter.

What we expect

Entrepreneurial mindset is non-negotiable

You don't need to have started a company, but you need to think like someone who has. You understand constraints, trade-offs, and the cost of delay. You take ownership. If something needs to be done, you do it—even if it's "not your job."

Obsessed with craftsmanship

You care deeply about the quality of your work. A poorly structured clause bothers you. Unclear advice keeps you up at night. You believe contracts should be elegant, not just enforceable. You iterate, refine, and continuously improve.

Comfortable with ambiguity

Startup law rarely has clear answers. You'll need to navigate uncertainty, make judgment calls with incomplete information, and be comfortable saying "it depends" while still providing direction. If you need fixed procedures for everything, this will frustrate you.

Ego in check, standards high

You're confident but not arrogant. You challenge others' thinking and welcome challenges to your own. You can tell a founder they're wrong—respectfully. You can admit when you don't know something. Growth matters more than being right.

People-first approach

Behind every deal is a person under pressure. You remember that. You respond to the 11 PM panic email with empathy, not irritation. You explain complex matters in understandable language because you know jargon is often a shield for unclear thinking.

What you get

You'll become a better lawyer fast

You'll see more deal structures, governance challenges, and strategic problems in two years here than in five years at a traditional firm. Founders ask hard questions. Investors push back. You learn by doing, not by reviewing someone else's work for the tenth time.

Direct client relationships from day one

No decade-long partner track where you finally meet clients in year 8. You work directly with founders, negotiate with opposing counsel, and own your files. You'll make mistakes. You'll learn from them.

Transparency in everything

You know how the firm performs financially. You understand how we price work and why. You see what others earn. No black boxes, no politics, no "you'll understand when you're senior."

Freedom to build

See a better way to structure a clause? Test it. Think we should approach pricing differently for a certain type of work? Make your case. We build this firm like a product—always iterating, always improving. Your ideas matter if they're good.

Financially rewarding

Let's be direct. if you're excellent at this work, you'll be well compensated. Not "golden handcuffs" good, but "financial freedom to take risks" good. We don't believe in squeezing people for years with promises of future payouts. Good work is rewarded now.

Space to live your life

Yes, startups move fast and sometimes that means late nights. But we don't confuse presence with productivity. If you work smart, are responsible, and deliver results, we don't care if you leave at 3 PM on Thursday for your kid's performance or go surfing in Portugal for three weeks. Output counts, not optics.

Who thrives here

The craftsmanship-obsessed — You care about great work, not just billable work
The commercially minded — You understand business, not just law
The self-directed — You see what needs to be done and do it
The intellectually honest — You say what you think, respectfully
The growth-oriented — You want to be better next year than this year
The team player — You help others succeed because collective excellence matters

Who doesn't fit here

People who need extensive structure and clear hierarchies
Lawyers who see clients as interruptions to legal work
Those who optimize for prestige over impact
Anyone who thinks entrepreneurship is just a buzzword
People who need constant validation or guidance
Those who are uncomfortable with transparency (financial or otherwise)

The reality

This is hard work. Founders are demanding because they're often under extreme pressure. Deals fall apart. People get emotional. You'll sometimes feel in over your head. That's where growth happens.

We've built companies ourselves. We know the chaos, the uncertainty, the "we figured it out as we go" reality. That's what we're asking you to embrace too—not just in serving clients, but in building this firm.

You'll work on yourself as much as on deals. You'll confront your assumptions, your communication style, your relationship with uncertainty. If that sounds exhausting, it probably is. If it sounds exciting, read on.

Practical details

Compensation

Competitive base salary + performance-based variable compensation. We're transparent about ranges and criteria. As the firm grows and you deliver, your compensation grows. Simple.

Development

As a junior, you get the full training program, both formal and informal. As you grow, you naturally develop your strengths and become aware of your pitfalls. We invest in courses, conferences, and coaching when it serves your growth. You're expected to drive your own development, but the firm pays for it.

Location

Based in Amsterdam, but flexible. We regularly work together in person because it matters to look each other in the eye regularly. We also trust you can work effectively remotely. Adults making adult decisions.

Still reading?

Good. That probably means something.

Don't send a cover letter explaining why you want to work here. Send us

1. Your CV
2. A deal or project you're proud of and why (max 500 words)
3. One legal opinion or position that most of your colleagues would dispute

If we're interested, we'll have a conversation. If not, we'll let you know quickly.

Apply now