Legal Counsel Job Description Template (Free, 2026)

Job Title: Legal Counsel / Corporate Counsel Department: Legal / General Counsel's Office Location: [City, State] / Hybrid / Remote Reports To: General Counsel / CFO / CEO Employment Type: Full-Time About [Company Name] [Company Name] is a [industry: technology / SaaS / financial services / healthcare / consumer] company with [$X] in revenue and [X] employees operating in [number] markets. We are looking for a Legal Counsel to join our [growing in-house legal team / serve as a founding legal hire] and provide practical, business-oriented legal advice across a broad range of commercial, compliance, and corporate matters. About the Role As Legal Counsel, you will be an embedded legal business partner to our commercial, product, and operational teams. You will handle a broad and varied caseload spanning commercial contracting, data privacy, employment law, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and IP matters. This role requires strong legal judgment, excellent commercial instincts, and the ability to simplify complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidance for non-lawyer stakeholders. Key Responsibilities • Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements: SaaS/software contracts, vendor agreements, partnership agreements, NDAs, and data processing agreements (DPAs) • Advise business teams on data privacy and cybersecurity law: GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, data breach notification obligations, and cross-border data transfer mechanisms • Support employment law matters in coordination with HR: offer letters, PIIAs, equity grant documentation, employment policies, PIP/separation agreements • Advise on intellectual property matters: trademark registration and maintenance, IP assignment, licensing, and software IP protection • Manage regulatory compliance across applicable jurisdictions; monitor regulatory developments affecting the business • Support corporate governance: board resolutions, entity maintenance, equity plan administration, capitalization table management • Manage outside counsel relationships for litigation, specialized transactions, and regulatory matters • Identify and assess legal and business risks; provide practical mitigation strategies to business leaders • Develop and maintain contract templates, legal playbooks, and standard operating procedures to improve legal scalability • Support fundraising and M&A transactions: due diligence, agreement review, closing coordination • Handle litigation and dispute matters in coordination with outside litigation counsel • Advise on product compliance: terms of service, privacy policies, acceptable use policies, and consumer protection requirements Required Qualifications • JD from an accredited law school • Active bar admission in [State] (or ability to register as in-house counsel) • [X] years of legal experience at a law firm or in-house legal team • Strong commercial contract drafting and negotiation skills • Working knowledge of data privacy law (GDPR, CCPA/CPRA) — required for technology or consumer-facing companies • Ability to manage a high-volume, varied legal caseload with competing priorities • Strong communication skills; ability to advise non-lawyer executives and business teams • Business-oriented legal judgment; ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives Preferred Qualifications • In-house experience at a technology, SaaS, fintech, or high-growth startup • Law firm background in corporate, commercial, or technology transactions • CIPP/E or CIPP/US certification (for privacy-focused roles) • Experience with SaaS contract structures, enterprise software licensing, and API terms • Exposure to employment law, immigration, and equity plan administration • Experience supporting Series A–D venture financings or 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 / remote work arrangement • [Any other benefits]