About Upstart
At Upstart, we’re united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day, we bring creativity, experimentation, and advanced AI to reshape access to credit, helping millions move forward financially with clarity and confidence.
As the leading AI lending marketplace, we partner with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit through technology that’s both radically intelligent and deeply human. Our platform runs over one million predictions per borrower using more than 1,800 signals, powering smarter, fairer decisions for millions of customers. But the numbers only hint at the impact. Every idea, every voice, and every contribution moves us closer to a world where credit never stands between people and their financial progress.
We’re proudly digital-first, giving most Upstarters the flexibility to do their best work from wherever they thrive, alongside teammates across 80+ cities in the US and Canada. Digital-first doesn’t mean distant. We’re intentional about in-person connection through team onsites, planning sessions, and moments that spark creativity and trust. And whether you choose to work primarily from home or collaborate in-person from one of our offices in Columbus, Austin, the Bay Area, or New York City (opening Summer 2026), you’ll have the support to work in the way that works best for you.
If you’re energized by tackling meaningful problems, excited to innovate with purpose, and motivated by work that truly matters, we’d love to hear from you.
The Role:
As the Assistant General Counsel, Product & Regulatory Legal you will play a key role in providing legal guidance in supporting Upstart’s product and marketing initiatives, as well as in developing new products and features to serve the personal loan, open line of credit, small dollar loan and auto refinance market.
How you’ll make an impact:
Strategic Legal Leadership & Team Management
- Lead and develop a team of attorneys and legal professionals within the Product & Regulatory Legal Team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and professional growth
- Serve as the primary legal advisor for origination-related matters, guiding the product and marketing teams through complex legal and regulatory considerations
- Act as a key escalation point for the legal team, ensuring issues are efficiently triaged and resolved, and provide timely, business-oriented recommendations
Product & Regulatory Counsel
- Provide strategic legal counsel on product development, marketing, and customer onboarding for personal loan, small dollar loan, open line of credit, and auto refinance products offered through Upstart’s bank partnership platform
- Conduct and oversee legal research and analysis on federal and state consumer finance laws, developing practical requirements documentation and compliant marketing and origination frameworks
- Monitor industry trends, regulatory changes, and enforcement developments to proactively advise business leaders on risk and opportunity areas
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Partner with Product, Growth, Risk, and Compliance to design compliant and customer-friendly financial products and online experiences
- Collaborate across legal teams—including lawyers supporting Privacy, Fair Lending, Capital Markets, and Commercial areas—to support enterprise-wide initiatives
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with internal stakeholders, influencing product and marketing strategies with sound, business-oriented legal guidance
Legal Risk Identification and Management
- Advise on disputes and issues escalated from the Compliance team, particularly those related to marketing or loan origination practices
- Identify and communicate key legal risks to business partners; ability to distill complex legal matters and risks for senior leadership in a clear and actionable manner, synthesizing complex concepts into concise recommendations
Minimum Qualifications
- J.D. degree with superior academic credentials and a state bar membership;
- At least 10+ years of experience in a top-tier law firm, government, in-house legal department, and/or fintech/startup experience with at least 5 years focused on in marketing and consumer loan origination;
- In-depth knowledge of federal and state open and closed end consumer lending and consumer protection laws, including FCRA, TILA, ECOA, GLBA, UDAAP, EFTA, ESIGN, FDCPA, bankruptcy, AML/BSA, and servicing/debt collection laws;
- Experience with marketing, bank partnership programs, personal loans, small dollar lending, auto refinance loans, and open lines of credits; and
- Strong communication skills with a demonstrated ability to effectively and proactively provide quick, concise, and practical legal advice involving competing interests.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with use of AI in providing solid legal advice and developing team efficiencies
- Experience with loan servicing and debt collection, data privacy and security, and auto retail lending/retail installment sales contracts;
- Vendor management and vendor contract negotiation experience; and
- State licensing and exam experience.
Position location This role is available in the following locations: Remote, San Mateo, CA, and Columbus, OH
Time zone requirements The team operates on the East/West coast time zones.
Travel requirements As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.
#LI-REMOTE
#LI-Director
#LI-Executive
At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location–with our “digital first” philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k).
What you'll love
At Upstart, our benefits are designed to support your health, financial well-being, family, and personal growth. Here’s what you can expect:
- Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly
- Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees
- Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage, with multiple plan options - Upstart covers 90% to 100% of the cost depending on the plans you choose
- Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans
- Income protection benefits, including company-paid Basic Life, AD&D, and Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage, with options to purchase supplemental coverage
- Paid time off, sick and safe time, and company holidays
- Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments
- Family-centered benefits through Carrot and Cleo, supporting fertility, parenthood, and caregiving
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources
- Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service
- Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development, based on what matters most to you
- Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from
- Connection and community through team events and onsites, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
- Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our four offices, located in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).
Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Just as we are dedicated to improving access to affordable credit for all, we are committed to inclusive and fair hiring practices.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please email [email protected]
https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy
Top Skills
Similar Jobs at Upstart
What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene
Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
- Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering
