Legal Counsel Jobs in Missouri
Legal Counsel jobs in Missouri are concentrated in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Jefferson City, where Fortune 500 headquarters, major health systems, and state government create steady demand for in-house legal talent. Employers like Centene Corporation, Edward Jones, and Cerner (now Oracle Health) regularly seek legal counsels with expertise in corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, and healthcare law. The market supports everything from associate-level roles at regional companies to senior positions overseeing multi-state legal operations. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 10+ Legal Counsel jobs
Legal Counsel – Office of Special Education – Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Job Posting Number: 3700201106
Salary: $92,208.00
Please note: The salary range listed in this job description is a base salary. Applicants eligible for years-of-service adjustments or shift differentials may exceed salary range listed above.
Job Location: This position will be located at 205 Jefferson St., Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Why you’ll love this position: This is a full-time, twelve-month, professional position in the field of special education administration with primary emphasis on providing legal counsel to the State Operated Programs (the Missouri School for the Blind, the Missouri School for the Deaf, and the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled), which are under the direction of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Responsibilities - What you’ll doWhat you’ll do:
- Provide legal advice to the State Operated Programs regarding the interpretation and application of special education law, regulation, policy, and practices.
- Assist in the development of regulation and policy on behalf of the State Operated Programs.
- Provide litigation support for State Operated Programs and act as a liaison between the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) and the Office Attorney General.
- Assist in the development, writing and review of contracts, agreements, and procedures for the State Operated Programs, and for other Department offices as requested.
- Manage and coordinate Sunshine Law and other record requests for the Office of Special Education programs, including email and record searches, tracking, meeting deadlines, and providing counsel to program staff on providing responsive documents.
- Assist in providing legal guidance in human resources questions.
- Develop and provide training to State Operated Program staff as needed.
- Demonstrate regular, reliable, and engaged attendance.
Full job description available upon request.
Qualifications - All you need for success Minimum Qualifications:- Juris Doctorate from an ABA approved law school.
- Member of the Missouri Bar in good standing.
The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here.
Contact Details - If you have questions or require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process please contact:If you have questions about this position, please contact: hr@dese.mo.gov.
Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you have special needs addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Human Resources at (573) 751-9619, through Missouri Relay System at (800) 735-2966, or via email at hr@dese.mo.gov.
Notice of Non-Discrimination: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, mental or physical disability, or any other basis prohibited by statute in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible by persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Director of Civil Rights Compliance and MOA Coordinator (Title VI/Title VII/Title IX/504/ADA/ADAAA/Age Act/GINA/USDA Title VI), 2nd Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480; telephone number 573-522-1775 or TTY 800-735-2966; fax number 573-522-4883; email civilrights@dese.mo.gov.
To Our Applicants with Disabilities: For assistance with any phase of the Department process, please notify the Director of Human Resources at (573) 751-9619. Reasonable attempts will be made to accommodate special needs. TTY/TDD Relay Missouri service (800) 735-2966.
Notice to Applicants: The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is unable to sponsor applicants in their application for work visas through INS. If you have questions, please contact Human Resources.
Legal Counsel – Office of Special Education – Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Job Posting Number: 3700201106
Salary: $92,208.00
Please note: The salary range listed in this job description is a base salary. Applicants eligible for years-of-service adjustments or shift differentials may exceed salary range listed above.
Job Location: This position will be located at 205 Jefferson St., Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Why you’ll love this position: This is a full-time, twelve-month, professional position in the field of special education administration with primary emphasis on providing legal counsel to the State Operated Programs (the Missouri School for the Blind, the Missouri School for the Deaf, and the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled), which are under the direction of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Responsibilities - What you’ll doWhat you’ll do:
- Provide legal advice to the State Operated Programs regarding the interpretation and application of special education law, regulation, policy, and practices.
- Assist in the development of regulation and policy on behalf of the State Operated Programs.
- Provide litigation support for State Operated Programs and act as a liaison between the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) and the Office Attorney General.
- Assist in the development, writing and review of contracts, agreements, and procedures for the State Operated Programs, and for other Department offices as requested.
- Manage and coordinate Sunshine Law and other record requests for the Office of Special Education programs, including email and record searches, tracking, meeting deadlines, and providing counsel to program staff on providing responsive documents.
- Assist in providing legal guidance in human resources questions.
- Develop and provide training to State Operated Program staff as needed.
- Demonstrate regular, reliable, and engaged attendance.
Full job description available upon request.
Qualifications - All you need for success Minimum Qualifications:- Juris Doctorate from an ABA approved law school.
- Member of the Missouri Bar in good standing.
The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here.
Contact Details - If you have questions or require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process please contact:If you have questions about this position, please contact: hr@dese.mo.gov.
Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you have special needs addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Human Resources at (573) 751-9619, through Missouri Relay System at (800) 735-2966, or via email at hr@dese.mo.gov.
Notice of Non-Discrimination: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, mental or physical disability, or any other basis prohibited by statute in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible by persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Director of Civil Rights Compliance and MOA Coordinator (Title VI/Title VII/Title IX/504/ADA/ADAAA/Age Act/GINA/USDA Title VI), 2nd Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480; telephone number 573-522-1775 or TTY 800-735-2966; fax number 573-522-4883; email civilrights@dese.mo.gov.
To Our Applicants with Disabilities: For assistance with any phase of the Department process, please notify the Director of Human Resources at (573) 751-9619. Reasonable attempts will be made to accommodate special needs. TTY/TDD Relay Missouri service (800) 735-2966.
Notice to Applicants: The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is unable to sponsor applicants in their application for work visas through INS. If you have questions, please contact Human Resources.
See All 10 Legal Counsel Jobs in Missouri
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Find Legal Counsel JobsLegal Counsel Jobs by City in Missouri
Where Missouri roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Legal Counsel Job Market in Missouri
A snapshot from current Missouri openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Missouri Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in legal counsel jobs across Missouri.
- Active Missouri law license issued by the Missouri Bar or admission by reciprocity
- Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school
- Three or more years of relevant legal experience in a corporate or in-house setting
- Demonstrated knowledge of Missouri contract law, regulatory frameworks, or industry-specific compliance
- Ability to manage outside counsel relationships and control legal spend independently
- Strong written and oral communication skills for advising executive and business-unit stakeholders
Legal Counsel Jobs in Missouri: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a legal counsel in Missouri?
You must earn a Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school and pass the Missouri Bar Examination administered by the Missouri Board of Law Examiners, which also oversees character and fitness review. After bar admission, most in-house legal counsel roles require several years of practice at a law firm or government agency. Missouri also accepts admission by motion for attorneys already licensed in qualifying states, which can accelerate entry for experienced candidates relocating to the state.
How much do legal counsels make in Missouri?
Legal counsels in Missouri earn a median of about $133,450 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $67,020 for the lowest 10% to over $299,990 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire legal counsels in Missouri?
Employers hiring legal counsels in Missouri right now include State of Missouri, RGA, and Esco Technologies, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Missouri's concentration of healthcare, financial services, and insurance headquarters in St. Louis and Kansas City drives consistent in-house demand across corporate, regulatory, and transactional practice areas.
Which Missouri cities have the most legal counsel jobs?
Columbia, St. Louis, and Chesterfield account for the largest share of legal counsel openings in Missouri. St. Louis leads because of its density of Fortune 500 headquarters and major health systems, Kansas City follows with a strong financial services and logistics sector, and Jefferson City draws openings tied to state government agencies and regulated industries that require counsel with administrative law backgrounds.
Are there remote legal counsel jobs in Missouri?
Yes, and more than many legal roles, because in-house counsel work is largely document-driven and advising-focused rather than courtroom-based. About 67% of legal counsel openings tied to Missouri are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting broader corporate flexibility for this role. Contract review, compliance advising, and policy work are the functions most commonly performed fully remotely, while roles involving frequent board presentations or local regulatory appearances tend to require an in-office presence.
How can I get hired as a legal counsel in Missouri with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is securing a staff attorney or junior associate in-house role, which large Missouri employers like Centene, Express Scripts, and major regional banks occasionally post for recent bar admittees. Many candidates move in laterally from Missouri law firms after two to three years in corporate, healthcare, or regulatory practice. Completing a law school clinic focused on business or health law, obtaining Missouri bar admission early, and building a writing portfolio through externships with Missouri state agencies all strengthen an entry-level application.
Where can I find and apply to legal counsel jobs in Missouri?
You can find and apply to legal counsel jobs in Missouri on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers actively hiring in the state. Search roles by city or practice area, find the ones that match your background, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
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