1

General Counsel Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

The role of Associate General Counsel, Global Commercial Legal, Aesthetics is responsible for developing legal strategy for AbbVie's U.S. aesthetics products, including neurotoxins (BOTOX ® ) and ...

The role of Associate General Counsel, Global Commercial Legal, Aesthetics is responsible for developing legal strategy for AbbVie's U.S. aesthetics products, including neurotoxins (BOTOX) and dermal ...

The role of Associate General Counsel, Global Commercial Legal, Aesthetics is responsible for developing legal strategy for AbbVie's U.S. aesthetics products, including neurotoxins (BOTOX ® ) and ...

A Career that Empowers You to Build Your Future The Director, Assistant General Counsel - Litigation, is a senior legal leader responsible for managing high-impact litigation and serving as a trusted ...

Senior Corporate Counsel

Tustin, CA · On-site

$190K - $270K/yr

Senior Corporate Counsel / Assistant General Counsel Orange County, CA | Hybrid (4 Days Onsite) $190,000 - $270,000 Base Salary + Bonus About the Company Our client is a publicly traded, global ...

Sr. Corporate Counsel

Lake Forest, CA · On-site

$190K - $270K/yr

In parallel, this role is designed to broaden general legal expertise, including global subsidiary ... An Assistant General Counsel (AGC) level role may also be considered depending on qualifications.

Senior Corporate Counsel

Irvine, CA · On-site

$200K - $220K/yr

General Counsel About ConsumerDirect ConsumerDirect is a financial technology company headquartered in Irvine, California. We develop and operate consumer-facing and business-to-business technology ...

General Counsel About ConsumerDirect ConsumerDirect is a financial technology company headquartered in Irvine, California. We develop and operate consumer-facing and business-to-business technology ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

General Counsel information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$61K

$158.2K

$278.6K

How much do general counsel jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for general counsel in Riverside, CA is $158,204.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,200.00 and $198,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What do you do as general counsel?

A general counsel is the chief legal officer of an organization, responsible for overseeing legal matters, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, and providing legal advice to management. They often handle contract review, risk management, and may supervise a legal team, requiring strong legal knowledge and negotiation skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a General Counsel, and why are they important?

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.

Do you need a law degree to be a general counsel?

A law degree is typically required to become a general counsel, as the role involves providing legal advice and representing the company in legal matters. Most general counsels are licensed attorneys with extensive legal experience, often including passing the bar exam and maintaining active licensure. While alternative qualifications are rare, legal expertise and a strong understanding of corporate law are essential for the position.

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.

Is general counsel a high position?

Yes, the general counsel is a senior executive role responsible for overseeing a company's legal matters. It is typically one of the highest-ranking legal positions within an organization, often reporting directly to the CEO or board of directors.

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.

Who is the highest paid general counsel?

The highest paid general counsel typically work for large multinational corporations and can earn total compensation exceeding several million dollars annually, including base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Compensation varies based on company size, industry, and individual experience, with top earners often holding senior leadership and legal expertise in complex corporate environments.

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.

What are the most commonly searched types of General Counsel jobs in Riverside, CA? The most popular types of General Counsel jobs in Riverside, CA are:
What are popular job titles related to General Counsel jobs in Riverside, CA? For General Counsel jobs in Riverside, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching General Counsel jobs in Riverside, CA look for? The top searched job categories for General Counsel jobs in Riverside, CA are:
What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for General Counsel jobs? Cities near Riverside, CA with the most General Counsel job openings:
Infographic showing various General Counsel job openings in Riverside, CA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $158,204 per year, or $76.1 per hour.
Associate General Counsel

Associate General Counsel

AbbVie

Irvine, CA

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday


AbbVie rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 100 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

12th of 74 rated pharmaceutical


Job description

Company Description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Job Description

The role of Associate General Counsel, Global Commercial Legal, Aesthetics is responsible for developing legal strategy for AbbVie’s U.S. aesthetics products, including neurotoxins (BOTOX®) and dermal fillers (JUVÉDERM®). The role requires leading with influence and legal depth at the intersection of strategy and execution. As an Associate General Counsel, you will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, guiding high-impact decisions across complex operational and commercial environments. This role combines legal mastery, leadership, and enterprise thinking, empowering you to shape business outcomes, mentor legal talent, and drive initiatives that safeguard the company while enabling innovation.

Key Responsibilities Include:

  • Serve as lead counsel to executive and senior leaders in AbbVie’s aesthetics business unit, providing legal advice that drives both compliance and growth. Legal advice will be given on topics such as new product launches, patient programs, marketing strategies, promotion, customer contracting, scientific exchange and regulatory submissions.
  • Provide substantive advice across departments including Marketing, Sales, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs and others concerning a broad range of legal, regulatory and compliance issues. These include FDA regulations, False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, OIG guidance, the PhRMA & AdvaMed Codes, the Sunshine Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and competition law.
  • Lead cross-functional legal projects aligned to enterprise strategic priorities.
  • Anticipate and navigate legal risks across business models, operations, and stakeholder relationships.
  • Mentor, coach and direct multiple attorneys; contribute to talent development and succession planning to shape leadership pipeline.
  • Influence strategic direction by translating legal, regulatory and industry shifts into actionable guidance.
  • Oversee outside counsel engagements, manage and develop budgets for assigned legal matters.
  • Serve as a thought partner within the Legal function, helping to shape legal frameworks, policies and priorities.
Qualifications

Required

  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
  • Active license to practice law in job location.
  • Minimum of 10+ years of legal experience.

Preferred:

  • Demonstrated expertise in complex legal matters tied to commercial, regulatory & operational priorities.
  • Experience advising executive-level stakeholders and leading cross-functional initiatives.
  • Strong business acumen and ability to balance legal risk with enterprise outcomes.
  • Experience managing or mentoring legal teams; leadership in matrixed environments.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex legal issues in a simple, understandable manner with colleagues across the company.
  • Strong organization and time management skills with flexibility, creativity, resourcefulness to successfully prioritize and manage multiple, competing priorities simultaneously.

Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​

  • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. ​
  • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​
  • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs. 

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.​

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. 

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html


What AbbVie employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


AbbVie logo

About AbbVie

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health, and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

North Chicago, IL, US

Year founded

2013