Legal Director Jobs in California
Legal Director jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, entertainment, healthcare, and financial services and ranging from senior counsel stepping into a first director role through seasoned general counsel overseeing large legal teams. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are the primary hiring metros, where companies like Alphabet, Kaiser Permanente, and Wells Fargo maintain significant legal operations and recruit consistently. Regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and intellectual property are the most in-demand specialties for legal directors across the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Legal Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 366+ Legal Director jobs
INTRODUCTION
At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff.
As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic, and social value.
We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.
At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.
DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW
The UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice, housed at Berkeley Law, works to establish equity and fairness in the marketplace. Through research, advocacy, policy, and teaching, the Center strives to apply robust consumer protection laws in places, and among people, where those laws haven't been used before, and to create a society in which economic, racial and social justice are available to all. The Center believes that building economic justice means developing and enforcing laws that fight fraud and deception, that protect low-income communities and communities of color, and that promote financial security and empowerment. Our activities always highlight the interests and experiences of vulnerable consumers, including immigrants, survivors of domestic violence & elder abuse, people impacted by the criminal legal system, and others.
Contributing to policy making by federal and state legislatures and regulatory agencies has long been a priority for the Center's work. In recent years the Center and our affiliates have supported a range legislation in California and elsewhere promoting economic justice, including:
- Expanding the rights of student loan borrowers, survivors of domestic violence and elder financial abuse, low-income homeowners seeking clean energy improvements, and tenants;
- Protecting consumers in debt collection and foreclosure proceedings by curbing the ability of creditors to garnish wages, issue bank levies, or seek foreclosure;
- Removing the effect of eviction proceedings and medical debt on credit reports;
- Safeguarding personal data and consumer privacy from third-party data brokers and credit reporting agencies;
- Eliminating opaque and hidden "junk fees" in most consumer products and services, including residential rentals and state-chartered banks;
- Creating California's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation; and
- Expanding access to the court system for low-income consumers, including by overhauling the system for assuring effective service of process.
Position Summary
The Legal Director will be responsible for drafting amicus briefs, working with counsel, writing regulatory comments, supervising law students, and generally advancing the cause of economic justice in the courts and agencies of every level of government throughout the U.S., including especially California.
The Legal Director will also help to coordinate the CLASS (Consumer Law Advocates, Scholars, & Students) Network, a nationwide consortium dedicated to promoting consumer rights and economic justice programs in law schools around the United States and beyond. The CLASS Network has helped build and support programs at dozens of law schools, including assisting in the creation of first-ever courses in Consumer Protection Law offered at numerous schools, developing and fostering new clinics and student organizations, and providing the chance for law students to work on shared research projects requested by nonprofit, legal aid, and governmental agencies around the country.
The Legal Director will also be involved with the full range of the Center's activities, from arranging conferences to delivering presentations and testimony to spurring the development of consumer protection law across the country and the world.
APPLICATION REVIEW DATE
The First Review Date for this job is June 23, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.
Responsibilities
In collaboration with the Executive Director and the Center team, the Legal Director has the following responsibilities:
Legal and Policy Analysis:
- Leads the research, analysis, and drafting of amicus briefs in appellate courts across California and the United States, addressing complex issues in consumer protection and economic justice.
- Develops and submits regulatory comments in federal and state rulemaking proceedings, translating legal research into policy-relevant recommendations.
- Identifies emerging legal and policy trends; formulates strategic responses to influence the development of consumer law.
Operational and Program Management:
- Oversees the legal and programmatic operations of the Center's initiatives, including amicus briefing, regulatory advocacy, and national network activities.
- Manages multiple concurrent projects with competing deadlines, ensuring timely and high-quality outcomes.
- Develops and implements processes to support coordination, collaboration, and program effectiveness across initiatives.
Student Mentorship and Research Leadership:
- Works closely with students, including law student fellows who formally report to the Executive Director, by providing mentorship, guidance, and support in connection with Center initiatives and programs, such as the Consumer Protection Public Policy Order (C3PO).
- Oversees student-led research projects conducted in partnership with external organizations, ensuring high-quality legal analysis and deliverables.
- May supervise student assistants.
Network Coordination and Engagement:
- Coordinates the Consumer Law Advocates, Scholars & Students (CLASS) Network, a nationwide consortium of law schools, faculty, students, and practitioners.
- Serves as a primary liaison to external stakeholders, including non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), legal aid organizations, and regulatory agencies, ensuring effective coordination across geographically dispersed partners.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:
- Works closely with faculty, students, nonprofit leaders, and government attorneys to advance programmatic and policy goals.
- Represents the Center in public forums, including conferences, presentations, and legislative or regulatory testimony.
- Communicates complex legal and policy concepts clearly to diverse audiences, including academic, professional, and public stakeholders.
Program Leadership and Strategy:
- Provides strategic direction for legal advocacy initiatives, including long-term planning for impact litigation and regulatory engagement aimed at shaping the evolution of consumer protection law.
- Designs and implements innovative programs to expand consumer law education and advocacy, including launching new academic offerings and clinics at law schools nationwide.
- Addresses complex, non-routine challenges requiring creative problem-solving, including building support for new legal programs in institutions without existing consumer law infrastructure.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced knowledge of consumer protection law or related field(s), administrative law, and experience with the regulatory process at state and/or federal levels.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with all levels of staff, students, and external partners, both verbally and in writing.
- Exceptional legal research, analytical, and persuasive writing skills, particularly in drafting appellate briefs and regulatory comments.
- Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality.
- Strong project and program management skills, including the ability to lead complex, multi-institutional initiatives with competing deadlines.
- Thorough knowledge of and/or ability to learn organizational or initiative processes, protocols and procedures.
- Strategic planning skills, including the ability to help design long-term initiatives that influence legal and policy outcomes.
- Advanced problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop creative and strategic solutions to novel legal and programmatic challenges.
- Ability to work independently with a high degree of autonomy while managing multiple high-impact projects.
- Ability to form and maintain strong working relationships across a broad spectrum of people and organizations.
- Ability to manage ambiguity and adapt to evolving legal, policy, and organizational priorities.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work effectively with individuals and groups from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
- Demonstrated commitment and/or ability to demonstrate how to foster an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes collaboration and mutual respect among all members of the UC Berkeley community and its stakeholders.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage with and understand individuals from varied academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, and ethnic backgrounds.
- Ability to supervise, train, and evaluate student work to ensure high-quality legal analysis and deliverables.
- Demonstrated experience researching and drafting amicus and/or appellate briefs.
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing consumer rights, economic justice, and public interest law.
- Experience in and/or knowledge of Consumer Protection Law or related field(s).
EDUCATION / TRAINING
- Advanced degree in Law, such as a Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M), and/or equivalent experience/training.
LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS
- Admission to at least one state bar.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience preparing and submitting regulatory comments in state and/or federal rulemaking proceedings.
- Admission to the State Bar of California.
SALARY & BENEFITS
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.
Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
The budgeted annual salary range for this position is $107,000.00 - $130,000.00. However, the expected hiring range is $115,000.00 - $125,000.00, commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is an exempt, monthly-paid position. This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for full UC benefits.
The salary for this position may be subject to future negotiated adjustments in accordance with the RP collective bargaining agreement. A finalized copy of the agreement will be made available on the UC Net bargaining agreements page once published here: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources/employment-policies-contracts/bargaining-units/rp-research-and-public-service-professionals/contract/
INTRODUCTION
At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff.
As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic, and social value.
We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.
At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.
DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW
The UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice, housed at Berkeley Law, works to establish equity and fairness in the marketplace. Through research, advocacy, policy, and teaching, the Center strives to apply robust consumer protection laws in places, and among people, where those laws haven't been used before, and to create a society in which economic, racial and social justice are available to all. The Center believes that building economic justice means developing and enforcing laws that fight fraud and deception, that protect low-income communities and communities of color, and that promote financial security and empowerment. Our activities always highlight the interests and experiences of vulnerable consumers, including immigrants, survivors of domestic violence & elder abuse, people impacted by the criminal legal system, and others.
Contributing to policy making by federal and state legislatures and regulatory agencies has long been a priority for the Center's work. In recent years the Center and our affiliates have supported a range legislation in California and elsewhere promoting economic justice, including:
- Expanding the rights of student loan borrowers, survivors of domestic violence and elder financial abuse, low-income homeowners seeking clean energy improvements, and tenants;
- Protecting consumers in debt collection and foreclosure proceedings by curbing the ability of creditors to garnish wages, issue bank levies, or seek foreclosure;
- Removing the effect of eviction proceedings and medical debt on credit reports;
- Safeguarding personal data and consumer privacy from third-party data brokers and credit reporting agencies;
- Eliminating opaque and hidden "junk fees" in most consumer products and services, including residential rentals and state-chartered banks;
- Creating California's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation; and
- Expanding access to the court system for low-income consumers, including by overhauling the system for assuring effective service of process.
Position Summary
The Legal Director will be responsible for drafting amicus briefs, working with counsel, writing regulatory comments, supervising law students, and generally advancing the cause of economic justice in the courts and agencies of every level of government throughout the U.S., including especially California.
The Legal Director will also help to coordinate the CLASS (Consumer Law Advocates, Scholars, & Students) Network, a nationwide consortium dedicated to promoting consumer rights and economic justice programs in law schools around the United States and beyond. The CLASS Network has helped build and support programs at dozens of law schools, including assisting in the creation of first-ever courses in Consumer Protection Law offered at numerous schools, developing and fostering new clinics and student organizations, and providing the chance for law students to work on shared research projects requested by nonprofit, legal aid, and governmental agencies around the country.
The Legal Director will also be involved with the full range of the Center's activities, from arranging conferences to delivering presentations and testimony to spurring the development of consumer protection law across the country and the world.
APPLICATION REVIEW DATE
The First Review Date for this job is June 23, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.
Responsibilities
In collaboration with the Executive Director and the Center team, the Legal Director has the following responsibilities:
Legal and Policy Analysis:
- Leads the research, analysis, and drafting of amicus briefs in appellate courts across California and the United States, addressing complex issues in consumer protection and economic justice.
- Develops and submits regulatory comments in federal and state rulemaking proceedings, translating legal research into policy-relevant recommendations.
- Identifies emerging legal and policy trends; formulates strategic responses to influence the development of consumer law.
Operational and Program Management:
- Oversees the legal and programmatic operations of the Center's initiatives, including amicus briefing, regulatory advocacy, and national network activities.
- Manages multiple concurrent projects with competing deadlines, ensuring timely and high-quality outcomes.
- Develops and implements processes to support coordination, collaboration, and program effectiveness across initiatives.
Student Mentorship and Research Leadership:
- Works closely with students, including law student fellows who formally report to the Executive Director, by providing mentorship, guidance, and support in connection with Center initiatives and programs, such as the Consumer Protection Public Policy Order (C3PO).
- Oversees student-led research projects conducted in partnership with external organizations, ensuring high-quality legal analysis and deliverables.
- May supervise student assistants.
Network Coordination and Engagement:
- Coordinates the Consumer Law Advocates, Scholars & Students (CLASS) Network, a nationwide consortium of law schools, faculty, students, and practitioners.
- Serves as a primary liaison to external stakeholders, including non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), legal aid organizations, and regulatory agencies, ensuring effective coordination across geographically dispersed partners.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:
- Works closely with faculty, students, nonprofit leaders, and government attorneys to advance programmatic and policy goals.
- Represents the Center in public forums, including conferences, presentations, and legislative or regulatory testimony.
- Communicates complex legal and policy concepts clearly to diverse audiences, including academic, professional, and public stakeholders.
Program Leadership and Strategy:
- Provides strategic direction for legal advocacy initiatives, including long-term planning for impact litigation and regulatory engagement aimed at shaping the evolution of consumer protection law.
- Designs and implements innovative programs to expand consumer law education and advocacy, including launching new academic offerings and clinics at law schools nationwide.
- Addresses complex, non-routine challenges requiring creative problem-solving, including building support for new legal programs in institutions without existing consumer law infrastructure.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced knowledge of consumer protection law or related field(s), administrative law, and experience with the regulatory process at state and/or federal levels.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with all levels of staff, students, and external partners, both verbally and in writing.
- Exceptional legal research, analytical, and persuasive writing skills, particularly in drafting appellate briefs and regulatory comments.
- Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality.
- Strong project and program management skills, including the ability to lead complex, multi-institutional initiatives with competing deadlines.
- Thorough knowledge of and/or ability to learn organizational or initiative processes, protocols and procedures.
- Strategic planning skills, including the ability to help design long-term initiatives that influence legal and policy outcomes.
- Advanced problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop creative and strategic solutions to novel legal and programmatic challenges.
- Ability to work independently with a high degree of autonomy while managing multiple high-impact projects.
- Ability to form and maintain strong working relationships across a broad spectrum of people and organizations.
- Ability to manage ambiguity and adapt to evolving legal, policy, and organizational priorities.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work effectively with individuals and groups from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
- Demonstrated commitment and/or ability to demonstrate how to foster an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes collaboration and mutual respect among all members of the UC Berkeley community and its stakeholders.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage with and understand individuals from varied academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, and ethnic backgrounds.
- Ability to supervise, train, and evaluate student work to ensure high-quality legal analysis and deliverables.
- Demonstrated experience researching and drafting amicus and/or appellate briefs.
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing consumer rights, economic justice, and public interest law.
- Experience in and/or knowledge of Consumer Protection Law or related field(s).
EDUCATION / TRAINING
- Advanced degree in Law, such as a Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M), and/or equivalent experience/training.
LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS
- Admission to at least one state bar.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience preparing and submitting regulatory comments in state and/or federal rulemaking proceedings.
- Admission to the State Bar of California.
SALARY & BENEFITS
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.
Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
The budgeted annual salary range for this position is $107,000.00 - $130,000.00. However, the expected hiring range is $115,000.00 - $125,000.00, commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is an exempt, monthly-paid position. This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for full UC benefits.
The salary for this position may be subject to future negotiated adjustments in accordance with the RP collective bargaining agreement. A finalized copy of the agreement will be made available on the UC Net bargaining agreements page once published here: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources/employment-policies-contracts/bargaining-units/rp-research-and-public-service-professionals/contract/
See All 366+ Legal Director Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Legal Director JobsLegal Director Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Legal Director Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Revolution Medicines36
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals6
- Citi6
- Exelixis6
- GHD6
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals90
- Technology & Software68
- Healthcare & Medical Services31
- Consulting & Professional Services29
- Electronics & Hardware25
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in legal director jobs across California.
- Active membership in the State Bar of California in good standing
- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school required
- Eight or more years of legal experience including substantial management responsibility
- Demonstrated expertise in California regulatory compliance or corporate governance
- Experience leading and developing in-house legal teams of five or more attorneys
- Strong background in contract negotiation, litigation oversight, or intellectual property
Legal Director Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a legal director in California?
You must hold an active California State Bar license, which requires passing the California Bar Examination administered by the State Bar of California and completing the required character and fitness review. Most legal directors build toward the role by spending years as in-house counsel or a senior associate at a law firm, then moving into supervisory legal positions before stepping into a director title. Industries like technology and healthcare in California commonly promote from within their senior counsel ranks.
How much do legal directors make in California?
Legal directors in California earn a median of about $195,080 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $97,950 for the lowest 10% to over $369,180 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire legal directors in California?
Employers hiring legal directors in California right now include Revolution Medicines, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, and Citi, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters, major health systems, and entertainment studios means openings appear across a wide range of industries, with technology and media companies in particular maintaining large in-house legal teams that hire at the director level on a recurring basis.
Which California cities have the most legal director jobs?
San Francisco, Redwood City, and Los Angeles have the most legal director openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of its density of entertainment studios, financial firms, and healthcare networks, while San Francisco and San Jose draw demand from technology and venture-backed companies that rely heavily on in-house legal teams for corporate governance and intellectual property work. San Diego's biotech and defense sectors also generate consistent openings.
Are there remote legal director jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most senior legal roles, given that legal directors often handle contract review, policy oversight, and team management that can be performed without a fixed office presence. About 24% of legal director openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting the technology industry's continued openness to distributed legal leadership. Roles involving active litigation supervision or board-level interaction tend to require more regular in-person availability.
How can I get hired as a legal director in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a legal manager or associate general counsel role first, then building toward director-level responsibility over several years. Large California employers like Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente, and the University of California system run structured in-house counsel development programs and regularly promote from senior attorney positions. Building a record in California-specific regulatory work, such as CCPA compliance or California employment law, gives candidates a clear edge when competing for director-level openings.
Where can I find and apply to legal director jobs in California?
You can find and apply to legal director jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings by city, specialty, or experience level to narrow down what fits your background. Find roles that match and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 366+ Legal Director Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Legal Director Jobs