Corporate Counsel Jobs in Illinois
Corporate Counsel jobs in Illinois are concentrated in one of the most active in-house legal markets in the country, with demand running from junior associate counsel through senior vice president and general counsel roles across financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. Chicago anchors the market, but Deerfield, Peoria, and the broader Chicagoland corridor also generate consistent hiring, with employers like Walgreens Boots Alliance, Abbott Laboratories, and Caterpillar maintaining large in-house legal departments in the state. The most sought-after specialties are contracts and commercial transactions, regulatory and compliance, and M&A. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 22+ Corporate Counsel jobs
What You’ll do
- Primarily support and advise the company in all legal aspects of commercial real estate transactions including purchases, sales, and leases for retail, commercial, industrial, and vacant property via various legal structures.
- Draft, review, and negotiate commercial real estate documents, including purchase and sale agreements, commercial leases (including ground leases), financing agreements, and development contracts.
- Manage and coordinate legal aspects of acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing transactions, including title and survey review, zoning analysis, and closing matters.
- Oversee and coordinate due diligence processes, working closely with internal departments and external consultants (e.g., environmental, survey, zoning, and engineering).
- Support internal departments such as finance, leasing, construction and development, and property management with legal guidance as needed.
- Responsible for verifying all critical portfolio dates: lease commencement date, rent commencement date, possession dates, rent schedules, rent increase dates, option notice dates, expiration dates, etc.
- Coordinate with other internal clients regarding real property tax assessments and assist Senior Counsel – Real Estate and General Counsel to prepare multi-jurisdictional appeals.
- Develop and maintain standardized processes, templates, and form documents for recurring real estate transactions to drive efficiency, consistency, and scalability for the Company.
- Facilitate Section 1031 deferred exchanges and reverse 1031 exchanges.
- Resolve broad range of Company’s expanding legal needs.
- Respond to inquiries from regulatory agencies, customers and the business community as needed.
- Create business legal reports and correspondence, and effectively present information to senior management.
- Assist management on general contracts, third-party agreements and vendor supplier relationships.
- Manage external counsel and general litigation related to real estate matters ensuring alignment with business objectives and cost-effectiveness.
- Prepare and file government reports.
- Review new business relationships with vendors and subcontractors.
- Analyze legal issues relating to proposed ideas.
- Draft broad range of legal documents, including documents needed to form and operate various business entities.
- Provide supervision to outside lawyers hired to assist the Company with their specialized legal services.
- May be required to cross train and perform other duties as assigned.
What We’re Looking For
- Juris Doctorate Degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association
- Minimum of two to five years of experience as a transaction commercial real estate attorney preferred.
- Attorney’s license in Illinois(or ability to obtain admission within 6 months) (Dual license in other states of operation helpful).
- Possession of administrative skills, managerial skills, and negotiating, writing, and interpersonal skills.
- Detail oriented and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and maintain a high level of attention to detail in legal document review and analysis.
- Ability to demonstrate strong business judgment, with a pragmatic and solution-oriented approach to legal issues.
- Ability to participate in our online applicant and new hire onboarding process remotely.
- Ability to complete computer-based training.
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods.
- Ability to lift up to 15 pounds periodically.
- Ability to navigate and access all required facilities.
- Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and electronically.
- Close vision required for computer-related activities.
Why Join Rural King?
- Competitive pay
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- 401(k) with company match
- Associate discounts
- Career growth and advancement opportunities
- Training and professional development
- A collaborative, team-focused work environment
The pay range for this position is $100,000 - $150,000 annualized and is bonus eligible. Exact compensation is determined by factors such as relevant geographic location, education, certifications, experience, job level, shift, and organizational needs. Eligible associates may also receive overtime pay in compliance with applicable laws.
What You’ll do
- Primarily support and advise the company in all legal aspects of commercial real estate transactions including purchases, sales, and leases for retail, commercial, industrial, and vacant property via various legal structures.
- Draft, review, and negotiate commercial real estate documents, including purchase and sale agreements, commercial leases (including ground leases), financing agreements, and development contracts.
- Manage and coordinate legal aspects of acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing transactions, including title and survey review, zoning analysis, and closing matters.
- Oversee and coordinate due diligence processes, working closely with internal departments and external consultants (e.g., environmental, survey, zoning, and engineering).
- Support internal departments such as finance, leasing, construction and development, and property management with legal guidance as needed.
- Responsible for verifying all critical portfolio dates: lease commencement date, rent commencement date, possession dates, rent schedules, rent increase dates, option notice dates, expiration dates, etc.
- Coordinate with other internal clients regarding real property tax assessments and assist Senior Counsel – Real Estate and General Counsel to prepare multi-jurisdictional appeals.
- Develop and maintain standardized processes, templates, and form documents for recurring real estate transactions to drive efficiency, consistency, and scalability for the Company.
- Facilitate Section 1031 deferred exchanges and reverse 1031 exchanges.
- Resolve broad range of Company’s expanding legal needs.
- Respond to inquiries from regulatory agencies, customers and the business community as needed.
- Create business legal reports and correspondence, and effectively present information to senior management.
- Assist management on general contracts, third-party agreements and vendor supplier relationships.
- Manage external counsel and general litigation related to real estate matters ensuring alignment with business objectives and cost-effectiveness.
- Prepare and file government reports.
- Review new business relationships with vendors and subcontractors.
- Analyze legal issues relating to proposed ideas.
- Draft broad range of legal documents, including documents needed to form and operate various business entities.
- Provide supervision to outside lawyers hired to assist the Company with their specialized legal services.
- May be required to cross train and perform other duties as assigned.
What We’re Looking For
- Juris Doctorate Degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association
- Minimum of two to five years of experience as a transaction commercial real estate attorney preferred.
- Attorney’s license in Illinois(or ability to obtain admission within 6 months) (Dual license in other states of operation helpful).
- Possession of administrative skills, managerial skills, and negotiating, writing, and interpersonal skills.
- Detail oriented and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and maintain a high level of attention to detail in legal document review and analysis.
- Ability to demonstrate strong business judgment, with a pragmatic and solution-oriented approach to legal issues.
- Ability to participate in our online applicant and new hire onboarding process remotely.
- Ability to complete computer-based training.
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods.
- Ability to lift up to 15 pounds periodically.
- Ability to navigate and access all required facilities.
- Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and electronically.
- Close vision required for computer-related activities.
Why Join Rural King?
- Competitive pay
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- 401(k) with company match
- Associate discounts
- Career growth and advancement opportunities
- Training and professional development
- A collaborative, team-focused work environment
The pay range for this position is $100,000 - $150,000 annualized and is bonus eligible. Exact compensation is determined by factors such as relevant geographic location, education, certifications, experience, job level, shift, and organizational needs. Eligible associates may also receive overtime pay in compliance with applicable laws.
See All 22 Corporate Counsel Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Corporate Counsel JobsCorporate Counsel Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Corporate Counsel Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Trucking
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in corporate counsel jobs across Illinois.
- Active Illinois law license in good standing with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission
- Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school
- Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts and agreements
- Background in a relevant practice area such as corporate governance, compliance, or M&A
- Ability to advise business units and senior leadership on legal risk and strategy
- Strong written and oral communication skills for cross-functional collaboration
Corporate Counsel Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a corporate counsel in Illinois?
To practice as a corporate counsel in Illinois, you must be licensed through the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, which requires passing the Illinois bar exam or gaining admission by motion, completing character and fitness review, and registering annually. Most in-house positions also require a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school and several years of practice experience, typically in a law firm or prior in-house role in a relevant specialty.
How much do corporate counsels make in Illinois?
Corporate counsels in Illinois earn a median of about $160,800 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $82,160 for the lowest 10% to over $330,200 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire corporate counsels in Illinois?
Employers hiring corporate counsels in Illinois right now include Covista, ALDI, and KONG, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters, particularly in financial services, healthcare, and industrial manufacturing, means in-house legal departments here tend to be large and hire across multiple specialty areas year-round.
Which Illinois cities have the most corporate counsel jobs?
Chicago, Northbrook, and Aurora have the most corporate counsel openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because it is home to a dense cluster of Fortune 500 headquarters, major financial institutions, and large law firm alumni networks that feed in-house pipelines, while suburban hubs like Deerfield and Lake County reflect the in-house legal teams of anchor employers such as pharmaceutical and healthcare companies based outside the city.
Are there remote corporate counsel jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than most legal roles. About 86% of corporate counsel openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based and document-driven nature of in-house legal work. Contract review, compliance monitoring, and regulatory analysis are the functions most commonly performed fully remotely, while roles with significant board-level or business-unit advisory responsibilities tend to require at least a hybrid schedule.
How can I get hired as a corporate counsel in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a junior or associate counsel position, which large Illinois employers in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing post specifically for candidates with one to three years of law firm experience in contracts or regulatory work. Law school graduates should target structured legal rotation programs run by Chicagoland employers, clerkship alumni networks at Illinois federal and state courts, and entry-level compliance analyst roles as a lateral bridge into a full counsel title once admitted to the Illinois bar.
Where can I find and apply to corporate counsel jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to corporate counsel jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers actively hiring in the state. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and specialty, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 22 Corporate Counsel Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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