What does a Legal Counsel do?

A Legal Counsel is an in-house lawyer who advises the business on legal risk and keeps it operating within the law. They draft and negotiate contracts, guide teams on compliance, and support corporate and regulatory matters. When disputes arise, they manage them and coordinate any outside counsel.

What are the main responsibilities of a Legal Counsel?

The core duties are drafting and negotiating contracts, advising on legal and regulatory risk, and managing disputes and outside counsel. They also maintain templates and playbooks, support corporate governance, and keep the business current on changing regulations. Practical, business-aware advice is central to the role.

What skills does a Legal Counsel need?

Strong contract drafting and negotiation are essential, alongside solid grounding in commercial and corporate law. Sound risk judgment matters as much as legal knowledge, since the role is about enabling decisions, not just spotting problems. The best counsel explain complex legal issues in clear, commercial language.

What should a Legal Counsel job description include?

A strong Legal Counsel job description states the required qualifications and jurisdiction, the types of law and contracts involved, and the seniority expected. It should cover advisory, drafting, compliance, and dispute duties, plus reporting lines. Naming specialisms like data privacy or M&A helps the right lawyers self-select.

Who does a Legal Counsel work with?

A Legal Counsel partners with nearly every function, from sales and procurement on contracts to product and engineering on privacy and compliance. They advise senior leadership and sometimes the board on risk and governance. Externally they manage outside law firms, regulators, and counterparties.

Legal & Compliance

Legal Counsel Job Description

Paralegal Compliance Officer Contract Manager

About the role

We are looking for a Legal Counsel to be a trusted advisor across the business on all things legal. You will draft and negotiate commercial contracts, guide teams on risk and compliance, and help leadership make sound decisions with confidence. We want a practical, business-minded lawyer who protects the company without slowing it down.

Key responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts
Advise the business on legal risk and compliance
Manage disputes, regulators, and outside counsel

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate a range of commercial and vendor agreements
Advise business teams on contractual, regulatory, and legal risk
Maintain and improve contract templates, playbooks, and approval workflows
Support corporate matters such as governance, equity, and board resolutions
Guide the company on data protection, privacy, and industry regulations
Manage disputes, claims, and litigation, coordinating outside counsel as needed
Conduct legal due diligence for partnerships, financings, or acquisitions
Deliver practical training and guidance to teams on legal and compliance topics
Track regulatory changes and update policies to keep the business compliant
Balance legal protection with commercial pragmatism in every recommendation

Requirements

Law degree (JD, LLB, or equivalent) and admission to practice in the relevant jurisdiction
4 or more years of legal experience in a law firm or in-house team
Strong contract drafting and negotiation experience across commercial agreements
Working knowledge of corporate, commercial, and data-protection law
Sound judgment and the ability to explain legal risk in plain business terms

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