Legal Counsel Jobs in Virginia
Legal Counsel jobs in Virginia are in strong and consistent demand, with concentrations in government contracting, defense, technology, financial services, and healthcare across seniority levels from associate through senior general counsel. The heaviest hiring activity is in Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads area, where established employers such as Leidos, Capital One, and Inova Health System regularly carry legal counsel openings. Regulatory compliance, government contracts, and corporate transactional work are the most sought-after specialties in the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 20+ Legal Counsel jobs
DESCRIPTION
You will serve as a strategic adviser to senior business leaders and embed with the technical teams building and deploying this technology. You will help senior leaders chart long-term strategy as both the technology and the regulatory landscape evolve. You'll help structure partnerships that determine how the technology gets developed, advising on product decisions that determine how it gets built, and partnering with fleet and operational teams on how it gets deployed at scale. The role will focus primarily on last-mile delivery but will also work closely with teams deploying autonomous solutions across Amazon's middle mile transportation networks. This position requires someone who thrives in deeply technical environments, builds strong relationships with engineering and operations teams, and exercises sound judgment where precedent is limited.
Key job responsibilities
- Serve as primary product counsel for autonomous vehicle and robotics programs, advising engineering and product teams on design decisions with legal implications
- Structure and negotiate strategic technology partnerships, development agreements, and vendor relationships
- Partner with fleet and operational teams to develop legal frameworks for scaling from testing through commercial deployment across multiple jurisdictions
- Advise senior business leaders on long-term development and deployment strategy, looking around corners to navigate anticipated changes in the technological and regulatory landscape
- Support regulatory compliance, incident response, and regulator engagement in partnership with the team's regulatory counsel
- Develop scalable legal processes and self-service resources that enable engineering teams to move quickly while managing risk
A day in the life
You will work on some of the most challenging and novel legal issues in the autonomous vehicle and robotics space. Your day might include advising engineers on regulatory requirements for a new vehicle feature, negotiating a partnership agreement with an automotive technology provider, analyzing new state legislation on autonomous vehicles, or developing compliance frameworks for multi-state deployments. You will have direct impact on bringing innovative delivery solutions to customers while ensuring legal and regulatory compliance. This role offers significant autonomy, executive visibility, and the opportunity to shape legal strategy for emerging technologies.
About the team
This position is part of Amazon's Worldwide Operations Legal team, supporting last mile delivery. You will work closely with business leaders who are developing autonomous vehicles and robotics solutions that will transform how Amazon delivers to customers. The team values innovation, customer obsession, and practical problem-solving. You will collaborate with attorneys across multiple practice areas including product counsel, regulatory, commercial transactions, and litigation. This is a high-growth area with significant investment and executive attention.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years of post bar admission legal experience
- Juris Doctor and membership in one state bar or equivalent
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working closely with and advising senior executives of an organization or equivalent
- Experience working independently and directly with all levels of legal and business partners or equivalent
- Experience in technology and commercial transactions or businesses
- 4+ years as product counsel for hardware or software development, ideally in the automotive or robotics industry
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, NY, New York - 201,400.00 - 272,500.00 USD annually
USA, VA, Arlington - 183,100.00 - 247,700.00 USD annually
USA, WA, SEATTLE - 183,100.00 - 247,700.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
You will serve as a strategic adviser to senior business leaders and embed with the technical teams building and deploying this technology. You will help senior leaders chart long-term strategy as both the technology and the regulatory landscape evolve. You'll help structure partnerships that determine how the technology gets developed, advising on product decisions that determine how it gets built, and partnering with fleet and operational teams on how it gets deployed at scale. The role will focus primarily on last-mile delivery but will also work closely with teams deploying autonomous solutions across Amazon's middle mile transportation networks. This position requires someone who thrives in deeply technical environments, builds strong relationships with engineering and operations teams, and exercises sound judgment where precedent is limited.
Key job responsibilities
- Serve as primary product counsel for autonomous vehicle and robotics programs, advising engineering and product teams on design decisions with legal implications
- Structure and negotiate strategic technology partnerships, development agreements, and vendor relationships
- Partner with fleet and operational teams to develop legal frameworks for scaling from testing through commercial deployment across multiple jurisdictions
- Advise senior business leaders on long-term development and deployment strategy, looking around corners to navigate anticipated changes in the technological and regulatory landscape
- Support regulatory compliance, incident response, and regulator engagement in partnership with the team's regulatory counsel
- Develop scalable legal processes and self-service resources that enable engineering teams to move quickly while managing risk
A day in the life
You will work on some of the most challenging and novel legal issues in the autonomous vehicle and robotics space. Your day might include advising engineers on regulatory requirements for a new vehicle feature, negotiating a partnership agreement with an automotive technology provider, analyzing new state legislation on autonomous vehicles, or developing compliance frameworks for multi-state deployments. You will have direct impact on bringing innovative delivery solutions to customers while ensuring legal and regulatory compliance. This role offers significant autonomy, executive visibility, and the opportunity to shape legal strategy for emerging technologies.
About the team
This position is part of Amazon's Worldwide Operations Legal team, supporting last mile delivery. You will work closely with business leaders who are developing autonomous vehicles and robotics solutions that will transform how Amazon delivers to customers. The team values innovation, customer obsession, and practical problem-solving. You will collaborate with attorneys across multiple practice areas including product counsel, regulatory, commercial transactions, and litigation. This is a high-growth area with significant investment and executive attention.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years of post bar admission legal experience
- Juris Doctor and membership in one state bar or equivalent
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working closely with and advising senior executives of an organization or equivalent
- Experience working independently and directly with all levels of legal and business partners or equivalent
- Experience in technology and commercial transactions or businesses
- 4+ years as product counsel for hardware or software development, ideally in the automotive or robotics industry
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, NY, New York - 201,400.00 - 272,500.00 USD annually
USA, VA, Arlington - 183,100.00 - 247,700.00 USD annually
USA, WA, SEATTLE - 183,100.00 - 247,700.00 USD annually
See All 20 Legal Counsel Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Legal Counsel JobsLegal Counsel Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Legal Counsel Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Amazon10
- Alliance Defending Freedom3
- Capital One2
- Gilbane1
- Trex Company1
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in legal counsel jobs across Virginia.
- Active membership in the Virginia State Bar or eligibility for Virginia bar admission
- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school
- Experience advising on government contracts, corporate transactions, or regulatory compliance
- Ability to draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts independently
- Strong written and oral communication skills for advising internal business clients
- Experience working cross-functionally with business, finance, or technology teams
Legal Counsel Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a legal counsel in Virginia?
Becoming a legal counsel in Virginia requires earning a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school, passing the Virginia State Bar Examination, and being admitted to the Virginia State Bar, which is administered by the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners. Attorneys licensed in another state may seek Virginia admission by motion if they meet reciprocity requirements. Most in-house legal counsel roles also expect prior experience in private practice or a related corporate legal function before moving in-house.
How much do legal counsels make in Virginia?
Legal counsels in Virginia earn a median of about $167,210 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $79,330 for the lowest 10% to over $320,220 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire legal counsels in Virginia?
Employers hiring legal counsels in Virginia right now include Amazon, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Capital One, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Virginia's dense concentration of government contractors, financial institutions, and large health systems means in-house legal teams here tend to be larger and more specialized than in comparable markets.
Which Virginia cities have the most legal counsel jobs?
Arlington, McLean, and Lansdowne have the most legal counsel openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia drives the bulk of demand due to its massive government contracting sector and corporate headquarters concentration, while Richmond's financial institutions, state agencies, and health systems anchor hiring in the central region, and Hampton Roads openings reflect the area's defense and maritime industries.
Are there remote legal counsel jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than many legal roles, since in-house counsel work is largely advisory, transactional, and document-based. About 67% of legal counsel openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting genuine employer flexibility in the field. Contract review, compliance advising, and policy work are the functions most consistently offered on a remote or hybrid basis.
How can I get hired as a legal counsel in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is joining a Virginia-based law firm first and then transitioning in-house after building two to four years of practice experience in a relevant area such as government contracts, corporate law, or healthcare compliance. Large Virginia employers like Booz Allen Hamilton, Dominion Energy, and major Northern Virginia defense contractors run structured associate attorney or legal operations programs that can serve as a pipeline into in-house roles. Candidates who have passed the Virginia State Bar and hold a clerkship or government agency background often find an easier transition into entry-level in-house positions.
Where can I find and apply to legal counsel jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to legal counsel jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the state. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and practice area, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 20 Legal Counsel Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Legal Counsel Jobs