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Startup General Counsel Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Socket.dev

General Counsel

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$180 - $250/hr

General Counsel (San Francisco or New York) Moritz is an AI-native law firm backed by Y Combinator ... BigLaw) or in-house at a major tech company or high-growth startup * Expert in commercial law, with ...

Vasquezpc

General Counsel

Manhattan, NY · On-site

Whether you are a startup, established company, or non-profit organization, our General Counsel Services help ensure that your business remains legally sound and strategically aligned. Let us partner ...

SuperBill

General Counsel

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$250 - $325/hr

We are seeking a highly hands-on, business-oriented General Counsel to build and lead SuperDial ... Combination of top law firm training and in-house startup or growth-stage experience strongly ...

TAR

General Counsel

Austin, TX · On-site

$180 - $260/hr

Experience as general counsel or first legal hire at a developer, IPP, or infrastructure startup. * Data center transaction experience such as sales, leases, or capacity agreements. * Land and real ...

Quiet Capital

General Counsel

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$205.80 - $265/hr

The Role We're looking for a General Counsel to be our first in-house legal hire. You'll own the ... Experience building a legal function from scratch at a high‑growth startup Compensation and ...

Standard Bots

General Counsel

New York, NY · On-site

$205K - $265K/yr

The Role We're looking for a General Counsel to be our first in-house legal hire. You'll own the ... Experience building a legal function from scratch at a high-growth startup * Experience supporting ...

Dorsia

Lead Counsel

New York, NY · On-site

JD and active bar membership required. * 5+ years of experience in corporate or commercial law, including time as a sole or lean in-house counsel at a startup or high-growth company. * Experience ...

BeLeaf Medical

General Counsel

Saint Charles, MO · On-site

... General Counsel - and we're looking for an experienced generalist attorney who wants to build a ... An established operator, not a startup. BeLeaf isn't a two-person team hoping to raise a Series A.

Nooks

General Counsel

Arlington, VA · On-site

ABOUT THE ROLE Nooks is seeking a General Counsel (GC) to serve as a core strategic leader as we ... Big Law foundation followed by meaningful in-house tenure at a high-growth startup or technology ...

Dorsia

Lead Counsel

New York, NY · On-site

JD and active bar membership required. * 5+ years of experience in corporate or commercial law, including time as a sole or lean in-house counsel at a startup or high-growth company. * Experience ...

BeLeaf Medical

General Counsel

Saint Charles, MO · On-site

... house General Counsel -- and we're looking for an experienced generalist attorney who wants to ... An established operator, not a startup. BeLeaf isn't a two-person team hoping to raise a Series A.

Hello Heart

Associate General Counsel, Commercial

$230K - $270K/yr

As Associate General Counsel, Commercial , you'll report directly to the General Counsel, providing ... dynamic startup * Partner with internal stakeholders to build efficient processes for the ...

Pearl Health

Deputy General Counsel

New York, NY · On-site +1

$280K - $320K/yr

You'll partner closely with the General Counsel to navigate the complex regulatory landscape of ... moving startup environment. Experience & Credentials * J.D. degree (or foreign equivalent) with ...

Base Power Company

Associate General Counsel

Austin, TX · On-site

$130 - $180/hr

About the Role About the Role As Associate General Counsel, you will come in as the second lawyer ... Please note: Base is a startup, which means priorities shift and evolve quickly. Your role may ...

SF Compute

General Counsel

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$200K - $350K/yr

A 2-person startup in a San Francisco Victorian can't realistically sign a 5-year take or pay ... Our General Counsel must be a first-class business partner in the room where deals get shaped, not ...

Cantos Ventures

General Counsel

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$180 - $280/hr

Serve as the lead in-house counsel across corporate, commercial, employment, and IP matters ... Experience building or scaling a legal and compliance function, ideally in a startup or ...

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Startup General Counsel information

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$58.5K

$151.6K

$267K

How much do startup general counsel jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for startup general counsel in the United States is $151,643.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $108,500.00 and $190,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a startup general counsel?

A Startup General Counsel (GC) is the chief legal officer responsible for managing all legal aspects of an early-stage company. They provide strategic legal guidance on corporate governance, fundraising, contracts, employment law, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance. Unlike a traditional in-house counsel at a larger company, a startup GC often works with limited resources and must balance risk management with the company's growth objectives. They may also oversee external legal counsel and ensure the startup remains compliant with relevant laws. Given the fast-paced nature of startups, the GC needs to be adaptable and capable of handling a broad range of legal issues efficiently.

What are some common challenges faced by a startup general counsel?

Startup General Counsels often operate in rapidly changing environments, where they must balance legal risks with the urgent needs for business agility and innovation. Common challenges include managing limited resources, addressing evolving regulations, and handling a broad range of responsibilities such as fundraising, employment matters, and intellectual property protection. Collaborating across departments and advising founders who may have limited legal background are also key aspects of the role. Adaptability, strategic thinking, and prioritization help ensure legal compliance while driving the startup’s growth objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the startup general counsel position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Startup General Counsel, you need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, active bar membership, and a solid background in corporate, employment, and intellectual property law. Experience with contract management software, cap table tools, and compliance management systems is often required. Excellent judgment, agility, strong communication, and the ability to balance risk with business objectives are highly valued soft skills. These abilities are crucial for navigating the fast-paced, multifaceted legal landscape of startups while supporting company growth and innovation.

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Cities with the most Startup General Counsel job openings:

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Startup General Counsel jobs near you
Infographic showing various Startup General Counsel job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 79% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 19% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $151,643 per year, or $72.9 per hour.

General Counsel

Socket.dev

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$180 - $250/hr

Other

This job post has expired 4 days ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

General Counsel (San Francisco or New York)

Moritz is an AI-native law firm backed by Y Combinator, 20VC, and leading founders. We combine senior legal talent with our own technology to deliver flat-fee, full-service commercial legal support to high-growth companies and enterprises, and we're scaling fast in the US. We're looking for a general counsel to join as a founding team member; not just as legal counsel, but as a core partner in shaping our product and growth in the US.

What you'll do
  • Act as a lead for commercial work and shaping product strategy and go-to-market approach
  • Own commercial legal work end to end: drafting, reviewing, and negotiating MSAs, commercial contracts, NDAs, and other core agreements when needed
  • Build, test, and refine our US product from a legal perspective, evolving core templates and playbooks
  • Partner with the founding team to design scalable legal workflows that drive product adoption and growth
  • Provide strategic guidance on US commercial and corporate matters as we scale
What we\'re looking for
  • 5–8 years of experience at a leading law firm for technology companies (i.e. BigLaw) or in-house at a major tech company or high-growth startup
  • Expert in commercial law, with deep experience drafting and negotiating contracts and MSAs
  • JD and active license to practice law in NYC or SF (non negotiable requirement)
  • Based in San Francisco or New York
  • Entrepreneurial mindset and excitement about building something new
  • Genuine interest in innovation, AI, and legal tech
  • Comfort operating in a fast-paced, early-stage startup environment

Compensation: $ 180K-250K + equity.

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