Legal Counsel Jobs in Illinois

Legal Counsel jobs in Illinois are concentrated in corporate compliance, employment law, healthcare regulation, and commercial transactions, with demand at every level from entry-level associate counsel through senior and general counsel roles. Chicago anchors the market as one of the most active hiring metros in the country, followed by Naperville and Rosemont, where regional corporate headquarters cluster. Long-established employers such as Boeing, Caterpillar, and United Airlines maintain significant in-house legal teams in Illinois and hire legal counsels across practice areas on a recurring basis. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Legal Counsel Jobs

Overview

Open roles22
Top employerAbbVie
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring9
Work type71% Hybrid
Top industryEnergy

Showing 5 of 22+ Legal Counsel jobs

Legal Counsel - Labor and Employment (PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR)
We won't show you this job again
Added 1w ago
Legal Counsel - Labor and Employment (PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR)
State of Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Account Management
Customer Service
Sales
$8,571 - $120k/yr
Hybrid
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Legal Counsel—Equipment Finance
We won't show you this job again
Added 1w ago
Legal Counsel—Equipment Finance
International
Lisle, Illinois
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
Paralegal & Legal Support
$154k - $232k/yr
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Senior Legal Counsel, NA
We won't show you this job again
Added 2w ago
Senior Legal Counsel, NA
Aptar
Crystal Lake, Illinois
Compliance & Legal
Corporate Development & M&A
Legal Counsel
$194k - $264k/yr
Remote (US)

Have you applied for this role?

Senior Counsel, U.S. Policy Legal
We won't show you this job again
Added 2w ago
Senior Counsel, U.S. Policy Legal
AbbVie
North Chicago, Illinois
Compliance & Legal
Corporate Development & M&A
Legal Counsel
$161k - $305k/yr
Hybrid
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Legal Counsel
We won't show you this job again
Added 3w ago
Legal Counsel
Serrala
Chicago, Illinois
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$128k - $160k/yr
Hybrid
501-1,000

Have you applied for this role?

See All 22 Legal Counsel Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Legal Counsel Jobs

Legal Counsel Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Northfield
2 jobs
Springfield
2 jobs
North Chicago
2 jobs
Lisle
1 job
Itasca
1 job
Manteno
1 job
Rosemont
1 job
Crystal Lake
1 job

Legal Counsel Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

AbbVie2 open roles
State of Illinois2 open roles
Medline Industries2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Energy
  • Fintech
  • Trucking
  • Automotive
  • Manufacturing

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in legal counsel jobs across Illinois.

  • Active Illinois attorney license issued by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission
  • Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school required
  • Minimum three to seven years of practice in corporate, employment, or regulatory law
  • Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts and agreements
  • Ability to advise senior leadership and cross-functional teams on legal risk
  • Experience with litigation management, outside counsel oversight, or regulatory filings

Legal Counsel Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a legal counsel in Illinois?

Becoming a legal counsel in Illinois requires earning a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school, passing the Illinois Bar Examination, and obtaining an active license through the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Most in-house legal counsel roles also expect prior practice experience, typically gained at a law firm or a government agency before transitioning to a corporate legal department.

How much do legal counsels make in Illinois?

Legal 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 legal counsels in Illinois?

Employers hiring legal counsels in Illinois right now include AbbVie, State of Illinois, and Medline Industries, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters, major healthcare systems, and financial services firms means in-house legal teams here tend to be large and hire across multiple practice areas year-round.

Which Illinois cities have the most legal counsel jobs?

Chicago, Northfield, and Springfield have the most legal counsel openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the largest share of postings because it hosts the Illinois headquarters of major corporations, financial institutions, and hospital systems, while Naperville and Rosemont generate consistent demand from the regional corporate campuses and logistics companies concentrated along the Interstate 88 and O'Hare corridors.

Are there remote legal counsel jobs in Illinois?

Yes, and more than many legal roles, because legal counsel work is largely desk-based, document-driven, and conducted by phone and video conference. About 82% of legal counsel openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026. Contract review, compliance advisory, and employment law counseling are the sub-areas most frequently offered on a remote or hybrid basis by Illinois employers.

How can I get hired as a legal counsel in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is joining a large Illinois law firm or a government legal office to build practice experience before moving in-house. Major Illinois employers including healthcare systems and public utilities regularly hire associate general counsel or junior compliance counsel for candidates coming directly from clerkships or agency roles. Passing the Illinois Bar and gaining exposure to contract work or regulatory filings through a clinic, externship, or staff attorney position significantly strengthens an application for an initial in-house role.

Where can I find and apply to legal counsel jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to legal counsel jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings. Find the roles that fit your experience and practice area and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 22 Legal Counsel Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Legal Counsel Jobs