Corporate Lawyer Job Description Template (Free, 2026)

Job Title: Corporate Lawyer / Corporate Counsel Department: Legal / General Counsel's Office Location: [City, State] / Hybrid / Remote Reports To: General Counsel / Chief Legal Officer (CLO) / CEO Employment Type: Full-Time About [Company Name] [Company Name] is a [stage: seed / Series B / growth / pre-IPO / public / PE-backed] company in the [industry] sector with [$X] in revenue and [X] employees. Our Legal team supports the full range of corporate transactions, commercial contracts, and governance matters, and we are looking for a Corporate Lawyer to [join our growing in-house team / serve as a founding legal hire / support our GC on complex transactions]. About the Role As Corporate Lawyer, you will provide legal counsel on a broad range of corporate matters including M&A transactions, equity and debt financings, commercial contracts, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance. You will serve as a trusted business partner to senior leadership and manage relationships with external law firms on complex matters. This role requires strong transactional experience, sound business judgment, and the ability to deliver clear, practical legal advice under time pressure. Key Responsibilities • Advise senior leadership on corporate transactions: M&A, venture and growth equity financings, debt facilities • Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements: NDAs, vendor contracts, SaaS agreements, licensing deals, partnership agreements • Support and manage equity and financing transactions end-to-end: term sheets, definitive agreements, closing mechanics, cap table management • Advise the board of directors and executive team on corporate governance matters: board resolutions, stockholder rights, equity plan administration • Manage the company's corporate housekeeping: entity maintenance, officer/director records, board minutes, subsidiary governance • Coordinate and manage outside counsel relationships on complex matters; review and approve legal fees and billing • Identify legal and regulatory risks and advise leadership on risk mitigation strategies • Support regulatory compliance across applicable federal and state requirements • Advise on employment-related matters in coordination with HR (offer letters, equity grants, employment agreements, separation agreements) • Develop and maintain legal policies, contract templates, and playbooks to improve legal efficiency • Support M&A due diligence: review of target agreements, legal risk assessment, rep and warranty analysis • Manage litigation matters and insurance claims in coordination with outside counsel Required Qualifications • JD from an accredited law school • Active bar admission in [State] (or ability to register as in-house counsel) • [X] years of corporate law experience at a law firm and/or in-house legal team • Strong transactional background: M&A, venture capital, PE, or corporate finance • Experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements across a broad range of contract types • Strong business judgment; ability to provide practical legal advice aligned with business objectives • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to advise non-lawyer executives • High attention to detail with ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously Preferred Qualifications • Big Law (Am Law 100 / 200) associate experience in a corporate / M&A / capital markets practice • In-house legal experience at a high-growth technology or SaaS company • Experience with venture capital financing documents (Series A–D, SAFE notes, convertible notes) • Public company experience: SEC reporting, proxy statements, Section 16 compliance • Experience managing complex cross-border M&A transactions What We Offer • Base salary: $[X] – $[X] (see benchmarks below) • Annual performance bonus • Equity / stock options • Health, dental, and vision insurance • 401(k) with employer match • Bar dues and CLE reimbursement • Flexible / hybrid work arrangement • [Any other benefits]