General Counsel Jobs in Washington
General Counsel jobs in Washington are in strong demand, concentrated in technology, aerospace, life sciences, and financial services, with openings from in-house associate counsel roles through executive-level chief legal officer positions. Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond anchor the majority of hiring, and well-established employers such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing maintain active legal departments in the state. Mergers and acquisitions, data privacy, and regulatory compliance are the most sought-after specialties among Washington general counsel candidates. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Director and Associate General Counsel, Privacy Responsibilities:
- Manage a high-performing team responsible for advising on key privacy area risks, as well as on central risk initiatives for effective product counseling
- Drive initiatives to meet evolving global privacy legal requirements, by advising product, business and legal stakeholders across Meta
- Facilitate a consistent and sustainable approach to complex and novel privacy issues across the company by developing strategies, driving leadership alignment, and counseling on product implications
- Maintain subject matter expertise in key privacy areas and evaluate impact of relevant global legal requirements, regulatory guidance, and enforcement actions
- Develop resources and tools that enable counsel across the company to provide durable and consistent advice on privacy issues
Minimum Qualifications:
- J.D. degree (or foreign equivalent) and membership in at least one U.S. state bar
- 12+ years of legal experience, including at a law firm and/or in-house experience
- Experience managing a team of attorneys
- Demonstrated expertise advising on global privacy laws, regulations, and industry guidelines, especially those relevant for social media, ad tech and internet companies
- Experience applying legal analysis, written and verbal communication, and problem-solving skills to support product and business decisions
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated interest and experience in understanding technology and innovations
- Experience managing complex projects, prioritizing work, and providing advice while prioritizing competing work based on impact and deadlines
- Experience developing and advising on central processes focused on supporting efficient counseling and risk assessments
- Experience working cross-functionally to advance projects in a multi-stakeholder environment
About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$282,000/year to $356,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.
Director and Associate General Counsel, Privacy Responsibilities:
- Manage a high-performing team responsible for advising on key privacy area risks, as well as on central risk initiatives for effective product counseling
- Drive initiatives to meet evolving global privacy legal requirements, by advising product, business and legal stakeholders across Meta
- Facilitate a consistent and sustainable approach to complex and novel privacy issues across the company by developing strategies, driving leadership alignment, and counseling on product implications
- Maintain subject matter expertise in key privacy areas and evaluate impact of relevant global legal requirements, regulatory guidance, and enforcement actions
- Develop resources and tools that enable counsel across the company to provide durable and consistent advice on privacy issues
Minimum Qualifications:
- J.D. degree (or foreign equivalent) and membership in at least one U.S. state bar
- 12+ years of legal experience, including at a law firm and/or in-house experience
- Experience managing a team of attorneys
- Demonstrated expertise advising on global privacy laws, regulations, and industry guidelines, especially those relevant for social media, ad tech and internet companies
- Experience applying legal analysis, written and verbal communication, and problem-solving skills to support product and business decisions
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated interest and experience in understanding technology and innovations
- Experience managing complex projects, prioritizing work, and providing advice while prioritizing competing work based on impact and deadlines
- Experience developing and advising on central processes focused on supporting efficient counseling and risk assessments
- Experience working cross-functionally to advance projects in a multi-stakeholder environment
About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$282,000/year to $356,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.
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Find General Counsel JobsGeneral Counsel Jobs by City in Washington
Where Washington roles are concentrated, by current openings.
General Counsel Job Market in Washington
A snapshot from current Washington openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Washington Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in general counsel jobs across Washington.
- Active Washington State Bar license or license eligible for admission by motion
- Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school
- Substantial in-house or law firm experience in a relevant practice area
- Demonstrated expertise in corporate governance, contracts, and regulatory compliance
- Experience advising executive leadership and boards of directors on legal risk
- Ability to manage outside counsel relationships and control legal spend
General Counsel Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a general counsel in Washington?
To become a general counsel in Washington, you must first hold an active Washington State Bar Association license, obtained by passing the Uniform Bar Exam administered by the Washington State Bar Association or by qualifying for admission on motion. From there, most general counsel positions require substantial years of practice in corporate, transactional, or regulatory law, typically built through law firm experience or progressive in-house roles before stepping into a senior legal leadership seat.
How much do general counsels make in Washington?
General counsels in Washington earn a median of about $154,130 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $94,260 for the lowest 10% to over $298,210 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire general counsels in Washington?
Employers hiring general counsels in Washington right now include Meta, Seattle Housing Authority, and The Pokémon Company International, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Washington's concentration of large technology companies, aerospace manufacturers, and regional financial institutions means in-house legal demand here remains consistently broad.
Which Washington cities have the most general counsel jobs?
Seattle, Redmond, and Newport have the most general counsel openings in Washington. Seattle and its Eastside neighbors Bellevue and Redmond dominate because that corridor is home to major technology and aerospace headquarters, while smaller markets like Spokane and Tacoma generate openings through regional healthcare systems, utilities, and government contractors that also require dedicated in-house legal leadership.
Are there remote general counsel jobs in Washington?
Yes, and more than many senior roles, because general counsel work is fundamentally advisory and document-intensive rather than tied to a physical site. About 100% of general counsel openings tied to Washington are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how many employers are willing to accommodate flexible arrangements at this level. Strategic counseling, contract review, and board-level governance work travel well across remote settings, though some employers still expect regular on-site presence for sensitive negotiations and leadership meetings.
How can I get hired as a general counsel in Washington with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a staff or associate attorney role within a Washington company's legal department, where you build in-house exposure before moving toward general counsel responsibilities. Large Washington employers in technology, healthcare, and aerospace regularly hire new attorneys into junior in-house positions, and law firms that serve Seattle's corporate market are another common feeder. Obtaining your Washington State Bar license early, building transactional or compliance experience in adjacent roles such as contracts manager or legal operations analyst, and targeting companies with growing legal teams rather than established departments gives candidates without extensive experience their best foothold.
Where can I find and apply to general counsel jobs in Washington?
You can find and apply to general counsel jobs in Washington on Migrate Mate, which lists current Washington openings updated regularly. Search the listings for roles that match your experience and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 10 General Counsel Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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