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Chief Counsel Jobs (NOW HIRING)

City of New York

Deputy Chief Counsel

Manhattan, NY · On-site

The Office of the Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall provides legal and strategic guidance to the Mayor and senior policymakers in City Hall on a broad range of matters, including policy ...

City of New York

Deputy Chief Counsel

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$150K/yr

The Office of the Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall provides legal and strategic guidance to the Mayor and senior policymakers in City Hall on a broad range of matters, including policy ...

Democracy Fund

Chief Counsel

Washington, DC · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

As a member of the leadership team, the Chief Counsel will help lead our growing organization by overseeing our programmatic legal work. This role will directly support, provide legal guidance and ...

City of New York

Deputy Chief Counsel

Manhattan, NY · On-site

The Office of the Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall provides legal and strategic guidance to the Mayor and senior policymakers in City Hall on a broad range of matters, including policy ...

Democracy Fund

Chief Counsel (Washington)

Washington, DC · On-site

$180K - $240K/yr

As a member of the leadership team, the Chief Counsel will help lead our growing organization by overseeing our programmatic legal work. This role will directly support, provide legal guidance and ...

Covered California

Assistant Chief Counsel

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$14K - $17K/mo

As Assistant Chief Counsel in the Office of Legal Affairs, you will drive legal strategy at the center of Covered California's mission to expand access to quality health coverage. As one of the two ...

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Chief Counsel information

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$97K

$153.1K

$250K

How much do chief counsel jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for chief counsel in the United States is $153,084.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $141,000.00 and $167,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a chief counsel?

Chief Counsel are the senior legal officers within an organization, typically responsible for overseeing all legal matters, providing legal advice to executives and the board, and ensuring the organization complies with laws and regulations. They often manage a legal team and coordinate with external law firms when needed. Chief Counsel play a key strategic role, helping to guide decision-making from a legal perspective and protect the organization from legal risks.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a chief counsel?

To thrive as a Chief Counsel, you need extensive legal expertise, leadership experience, and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree with active bar admission. Familiarity with compliance management systems, legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis, and risk assessment tools is typically required. Strong decision-making, negotiation, and communication skills help build trust with stakeholders and guide teams effectively. These competencies are crucial for safeguarding the organization’s legal interests and ensuring sound governance and risk management.

What are some common challenges faced by a chief counsel when balancing legal risk and business goals?

Chief Counsel often need to navigate the delicate balance between minimizing legal risk and supporting the organization's strategic objectives. This requires a deep understanding of both the legal landscape and the company's broader business priorities. Common challenges include advising on complex regulatory issues, ensuring compliance while enabling innovation, and communicating legal risks in ways that are clear and actionable for non-legal stakeholders. Effective Chief Counsel build strong relationships across departments and proactively anticipate legal implications of business decisions to support sustainable growth.

What is the difference between Chief Counsel vs Corporate Counsel?

AspectChief CounselCorporate Counsel
CredentialsJD, bar admission, extensive legal experienceJD, bar admission, legal experience
Work EnvironmentSenior legal leadership, strategic decision-makingLegal advisory, contract review, compliance
Employer & IndustryCorporations, law firms, government agenciesCorporations, law firms, non-profits
Search & Comparison IntentHigh-level legal management, leadership rolesLegal advisory, day-to-day legal work

Chief Counsel typically holds a senior leadership role overseeing legal strategy and management, while Corporate Counsel focuses on providing legal advice and handling daily legal matters within a company. Both roles require a JD and bar admission, but the Chief Counsel is more involved in strategic decision-making and leadership.

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Chief Counsel jobs near you
Infographic showing various Chief Counsel job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $153,084 per year, or $73.6 per hour.

Deputy Chief Counsel

City of New York

Manhattan, NY • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

City Of New York rating

7.2

Company rating: 7.2 out of 10

Based on 81 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

627th of 854 rated public administrative organizations

Job description

Job Description

The Agency You'll Join:
The New York City Mayor's Office is responsible for overseeing city services throughout the five boroughs, coordinating public agencies and departments, and managing public property. The administration is leading the fight in making the city more affordable, reducing inequality, improving public safety, ensuring delivery of efficient and effective services, and working to make New York City's economy stronger. We value leadership, transparency, fairness, and efficiency as we actively seek diverse talents from various sectors to join our team. For current job opportunities, visit our careers page.
The Team You'll Work With:
The Office of the Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall provides legal and strategic guidance to the Mayor and senior policymakers in City Hall on a broad range of matters, including policy, planning, litigation, legislation, compliance, ethics, and transparency. Alongside several other initiatives and functions, the Chief Counsel to the Mayor also supervises and coordinates the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (including the Environmental Control Board), the Mayor's Office of Risk Management and Compliance, and the Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, in addition to liaising with and reviewing the activities of the Conflicts of Interest Board.
The Problems You'll Solve:
The Office of the Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall seeks a dynamic, public service-minded attorney to work closely with senior policymakers. The Deputy Chief Counsel will report directly to the Chief Counsel.
Key tasks will include:
- Providing legal analysis and strategic guidance to the Chief Counsel and senior City Hall staff to advance mayoral initiatives and priorities.
- Informing team strategy on complex legal issues, including public safety, immigration, employment issues, legislation, and ethics and compliance.
- Serving as a point of contact between the Chief Counsel team and other internal and external stakeholders.
- Supervising certain high-priority initiatives and projects that straddle various City Hall portfolios and verticals.
- Mentoring attorneys and other professionals on the Chief Counsel team.
- Advising and overseeing agencies that report to the Chief Counsel.
- Coordinating with senior policymakers.
About You:
- You have excellent analytical ability and practical judgment.
- You can balance many simultaneous priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- You have strong and concise communication skills.
- You are committed to public service.
- You can demonstrate the ability to be a team player in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
- You can demonstrate dedication to client service and willingness to be responsive.
DEPUTY COUNSEL TO THE MAYOR - 30071

Qualifications

- You are an attorney admitted to the New York State Bar.
- You have at least eight years, and preferably ten years or more, of relevant legal experience, including, but not limited to, government service, private practice, civil rights, criminal defense, and/or prosecutorial experience.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

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