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General Counsel Jobs in Decatur, GA (NOW HIRING)

YO AI Labs

General Counsel - Remote

Atlanta, GA · Remote

$85 - $140/hr

Role Title: General Counsel Role Type: Contract Location: Remote Scope of Work: * Create, review, and refine contract negotiation playbooks based on diverse real-world scenarios and company ...

Womenofcolorcd

Deputy General Counsel

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$205 - $230/hr

Deputy General Counsel Atlanta, GA, US 30+ days ago Requisition ID: 1186 Salary Range: $205,000.00 To $230,000.00 Annually Deputy General Counsel THE COMPANY The Low Income Investment Fund is a ...

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micro1 AI

General Counsel - Remote

Atlanta, GA · Remote

$90 - $130/hr

General Counsel Role Type: Contractor Location: Remote Job Summary: We are seeking seasoned General Counsels for a part-time role at the forefront of legal AI. This opportunity is for elite legal ...

micro1 AI

General Counsel - Remote

South Fulton, GA · Remote

$90 - $130/hr

General Counsel Role Type: Contractor Location: Remote Job Summary: We are seeking seasoned General Counsels for a part-time role at the forefront of legal AI. This opportunity is for elite legal ...

micro1 AI

General Counsel - Remote

Sandy Springs, GA · Remote

$90 - $130/hr

General Counsel Role Type: Contractor Location: Remote Job Summary: We are seeking seasoned General Counsels for a part-time role at the forefront of legal AI. This opportunity is for elite legal ...

Cherry Bekaert

Assistant General Counsel

Alpharetta, GA · On-site

$180K - $230K/yr

The Assistant General Counsel serves as a key member of the Legal and Risk Management team, providing strategic legal counsel and practical guidance on contracts, subpoenas, employment law, and ...

Cherry Bekaert

Assistant General Counsel

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$180K - $230K/yr

The Assistant General Counsel serves as a key member of the Legal and Risk Management team, providing strategic legal counsel and practical guidance on contracts, subpoenas, employment law, and ...

Playy Sports

Assistant General Counsel

Atlanta, GA · Hybrid

ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL Atlanta, GA (Hybrid) THE RUNDOWN The person in this role will work with the General Counsel and other senior executives to develop and implement corporate strategic and ...

AEG

Assistant General Counsel

Atlanta, GA · On-site

ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL Atlanta, GA (Hybrid) THE RUNDOWN The person in this role will work with the General Counsel and other senior executives to develop and implement corporate strategic and ...

Playfly Sports

Assistant General Counsel

Atlanta, GA · On-site

ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL Atlanta, GA (Hybrid) THE RUNDOWN The person in this role will work with the General Counsel and other senior executives to develop and implement corporate strategic and ...

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All JobsGeneral Counsel JobsGeneral Counsel Jobs in Decatur, GA

General Counsel information

See Decatur, GA salary details

$57.1K

$148.1K

$260.7K

How much do general counsel jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for general counsel in Decatur, GA is $148,054.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $105,900.00 and $185,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a general counsel?

A general counsel, also known as a chief counsel or a Chief Legal Officer (CLO), acts as the primary legal advisor to the senior leadership board of a business or law firm. Like corporate attorneys, a general counsel is well versed in laws, regulations, and negotiating skills. However, unlike corporate lawyers, these specialists have a broader knowledge base and must be able to identify legal issues in a variety of industries, including engineering, marketing, finance, human resources, and business policy. CEOs depend on a general counsel to give confidential feedback and suggestions on firm cases and internal attorney activity.

What does a general counsel do?

A General Counsel is the chief lawyer of an organization, responsible for overseeing all legal matters. They provide legal advice to the company's executives and management, ensure compliance with laws and regulations, and manage legal risks. General Counsels may also handle contracts, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, and litigation. Their role is crucial in helping the organization make informed decisions while minimizing legal exposure.

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

To thrive as a General Counsel, you need a law degree (J.D.), admission to the state bar, and extensive experience in corporate law, regulatory compliance, and risk management. Familiarity with contract management systems, legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis, and specialized compliance software is often required. Exceptional judgment, leadership, negotiation, and communication skills set outstanding General Counsels apart. These skills are critical for providing sound legal guidance, protecting the organization from risk, and effectively supporting business objectives.

What are some common challenges faced by a general counsel in balancing legal risk and business objectives?

A General Counsel often faces the challenge of providing legal advice that protects the organization while supporting its strategic and operational goals. This means carefully evaluating legal risks and proposing solutions that enable business growth without exposing the company to unnecessary liability. Navigating complex regulatory environments, addressing fast-evolving compliance requirements, and communicating legal considerations in clear, actionable terms to non-legal colleagues are all part of the role. Collaboration with executive leadership is essential to align legal priorities with broader business objectives, often requiring creative problem-solving and negotiation skills.

What is the difference between General Counsel vs Corporate Lawyer?

AspectGeneral CounselCorporate Lawyer
CredentialsJD, bar admission, extensive legal experienceJD, bar admission, specialized in corporate law
Work EnvironmentIn-house legal department of a companyLaw firms or corporate legal teams
Employer & IndustryCorporations across industriesLaw firms or corporate legal departments
Primary FocusLegal strategy, risk management, corporate governanceTransactional work, contracts, mergers & acquisitions

While both roles require a JD and legal expertise, the General Counsel serves as the top in-house legal advisor focusing on overall legal strategy and risk management within a company. In contrast, a Corporate Lawyer typically handles transactional work like contracts and deals, often working in law firms or corporate legal teams. The General Counsel has a broader leadership role, whereas the Corporate Lawyer specializes in specific legal transactions.

Is general counsel a prestigious job?

The role of general counsel is considered a prestigious position within organizations, often held by experienced legal professionals with significant responsibility for corporate legal matters. It typically requires a law degree, extensive legal experience, and strong leadership skills, reflecting its high status in the corporate hierarchy.
More about General Counsel jobs

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For General Counsel jobs in Decatur, GA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Cities near Decatur, GA with the most General Counsel job openings:

General Counsel jobs near you
Infographic showing various General Counsel job openings in Decatur, GA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $148,054 per year, or $71.2 per hour.

General Counsel

The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta (AHA)

Atlanta, GA

$211K - $230K/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

Position: General Counsel
Department: Office of General Counsel
Reports To: President and Chief Executive Officer
Pay Grade: V
Position Summary:
The General Counsel is the vital leader of the Atlanta Housing’s (“AH”) in-house legal team devoted to preserving and creating affordable housing resources throughout the city of Atlanta. This legal support facilitates affordable housing resources for nearly 26,000+ low-income households comprised of approximately 50,000 people. The General Counsel serves as the primary legal advisor to the President and Chief Executive Officer in directing the legal affairs of The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia (“AH”), the AH Board of Commissioners and AH’s affiliated entities. This role and provides strategic guidance and legal counsel on high-profile, sensitive, complex and other legal matters impacting the activities of the organization and leads and manages the day-to-day oversight and execution of AH’s Office of General Counsel (“OGC”). The incumbent ensures maximum protection of the organization’s legal rights, utilizing a broad familiarity with most major legal disciplines including real estate development, real estate preservation, affordable housing, federal government law, state and local government law, transactions, corporate, sunshine laws, contracts, HUD programs, fair housing, personal/premises liability, human resources, litigation and other corporate and property related legal disciplines.
The General Counsel is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and participates in executive and senior management policy deliberations. The incumbent also delivers strategic and legal advice to AH Business Units, directs the defense of the organization against suits and claims, prepares prosecution of the organization’s claims against others, supervises the provision of legal advice and assistance to the organization with outside law firms procured to provide general and specialized legal services. The General Counsel role requires direct execution and is also responsible for the professional leadership development of attorneys and administrative support staff within OGC.
Essential Duties amp; Responsibilities:
  • Performs high-level legal, policy and corporate counsel responsibilities related to AH’s governing Board of Commissioners, AH’s affiliates, AH’s Executive Team, other senior executives and AH’s Business Units.
  • Acts as Assistant Secretary to the AH Board of Commissioners (“Board”) directing and overseeing the assigned Board Secretary functions for AH and its affiliated entities, including organizing and facilitating compliant monthly and annual Board meetings following Georgia’s Sunshine Laws, and corporate governance matters.
  • Provides legal analysis and advice related to AH’s business activities and initiatives to ensure compliance with Federal, state and local laws, rulings and regulations, including United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) regulations and program guidelines.
  • Provides legal services and outside counsel oversight related to AH’s high-profile, sensitive, complex and other routine matters, analyses and investigations involving employment, torts, real property, transactional, contracts, corporate, litigation, regulatory, insurance, fair housing, landlord/tenant, Georgia Sunshine Laws, HUD regulations and programs, Housing Choice Vouchers, Fair Housing, and other specialized matters, including recommendations for settlements, alternative dispute resolution, judicial action or other legal strategies.
  • Coordinates and supervises the preparation and execution of legal documents, including various revitalization agreements, purchase and sale agreements, closing statements, declaration of trusts and restrictive covenants, corporate authority documents, legal opinions, escrow agreements, regulatory and operating agreements, intergovernmental agreements, easements, cooperation agreements, leases, licenses, affidavits, deeds, financing documents, memoranda, letters, transactional documents, legal opinions, data security, records retention, and other contracts or agreements.
  • Provides strategic legal advice to formulate high-level policy and important strategic objectives associated with major AH real estate-related and other business and policy initiatives.
  • Acts as Ethics Officer for AH.
  • Hires, evaluates, and promotes subordinate attorneys, legal assistants, and paralegals, and provides overall leadership, mentoring and training to the OGC team.
  • Performs such other related duties as required and/or assigned.
Knowledge amp; Skill Requirements:
  • Judgment and Legal Skills: Superior judgment, reasoning and analytical abilities required to draft and review legal documents, filings and records, including an extreme diligence and a thorough understanding of all current legal issues.
  • Leadership: Ability to lead and motivate teams, inspire confidence, and foster a positive work environment. Experience in managing professionals and guiding them towards common goals.
  • Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability effectively to convey complex ideas, build relationships, and represent AH’s interests to various legal and other stakeholders.
  • Strategic Thinking: Demonstrated strong business acumen, strategic thinking and analytical skills and the ability to understand organizational challenges, identify opportunities, and develop actionable plans to achieve long-term objectives.
  • Problem-Solving: Proven ability to analyze problems, generate creative solutions, and make sound decisions under pressure, including the adept ability to anticipate challenges and implement effective solutions.
  • Project Management: Highly organized, meticulous, and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously, including demonstrated experience in project management, including planning, execution, and monitoring of initiatives.
  • Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders, staff members, clients, and partners, including the ability to be diplomatic, approachable, possess superior judgment and tact and adept at conflict resolution.
  • Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative manner with colleagues, internal clients (across different departments and functions within the organization), partners and outside professionals, and the ability to facilitate communication and foster teamwork to achieve common goals.
  • Adaptability: Demonstrated ability to exhibit flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic and fast-paced environment of multiple and possibly shifting priorities, including the ability quickly to adjust to changing priorities, navigate ambiguity, and thrive in uncertain situations or in an environment of multiple and shifting priorities.
  • Ethical Integrity: Adherence to the highest standards of professional conduct and act with honesty, transparency, trust and credibility.
  • Political Savvy: Demonstrated understanding of organizational politics and dynamics of the agency and key external partners and the ability to navigate complex relationships and influence decision-making processes effectively.
  • Business Acumen: Knowledge of business principles, fiscal management, and industry trends for understanding the broader context in which the organization operates and makes informed strategic decisions.
  • Technology: Requires a demonstrated proficiency of current office technology and software applications and demonstrated use of such technology/applications on a regular basis.
Education amp; Experience:
  • Requires a Juris Doctorate degree (“JD”) from an accredited law school.
  • Requires a bachelor's degree in business administration, management, public administration, economics, communications or a related field.
  • At least twenty (20) years of related experience including leadership, executive-level advice and support, real estate and some general corporate work, and at least ten (10) or more years of management experience, preferably legal or regulatory management. Large law firm, government agency or in-house counsel experience a plus, but not required.
  • Considerable experience providing legal advice to senior executives is required.
  • Membership in the State Bar of Georgia in good standing.
Working Conditions:
Works in an office environment that is fast paced with multi-task working conditions. May require frequent bending, stooping, reaching and prolonged sitting and/or standing. May require regular lifting usually not exceeding 15 lbs. Some travel may be required. May require a valid State of Georgia driver's license and be fully insurable for the purpose of obtaining clearance on an authorized drivers list. May spend extended periods of time reviewing, reading and writing legal documents.

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