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Interim Legal Counsel Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Gofractional

General Counsel

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$196 - $264/hr

Ascenda is seeking an experienced, business-minded lawyer to serve as Interim General Counsel during a parental leave period. This individual will provide strategic legal leadership and hands-on ...

City of New York

Legal Assistant

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

... or, on an interim basis, the Civil Court in New York City. The Committee fully investigates ... EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005 Qualifications Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years ...

City of New York

Legal Assistant

Manhattan, NY

... or, on an interim basis, the Civil Court in New York City. The Committee fully investigates ... EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005 Qualifications Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years ...

City of New York

Legal Assistant

Manhattan, NY

... or, on an interim basis, the Civil Court in New York City. The Committee fully investigates ... EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005 Qualifications Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years ...

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Interim Legal Counsel information

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$55.4K

$90K

How much do interim legal counsel jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for interim legal counsel in the United States is $55,419.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40,000.00 and $62,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an interim legal counsel?

Interim legal counsel are legal professionals who are hired on a temporary basis to provide legal advice and support to organizations during transitional periods. They may fill gaps caused by staff turnover, manage increased workloads, or assist during special projects such as mergers and acquisitions. Their responsibilities can include contract review, regulatory compliance, risk management, and offering general legal guidance. Interim legal counsel help ensure business continuity while a company searches for a permanent hire or navigates a specific legal challenge.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an interim legal counsel?

To thrive as an Interim Legal Counsel, you need a law degree, relevant legal qualifications (such as being a qualified solicitor or barrister), and broad experience in commercial and corporate law. Familiarity with contract management systems, legal research databases, and compliance tools is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, adaptability, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for managing diverse legal issues and advising stakeholders. These skills and qualities enable Interim Legal Counsel to quickly assess risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and provide timely guidance in dynamic business environments.

What are the typical challenges faced by interim legal counsel when joining a new organization?

Interim Legal Counsel often face the challenge of quickly adapting to a new company's culture, processes, and ongoing legal matters. They are expected to rapidly assess priorities, build rapport with key stakeholders, and provide immediate support on urgent issues. Navigating unfamiliar business environments and aligning with existing legal strategies requires strong communication and adaptability skills. Successful interim counsel rely on their experience and ability to deliver value from day one, often under tight deadlines.

What is the difference between Interim Legal Counsel vs Contract Lawyer?

AspectInterim Legal CounselContract Lawyer
CredentialsLaw degree, bar admission, legal experienceLaw degree, bar admission, legal experience
Work EnvironmentIn-house legal team, corporate settingLaw firms, client sites, freelance
Employer & Industry UsageCorporations, large organizationsLaw firms, consulting firms, freelance
Search & Comparison IntentTemporary in-house legal supportProject-based legal services

Interim Legal Counsel and Contract Lawyer both require legal credentials and serve in legal roles, but Interim Legal Counsel typically works in-house for a company on a temporary basis, providing strategic legal advice. Contract Lawyers usually work on specific projects or cases, often through law firms or as freelancers. The choice depends on whether a company needs ongoing legal support or short-term project assistance.

What are the most commonly searched types of Legal Counsel jobs?

The most popular types of Legal Counsel jobs are:

Who are the top companies hiring for Interim Legal Counsel jobs?

The top employers for Interim Legal Counsel jobs are:

    What states have the most Interim Legal Counsel jobs?

    States with the most job openings for Interim Legal Counsel jobs include:

    Interim Legal Counsel jobs near you
    Infographic showing various Interim Legal Counsel job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $55,419 per year, or $26.6 per hour.

    Life Sciences Counsel

    Anthropic

    New York, NY

    Full-time

    Posted 9 days ago

    Job description

    About the role

    AI has the power to dramatically accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and the development of healthcare interventions. We're hiring Anthropic's first dedicated Life Sciences Counsel to work side-by-side with our researchers as they work to advance biomedical progress. 

    You'll serve as their trusted counsel on a wide range of efforts - from fast paced life sciences transactions with top research organizations to navigating the complexities of operating at frontier pace in a regulated ecosystem. This role carries unusual scope for a single lawyer: you will be the embedded legal partner to the team, while collaborating deeply across the broader legal department to pull in the wide range of subject matter expertise this strategic initiative will require for success. 

    Key responsibilities
    • Serve as a key strategic advisor to our life science research teams on complex research, development, and commercial matters globally
    • Drive high deal volume with life science and biopharma counterparties across a range of sophisticated agreement types
    • Identify, analyze, and proactively manage life science regulatory risks in close coordination with the broader Legal department 
    • Design and implement scalable guidance and processes to support our fast-growing life science efforts 
    • Anticipate emerging legal developments affecting AI technologies in the life science and biopharma space and provide strategic guidance to leadership
    Minimum qualifications
    • JD and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar (California or New York preferred)
    • Real fluency in how the life sciences industry works: how drugs get developed, how research organizations are structured, what pharmaceutical and biotech counterparties care about, and why
    • Working knowledge of the regulatory environment life sciences tools may be deployed in - GxP, clinical and health data regulations, human-subjects research, FDA processes 
    • Deep experience with negotiating and drafting complex IP allocation issues in multi-party research arrangements, including ownership of inventions and improvements 
    • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate legal risk into practical guidance for scientists, researchers, and business partners
    • Experience scoping and managing outside counsel across specialties (FDA/regulatory, IP, privacy, export control) for both substantive depth and cost efficiency
    • Exceptionally collaborative disposition - with the ability to find creative solutions that account for multiple priorities at once
    • A low-ego, high-empathy orientation and a "doer" attitude - willing to roll up your sleeves and pitch in where needed
    • Intense curiosity about AI and science, and a commitment to responsible AI development
    Preferred qualifications
    • 10+ years of relevant legal experience, including substantial experience in life sciences transactional work - contract research, strategic collaborations, and licensing and commercialization deals - with the ability to operate independently and hit the ground running
    • Experience with AI/ML companies or products deployed into regulated scientific and clinical settings, particularly for drug discovery
    • Familiarity with biosecurity, dual-use research, or export control considerations in the life sciences
    • Experience leveraging AI to optimize their work, with a desire to work in a fast-paced, innovative environment
    • Scientific or technical training

    Role-specific policy: For this role, we expect all staff to be able to work from our New York offices at least 3 days a week, though we encourage you to apply even if you might need some flexibility for an interim period of time.

    Apply