General Counsel Jobs in New York
General Counsel jobs in New York represent one of the most active and competitive markets in the country, concentrated in financial services, technology, media, real estate, and healthcare across every level from associate general counsel to chief legal officer. The heaviest hiring is in New York City, with additional demand in Albany and White Plains, where major employers including JPMorgan Chase, Pfizer, and Verizon maintain significant legal operations. Corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and securities law are the most in-demand specialties for general counsels in New York. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 84+ General Counsel jobs
Guided by our company Purpose of “Inspiring well-being for our colleagues, consumers, and communities,” we are committed to building a best-in-class Law Department.
We drive a high-performance culture across our Legal, Compliance, and Government Affairs functions. That culture is aligned to “what” we deliver (our goals) and “how” we deliver it (the values and behaviors we demonstrate in achieving those goals). We do this by leveraging a set of core capabilities: interpersonal effectiveness, business savvy, subject matter expertise in your practice area, and leading people and teams where applicable.
Our colleagues and the candidates we hire are key to the continued success of our department.
Position Summary
As Assistant General Counsel, Cybersecurity, Data Governance & Privacy, you will join a multidisciplinary team of attorneys and paraprofessionals that combines our privacy, cybersecurity, data governance, artificial intelligence, and intellectual property practices.
You will help Guardian’s businesses navigate business-critical issues and counsel first-line professionals who are focused on innovative opportunities to improve our customers’ experiences. You will advise business leaders on cybersecurity issues and partner with Law colleagues on regulatory inquiries and civil litigation, providing strategic advice that combines legal and technical guidance. You will also support business partners across all areas of data risk and governance and help shape how Guardian governs its use of artificial intelligence.
You are
A trusted legal advisor with strong expertise in cybersecurity, data governance, and privacy. You bring sound judgment and a practical, business-focused approach to navigating evolving risks and complex challenges. You build strong relationships, influence and empower leaders, and translate legal requirements into clear guidance and actionable solutions.
You have
Required:
- A Juris Doctor degree.
- Three to five or more years of relevant professional legal experience in corporate data security/cybersecurity.
- Industry knowledge across a broad range of insurance and investment products, platforms, and trends.
- Strong oral and written communication skills, as well as outstanding organizational and analytical skills.
- Strong negotiation skills and business acumen.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting, with a high level of self-direction and sound judgment.
- A self-starter with a proactive approach to addressing issues before they create legal exposure, and the ability to handle a wide range of complex and challenging situations.
- Demonstrated AI literacy, including using AI-enabled legal tools (such as Harvey) for research and drafting, with the judgment to critically evaluate and verify AI-generated output against primary sources.
- Working knowledge of U.S. and global privacy laws, cybersecurity regulations (including NYDFS Part 500), and emerging AI laws and regulations.
Preferred:
- New York State bar admission, or eligibility to practice under New York’s registered in-house counsel program.
- Experience in the life insurance industry, financial services, or another highly regulated industry.
- Proficiency in Westlaw and Harvey, and general desktop computer competency.
You will
- Help Guardian’s businesses navigate business-critical issues.
- Counsel first-line professionals pursuing innovative opportunities to improve customers’ experiences.
- Advise business leaders on cybersecurity issues, including incidents, breach notification obligations, and cyber regulations (e.g., NYDFS Part 500), so the business can demonstrate that its controls are defensible.
- Provide legal counsel and practical support to the Privacy team on privacy-related business initiatives, applying U.S. and global privacy laws to how personal data is collected, used, shared, and deleted, including through privacy impact assessments (PIAs) and privacy by design.
- Partner with Law colleagues on regulatory inquiries and civil litigation.
- Provide strategic legal and technical guidance.
- Assist business partners across all areas of data risk and governance.
Reporting Relationships
As our Assistant General Counsel, Cybersecurity, Data Governance & Privacy, you will report to our Associate General Counsel, Data Strategy & Security, who reports to our Chief Legal Officer.
Functional Leadership Skills & Behaviors
Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Uses communication and storytelling to inspire, motivate, and influence others. Communicates concisely, with composure and confidence, in an engaging manner.
- Goes beyond what is expected and engages others to do the same.
- Proactively seeks out leadership and significant project opportunities rather than waiting for direction.
Business Savvy
- Takes the time to learn the business in depth and applies professional expertise to business and customer needs in ways that make a significant difference.
- Takes a strategic, end-to-end view in organizing and planning work and initiatives, and delivers exceptional results, including by managing or influencing others.
- Asks insightful questions to create or shape new solutions, challenges existing approaches, enlists others in new thinking, and champions change and new projects that shape the future.
Legal Expertise
- Demonstrates mastery of written and oral communication, delivering concise, clear, and persuasive messages, especially at the executive level.
- Stays current in the subject matter and demonstrates expert knowledge in the field; is sought after for advice and counsel and makes significant contributions toward team and organizational goals.
- Brings a solutions-based approach to understanding client and customer needs and delivering unique solutions to challenging business problems.
Lead by Example
- Bring your authentic self to work, demonstrate empathy, and create an inclusive environment.
- Prioritize your well-being.
- Stay informed and continually develop yourself as a leader to create capacity for growth.
Location
The primary location for this position is New York (Hudson Yards), onsite three days a week.
has context menu
Salary Range:
$178,690.00 - $293,560.00The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.
Our Promise
At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.
Inspire Well-Being
As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.
Accommodations
Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact MyHR@glic.com. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.
Visa Sponsorship
Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.
Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment
As part of Guardian’s job application process, Guardian may use artificial intelligence tools (“AI Tools") to automate the sorting and filtering of information provided by applicants as part of its preliminary screening. This preliminary screening may be used to help identify applicant materials and resumes relative to their indication that the applicant meets the requirements for the specific job for which they are applying, as specified in the listing posted on Guardian’s jobs website (Careers at Guardian at https://www.guardianlife.com/careers). At Guardian, we do not use AI Tools to substantially assist or replace human judgment or discretionary decision making in our hiring process. All hiring decisions will be made by Guardian colleagues.
Please be aware that if you apply for a specific position with Guardian, you will have the choice of opting out of Guardian’s use of AI Tools during the job application process. If you would like to request an alternative process that does not utilize AI Tools or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, within ten business days of your position application, you must email your request to MyHR@glic.com, making sure to provide your name and job requisition identification number. Guardian will retain your applicant materials and resume and all information therefrom in accordance with Guardian’s document retention policy, a copy of which you may request via MyHR@glic.com.
Additionally, at applicable times, Guardian will make public the most recent bias audit results for such AI tools, which may be found here.
Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.
Guided by our company Purpose of “Inspiring well-being for our colleagues, consumers, and communities,” we are committed to building a best-in-class Law Department.
We drive a high-performance culture across our Legal, Compliance, and Government Affairs functions. That culture is aligned to “what” we deliver (our goals) and “how” we deliver it (the values and behaviors we demonstrate in achieving those goals). We do this by leveraging a set of core capabilities: interpersonal effectiveness, business savvy, subject matter expertise in your practice area, and leading people and teams where applicable.
Our colleagues and the candidates we hire are key to the continued success of our department.
Position Summary
As Assistant General Counsel, Cybersecurity, Data Governance & Privacy, you will join a multidisciplinary team of attorneys and paraprofessionals that combines our privacy, cybersecurity, data governance, artificial intelligence, and intellectual property practices.
You will help Guardian’s businesses navigate business-critical issues and counsel first-line professionals who are focused on innovative opportunities to improve our customers’ experiences. You will advise business leaders on cybersecurity issues and partner with Law colleagues on regulatory inquiries and civil litigation, providing strategic advice that combines legal and technical guidance. You will also support business partners across all areas of data risk and governance and help shape how Guardian governs its use of artificial intelligence.
You are
A trusted legal advisor with strong expertise in cybersecurity, data governance, and privacy. You bring sound judgment and a practical, business-focused approach to navigating evolving risks and complex challenges. You build strong relationships, influence and empower leaders, and translate legal requirements into clear guidance and actionable solutions.
You have
Required:
- A Juris Doctor degree.
- Three to five or more years of relevant professional legal experience in corporate data security/cybersecurity.
- Industry knowledge across a broad range of insurance and investment products, platforms, and trends.
- Strong oral and written communication skills, as well as outstanding organizational and analytical skills.
- Strong negotiation skills and business acumen.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting, with a high level of self-direction and sound judgment.
- A self-starter with a proactive approach to addressing issues before they create legal exposure, and the ability to handle a wide range of complex and challenging situations.
- Demonstrated AI literacy, including using AI-enabled legal tools (such as Harvey) for research and drafting, with the judgment to critically evaluate and verify AI-generated output against primary sources.
- Working knowledge of U.S. and global privacy laws, cybersecurity regulations (including NYDFS Part 500), and emerging AI laws and regulations.
Preferred:
- New York State bar admission, or eligibility to practice under New York’s registered in-house counsel program.
- Experience in the life insurance industry, financial services, or another highly regulated industry.
- Proficiency in Westlaw and Harvey, and general desktop computer competency.
You will
- Help Guardian’s businesses navigate business-critical issues.
- Counsel first-line professionals pursuing innovative opportunities to improve customers’ experiences.
- Advise business leaders on cybersecurity issues, including incidents, breach notification obligations, and cyber regulations (e.g., NYDFS Part 500), so the business can demonstrate that its controls are defensible.
- Provide legal counsel and practical support to the Privacy team on privacy-related business initiatives, applying U.S. and global privacy laws to how personal data is collected, used, shared, and deleted, including through privacy impact assessments (PIAs) and privacy by design.
- Partner with Law colleagues on regulatory inquiries and civil litigation.
- Provide strategic legal and technical guidance.
- Assist business partners across all areas of data risk and governance.
Reporting Relationships
As our Assistant General Counsel, Cybersecurity, Data Governance & Privacy, you will report to our Associate General Counsel, Data Strategy & Security, who reports to our Chief Legal Officer.
Functional Leadership Skills & Behaviors
Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Uses communication and storytelling to inspire, motivate, and influence others. Communicates concisely, with composure and confidence, in an engaging manner.
- Goes beyond what is expected and engages others to do the same.
- Proactively seeks out leadership and significant project opportunities rather than waiting for direction.
Business Savvy
- Takes the time to learn the business in depth and applies professional expertise to business and customer needs in ways that make a significant difference.
- Takes a strategic, end-to-end view in organizing and planning work and initiatives, and delivers exceptional results, including by managing or influencing others.
- Asks insightful questions to create or shape new solutions, challenges existing approaches, enlists others in new thinking, and champions change and new projects that shape the future.
Legal Expertise
- Demonstrates mastery of written and oral communication, delivering concise, clear, and persuasive messages, especially at the executive level.
- Stays current in the subject matter and demonstrates expert knowledge in the field; is sought after for advice and counsel and makes significant contributions toward team and organizational goals.
- Brings a solutions-based approach to understanding client and customer needs and delivering unique solutions to challenging business problems.
Lead by Example
- Bring your authentic self to work, demonstrate empathy, and create an inclusive environment.
- Prioritize your well-being.
- Stay informed and continually develop yourself as a leader to create capacity for growth.
Location
The primary location for this position is New York (Hudson Yards), onsite three days a week.
has context menu
Salary Range:
$178,690.00 - $293,560.00The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.
Our Promise
At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.
Inspire Well-Being
As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.
Accommodations
Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact MyHR@glic.com. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.
Visa Sponsorship
Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.
Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment
As part of Guardian’s job application process, Guardian may use artificial intelligence tools (“AI Tools") to automate the sorting and filtering of information provided by applicants as part of its preliminary screening. This preliminary screening may be used to help identify applicant materials and resumes relative to their indication that the applicant meets the requirements for the specific job for which they are applying, as specified in the listing posted on Guardian’s jobs website (Careers at Guardian at https://www.guardianlife.com/careers). At Guardian, we do not use AI Tools to substantially assist or replace human judgment or discretionary decision making in our hiring process. All hiring decisions will be made by Guardian colleagues.
Please be aware that if you apply for a specific position with Guardian, you will have the choice of opting out of Guardian’s use of AI Tools during the job application process. If you would like to request an alternative process that does not utilize AI Tools or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, within ten business days of your position application, you must email your request to MyHR@glic.com, making sure to provide your name and job requisition identification number. Guardian will retain your applicant materials and resume and all information therefrom in accordance with Guardian’s document retention policy, a copy of which you may request via MyHR@glic.com.
Additionally, at applicable times, Guardian will make public the most recent bias audit results for such AI tools, which may be found here.
Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.
See All 84 General Counsel Jobs in New York
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Find General Counsel JobsGeneral Counsel Jobs by City in New York
Where New York roles are concentrated, by current openings.
General Counsel Job Market in New York
A snapshot from current New York openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Insurance
- Marketing & Advertising
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Investment & Asset Management
What New York Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in general counsel jobs across New York.
- Active membership in the New York State Bar or admission to New York courts required
- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school is universally expected
- Minimum seven to ten years of relevant legal practice in a corporate or regulatory environment
- Demonstrated experience advising boards and senior executives on governance and risk matters
- Background in securities regulation, financial compliance, or M&A transactions strongly preferred
- Strong written and oral communication skills for executive-level stakeholder engagement
General Counsel Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a general counsel in New York?
Becoming a general counsel in New York requires admission to the New York State Bar through the New York State Board of Law Examiners, which administers the bar examination. Candidates must hold a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school. Most general counsels build a decade or more of practice, often starting in BigLaw or a regulatory agency such as the New York State Attorney General's office, before moving into corporate legal leadership roles.
How much do general counsels make in New York?
General counsels in New York earn a median of about $207,860 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $85,200 for the lowest 10% to over $391,420 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire general counsels in New York?
Employers hiring general counsels in New York right now include New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Meta, and Intuit, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. New York's density of financial institutions, global media companies, and Fortune 500 headquarters means demand for senior legal officers remains consistent across a wide range of industries throughout the year.
Which New York cities have the most general counsel jobs?
The cities with the most general counsel openings in New York are New York, Queens, and Buffalo. New York City dominates because of its concentration of financial services firms, multinational corporations, and media companies headquartered in Manhattan, while Albany draws demand from state government agencies and regulated industries, and White Plains serves as a regional corporate hub for companies based in Westchester County.
Are there remote general counsel jobs in New York?
Yes, though they are less common than in purely desk-based analytical roles, since general counsels regularly appear before boards, manage external counsel in person, and represent the company in regulatory matters. About 92% of general counsel openings tied to New York are remote or hybrid as of November 2026. The advisory and contract-drafting portions of the role are the most likely to be performed remotely when hybrid arrangements are offered.
How can I get hired as a general counsel in New York with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is joining a large New York law firm or a government agency such as the New York State Attorney General's office or the Manhattan District Attorney's office as an associate, then transitioning in-house after building practice depth. New York hospitals and academic medical centers, including those affiliated with major universities, regularly hire assistant general counsels for candidates with limited in-house experience. Admission to the New York State Bar and a focus on corporate, compliance, or regulatory work gives early-career candidates a clear edge.
Where can I find and apply to general counsel jobs in New York?
You can find and apply to general counsel jobs in New York on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across New York City, Albany, White Plains, and the broader state. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and practice area, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 84 General Counsel Jobs in New York
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