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Legal Department Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

GENERAL SUMMARY Provide leadership and strategic direction to the Legal Services department, including setting priorities, allocating resources, and managing the Legal Services Supervisor and any ...

Legal Department Manager

Richland, WA Β· On-site

$195K - $250K/yr

GENERAL SUMMARY Provide leadership and strategic direction to the Legal Services department, including setting priorities, allocating resources, and managing the Legal Services Supervisor and any ...

This role involves providing high-quality administrative and legal support to our in-house counsel ... Manage employee performance, including but not limited to employee discipline (including ...

This role involves providing high-quality administrative and legal support to our in-house counsel ... Manage employee performance, including but not limited to employee discipline (including ...

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Legal Department Manager information

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$36.5K

$87.8K

$134.5K

How much do legal department manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for legal department manager in the United States is $87,763.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,500.00 and $101,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a legal department manager do?

A Legal Department Manager oversees the daily operations of a company's legal department, ensuring that all legal matters are handled efficiently and in compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Their responsibilities include managing legal staff, coordinating with external legal counsel, developing policies and procedures, and advising executives on legal risks and strategies. They play a key role in contract management, litigation support, and regulatory compliance to protect the organization’s interests.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a legal department manager?

To thrive as a Legal Department Manager, you need a strong background in law, experience in legal operations, and a relevant degree such as a JD or equivalent. Familiarity with contract management systems, legal research databases, and compliance tools is typically required. Exceptional leadership, organizational skills, and effective communication are crucial for managing teams and collaborating with stakeholders. These skills ensure the legal department operates efficiently, mitigates risks, and supports organizational objectives.

How does a legal department manager typically collaborate with other business units within an organization?

A Legal Department Manager regularly works with departments like HR, finance, compliance, and executive leadership to ensure that business activities align with legal and regulatory requirements. This collaboration often involves advising on contract terms, supporting risk management strategies, and providing guidance on company policies. Effective communication and relationship-building skills are essential, as the manager must translate legal concepts into actionable advice for non-legal colleagues. Cross-departmental meetings and project-based teamwork are common, making interdepartmental cooperation a key part of the role.

What is the difference between Legal Department Manager vs Legal Counsel?

AspectLegal Department ManagerLegal Counsel
Primary RoleOversees legal team operations, manages department strategies, and ensures compliance across the organization.Provides legal advice, drafts legal documents, and handles specific legal matters for clients or the company.
CredentialsJuris Doctor (JD), bar admission, management experience often preferred.Juris Doctor (JD), bar admission, specialized legal expertise.
Work EnvironmentLegal department within a corporation or organization, managerial setting.Law firms, corporate legal departments, or in-house legal teams.

The Legal Department Manager focuses on leading the legal team and managing legal operations, while the Legal Counsel provides direct legal advice and handles specific legal issues. Both roles require legal credentials, but their responsibilities and work environments differ significantly.

How to become a legal department manager?

To become a legal department manager, candidates typically need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, several years of experience practicing law, and strong leadership and management skills. Relevant certifications, such as a license to practice law, and familiarity with legal software and compliance standards are also important for advancement into this role.

What cities are hiring for Legal Department Manager jobs?

Cities with the most Legal Department Manager job openings:

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

The most popular types of Legal Department jobs are:

What states have the most Legal Department Manager jobs?

States with the most job openings for Legal Department Manager jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Legal Department Manager jobs?

For Legal Department Manager jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Legal Department Manager job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $87,763 per year, or $42.2 per hour.

Legal Department Manager

Richland, WA

Energy Northwest
UtilitiesΒ β€’Β 501 - 1,000 employees

$195K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 22 days ago


Job description

GENERAL SUMMARY

Provide leadership and strategic direction to the Legal Services department, including setting priorities, allocating resources, and managing the Legal Services Supervisor and any attorneys or staff reporting directly to the Manager. Evaluate department performance, oversee professional development planning, and serve as primary liaison to the Assistant General Counsel/Compliance Director on department operations and staffing matters.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Provide leadership and management direction to Legal Services. Manage and evaluate direct report staff performance through performance appraisals/reviews, promotions, salary changes, professional development and through active monitoring and coaching.

Provide legal advice and counsel on complex, enterprise-level and high stakes matters across EN departments including regulatory proceedings and novel legal questions. Draft, review, and negotiate major contracts, leases, waivers, releases, financing documents, and other documents on behalf of Energy Northwest.

In coordination with the Assistant General Counsel/Compliance Director, serve as Energy Northwest's point of contact with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Office of the General Counsel and Office of Investigations. Represent Employees Testifying in Legal Actions, Proceedings and Public Hearings (GBP-LEG-03) and NRC Investigations: Rights of Energy Northwest Employees (GBP-LEG-04).

Maintain knowledge of, and ensure Energy Northwest compliance with, federal and state statutes, regulations and court decisions.

Protect Energy Northwest's interests by initiating or defending Energy Northwest in significant lawsuits, administrative hearings and/or directing the conduct of said litigation by in-house or retained counsel.

Provide training, as required, to Energy Northwest staff on current legal issues and in compliance with legal requirements.

Review and act upon legal invoices less than or equal to $200,000; refer greater expenditures to the appropriate delegated authority under Delegation of Authority-Financial Matters Chief Executive Officer Re-Delegation for action.

Prepare and manage the annual budget for Legal Services.

Must participate on the Emergency Response team (ERO) when designated.

Must support the biennial refueling outage.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

  • A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and a current license to practice law in the State of Washington or the ability to obtain license through WSBA Admission by Motion within 9 months.

  • A minimum of 10 years of experience practicing law.

  • Previous management/leadership experience.

PAY RANGE

Pay Range:

$195,000 - $250,714

Typically, selected candidates are hired between the minimum and midpoint of the range, based on applicable experience and qualifications, market rate, internal equity, and budgetary allowances.


Offers will be negotiated based on each candidate's qualifications.


INCENTIVE COMPENSATION

This role may be eligible to participate in our annual incentive plan. Incentives are earned based on employee performance against defined metrics and company goals.


BENEFITS

Energy Northwest (EN) provides a phenomenal benefits package. Washington State also has no state income tax, and the Tri-Cities provides a cost-of-living lower than the national average.

EN offers substantial retirement benefits through three retirement programs including the Washington State Public Employees' Retirement System pension plan (PERS), a 401(k) savings plan with an employer match component, and a 457(b) savings plan. EN also offers multiple options for medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance coverage. Other voluntary benefits may include flexible spending accounts (FSAs), tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, childcare subsides, health reimbursement arrangement (HRA VEBA), health savings account (HSA), supplemental life insurances, credit monitoring/identity theft insurance, and more! Qualifying employees will typically start a personal time accrual rate of 160 hours per year and EN provides nine paid holidays throughout the Calander year; personal time accruals grow significantly at various service intervals.


We are an Equal OpportunityEmployer and do not discriminate due to race, color, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, national origin, veteran status or on the basis of disability.

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