Corporate Counsel Jobs in California
Corporate Counsel jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, entertainment, life sciences, and financial services, with openings from junior in-house attorneys through senior general counsel and deputy general counsel roles. San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego are the dominant hiring metros, anchored by major employers such as Apple, Wells Fargo, and Qualcomm, which maintain large in-house legal teams in the state. The most in-demand specialties are commercial contracts, data privacy, intellectual property, and M&A. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 120+ Corporate Counsel jobs
Senior Corporate Counsel
- Join an encouraging leadership group, committed to your growth and development
- Permanent role with the Borates business, based in Los Angeles, USA, with routine visits to Boron mine site
- For California based roles the expected salary range is $201,200 – $276,650
About the role
All progress begins with pioneers. At Rio Tinto, it begins with you.
We are looking for a Senior Corporate Counsel, Borates to support the Borates senior leadership team in providing outstanding strategic legal support to the global Borates business.
We are an open, connected global team that includes some of the industry’s best and brightest minds. We offer competitive, performance-focused remuneration and a wide range of benefits to reward your contribution. With a global reach, the opportunities to develop and grow your career are broad and exciting.
The Borates business is currently subject to a strategic review, which could result in divestment. The Borates business is developing a standalone structure and the Senior Corporate Counsel, Borates role provides an opportunity to shape the legal function for a standalone business, assist with the transition and remain with the business in its next chapter (if divested).
Initially, reporting to the Rio Tinto General Counsel, Corporate and Strategic Projects with a dotted line to the Chief Financial Officer, Borates, and working in a challenging and exciting environment, you will be:
- Providing strategic advice across a broad remit of legal issues including commercial contracts, environmental, infrastructure, safety, employment, disputes and intellectual property
- Supporting the management of major legal and commercial risks of the global Borates business
- Oversee the provision of corporate secretarial services to the Borates group of companies
- Ensuring adherence to the highest standards of compliance in order to build and protect the reputation of Rio Tinto and the Borates’ business
What you’ll bring
- A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
- A law degree and admission to practice in the State of California (or the ability to obtain a license to practice law in California within one year of commencement of employment), plus 6 to 8 years post qualification experience
- Experience in dealings with complex Government and multi-stakeholder issues
- Strong corporate/commercial experience, including exposure to complex contracts, disputes, environment, safety, intellectual property, employment and projects and on-going management
- A creative mind to solve existing matters and anticipate future issues and a willingness to challenge the status quo
- Strong organizational skills and ability to integrate in cross functional teams to support on the delivery of new commercial models and partnerships
- Strong technical and analytical skills alongside a proven track record of formulating and offering proactive and creative solutions to commercial problems
- Experience managing relationships with external advisers and ensuring that a cost-effective service is delivered
- Strong cross-cultural awareness and ability to quickly adapt to the situation and have a flexible style for an appropriate audience amidst uncertainty and competing interests
- Commercial and ethical judgement and the willingness and confidence to continuously exercise it
- Experience with leveraging artificial intelligence to deliver outstanding legal support and a curiosity for broader AI applications
- A willingness to travel as needed to support on-going matters
What we offer
Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.
- A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
- A competitive salary package with annual cash incentive awards for eligible employees
- Career development & education assistance to further your ambitions
- Access top tier family-friendly health and medical programs and pension plan
- Wellbeing benefits
- Generous Rio Tinto employee share program
- Employee Assistance Program
- Ongoing individual wellbeing support for you and your family for personal and professional matter
- Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)
About Borates
The Borates business is a leading producer of refined borates, supplying nearly 30% of global demand to customers across industrial, agricultural and energy transition applications. It operates primarily from the Boron mine and processing facilities in California, United States, supported by processing and distribution capabilities in Europe.
Borates is one of the world’s leading producers of refined borates, with operations centered on the Boron mine in California, one of the largest known borate deposits globally. Borates are used in a wide range of applications including glass, ceramics, agriculture, construction materials and renewable energy technologies.
About Rio Tinto
Every idea, every innovation, every little thing the world calls ‘progress’ begins with a first step, and someone willing to take it: explorers, inventors, entrepreneurs. Pioneers.
For nearly 150 years, Rio Tinto has been a company of pioneers – generations of people spanning the globe, all with the grit and vision to produce materials essential to human progress.
Our iron ore has shaped skylines from Shanghai to Sydney. Our aluminium – the world’s first to be certified “responsible” – helps planes fly and makes cars lighter. Our copper helps wind turbines power cities, and our boron helps feed the world and explore the universe. Our diamonds help us celebrate the best parts of life.
Candidates outside of the PQE bracket with the right experience will also be considered for this position.
Respect and Inclusion
Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.
Rio Tinto participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.ucis.gov/ for more information.
Senior Corporate Counsel
- Join an encouraging leadership group, committed to your growth and development
- Permanent role with the Borates business, based in Los Angeles, USA, with routine visits to Boron mine site
- For California based roles the expected salary range is $201,200 – $276,650
About the role
All progress begins with pioneers. At Rio Tinto, it begins with you.
We are looking for a Senior Corporate Counsel, Borates to support the Borates senior leadership team in providing outstanding strategic legal support to the global Borates business.
We are an open, connected global team that includes some of the industry’s best and brightest minds. We offer competitive, performance-focused remuneration and a wide range of benefits to reward your contribution. With a global reach, the opportunities to develop and grow your career are broad and exciting.
The Borates business is currently subject to a strategic review, which could result in divestment. The Borates business is developing a standalone structure and the Senior Corporate Counsel, Borates role provides an opportunity to shape the legal function for a standalone business, assist with the transition and remain with the business in its next chapter (if divested).
Initially, reporting to the Rio Tinto General Counsel, Corporate and Strategic Projects with a dotted line to the Chief Financial Officer, Borates, and working in a challenging and exciting environment, you will be:
- Providing strategic advice across a broad remit of legal issues including commercial contracts, environmental, infrastructure, safety, employment, disputes and intellectual property
- Supporting the management of major legal and commercial risks of the global Borates business
- Oversee the provision of corporate secretarial services to the Borates group of companies
- Ensuring adherence to the highest standards of compliance in order to build and protect the reputation of Rio Tinto and the Borates’ business
What you’ll bring
- A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
- A law degree and admission to practice in the State of California (or the ability to obtain a license to practice law in California within one year of commencement of employment), plus 6 to 8 years post qualification experience
- Experience in dealings with complex Government and multi-stakeholder issues
- Strong corporate/commercial experience, including exposure to complex contracts, disputes, environment, safety, intellectual property, employment and projects and on-going management
- A creative mind to solve existing matters and anticipate future issues and a willingness to challenge the status quo
- Strong organizational skills and ability to integrate in cross functional teams to support on the delivery of new commercial models and partnerships
- Strong technical and analytical skills alongside a proven track record of formulating and offering proactive and creative solutions to commercial problems
- Experience managing relationships with external advisers and ensuring that a cost-effective service is delivered
- Strong cross-cultural awareness and ability to quickly adapt to the situation and have a flexible style for an appropriate audience amidst uncertainty and competing interests
- Commercial and ethical judgement and the willingness and confidence to continuously exercise it
- Experience with leveraging artificial intelligence to deliver outstanding legal support and a curiosity for broader AI applications
- A willingness to travel as needed to support on-going matters
What we offer
Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.
- A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
- A competitive salary package with annual cash incentive awards for eligible employees
- Career development & education assistance to further your ambitions
- Access top tier family-friendly health and medical programs and pension plan
- Wellbeing benefits
- Generous Rio Tinto employee share program
- Employee Assistance Program
- Ongoing individual wellbeing support for you and your family for personal and professional matter
- Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)
About Borates
The Borates business is a leading producer of refined borates, supplying nearly 30% of global demand to customers across industrial, agricultural and energy transition applications. It operates primarily from the Boron mine and processing facilities in California, United States, supported by processing and distribution capabilities in Europe.
Borates is one of the world’s leading producers of refined borates, with operations centered on the Boron mine in California, one of the largest known borate deposits globally. Borates are used in a wide range of applications including glass, ceramics, agriculture, construction materials and renewable energy technologies.
About Rio Tinto
Every idea, every innovation, every little thing the world calls ‘progress’ begins with a first step, and someone willing to take it: explorers, inventors, entrepreneurs. Pioneers.
For nearly 150 years, Rio Tinto has been a company of pioneers – generations of people spanning the globe, all with the grit and vision to produce materials essential to human progress.
Our iron ore has shaped skylines from Shanghai to Sydney. Our aluminium – the world’s first to be certified “responsible” – helps planes fly and makes cars lighter. Our copper helps wind turbines power cities, and our boron helps feed the world and explore the universe. Our diamonds help us celebrate the best parts of life.
Candidates outside of the PQE bracket with the right experience will also be considered for this position.
Respect and Inclusion
Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.
Rio Tinto participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.ucis.gov/ for more information.
See All 120+ Corporate Counsel Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Corporate Counsel JobsCorporate Counsel Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Corporate Counsel Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Amazon9
- Goodwin Procter LLP7
- Jobot5
- KIOXIA America5
- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati5
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software24
- Law & Legal Services20
- Education13
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals10
- Electronics & Hardware8
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in corporate counsel jobs across California.
- Active membership in the State Bar of California in good standing
- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school
- Experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts in a business environment
- Background in a relevant practice area such as technology, employment, or securities law
- Ability to advise internal clients across multiple business units simultaneously
- Strong written communication skills suited to board memos and regulatory filings
Corporate Counsel Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a corporate counsel in California?
To practice as corporate counsel in California you must be an active member of the State Bar of California, which requires graduating from an accredited law school, passing the California Bar Examination, and completing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. After admission, most in-house corporate counsel roles also expect prior experience at a law firm or in a legal department, with many California employers preferring a background in a practice area that matches their core business.
How much do corporate counsels make in California?
Corporate counsels in California earn a median of about $195,080 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $97,950 for the lowest 10% to over $369,180 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire corporate counsels in California?
Employers hiring corporate counsels in California right now include Amazon, Goodwin Procter LLP, and Jobot, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of technology headquarters, entertainment studios, and life sciences companies means in-house legal teams here tend to be larger and more specialized than in most other states.
Which California cities have the most corporate counsel jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Palo Alto account for the largest share of corporate counsel openings in California. San Francisco and Silicon Valley drive demand through their dense concentration of technology and venture-backed companies, Los Angeles adds entertainment, media, and financial services employers, and San Diego contributes consistently through its large biotech and defense-contractor base.
Are there remote corporate counsel jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most legal roles. About 27% of corporate counsel openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting the desk-based and advisory nature of in-house legal work. Contract review, compliance advising, and policy drafting are the functions most commonly offered remotely, while roles that require regular board attendance or court appearances tend to remain on-site.
How can I get hired as a corporate counsel in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a junior or associate in-house counsel role, which large California technology and life sciences companies post specifically for attorneys with one to three years of law firm experience in commercial or IP work. Completing a legal externship or law school clinic with a California-based company strengthens a candidate's profile considerably. Attorneys moving from BigLaw or a boutique firm in transactional or regulatory practice are well positioned, and holding an active State Bar of California license is the non-negotiable credential that opens every door.
Where can I find and apply to corporate counsel jobs in California?
You can find and apply to corporate counsel jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and practice area, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 120+ Corporate Counsel Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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