Legal Director Jobs in New York
Legal Director jobs in New York draw consistent demand across financial services, media, healthcare systems, and technology, with openings ranging from senior in-house counsel stepping into a first director role through seasoned executives overseeing enterprise-wide legal operations. New York City leads hiring by a wide margin, with Westchester County and Albany also generating steady openings for roles tied to regulated industries and state government affairs. Established employers such as JPMorgan Chase, Pfizer, and Consolidated Edison maintain ongoing needs for legal directors, particularly in regulatory compliance, corporate transactions, and litigation oversight. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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INTRODUCTION
We are looking for a Legal Director to serve as one of the company’s primary transactional attorneys. You will support our continuing expansion into the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) space and energy infrastructure for data centers. Reporting to the General Counsel, you’ll work a hybrid schedule in either our Ridgewood, NJ, HQ, our NYC office (Union Square area), or our California offices (Oakland and Santa Monica).
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Key responsibilities will include:
- Microgrid & Data Center Architecture: Support our business development and other cross-functional teams involved in deploying complex microgrid, energy center, and power infrastructure offerings tailored for data centers and large-scale industrial facilities.
- Commercial Contract Negotiation: Lead legal negotiations for a wide range of industry contracts, including Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Microgrid/Energy Services Agreements (MSAs/ESAs); Real property leases, easements, and licenses; Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC), equipment purchase, asset management, and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) agreements; Hedges of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and other environmental attributes; Membership Interest Purchase Agreements (MIPAs) and Development Services Agreements (DSAs).
- Project Finance Alignment: Ensure all project and energy agreements strictly conform to project financing requirements.
- Regulatory & Compliance Oversight: Support the management of compliance matters related to licensing and registrations, industry rules/regulations (e.g., FERC, RTOs/ISOs), and evolving policy frameworks impacting data centers and microgrids.
- Strategic Advisory: Provide regulatory, permitting, and policy guidance/training on pertinent topics for cross-functional teams to streamline project development.
- External Counsel Management: Manage engagements with outside counsel when needed, balancing time, efficiency, and expertise with the cost of such engagements.
- Diligence & Acquisitions: Support acquisition and financing activities, including performing early-stage legal diligence on target assets, portfolios, or developers, and assisting in negotiations with third-party financiers.
- Process Optimization: Propose and implement process improvements related to legal document management and contractual workflows to help the business scale efficiently.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Possess a JD from an accredited law school and be barred in at least one US state
- 7+ years post-JD transactional experience, or 5+ years of transactional experience from a nationally recognized law firm
- Extensive experience structuring and negotiating arrangements in the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) space, and/or the specialized development and power procurement frameworks required for data centers.
- Deep understanding of the U.S. energy landscape, grid interconnection, and utility dynamics.
- Substantive experience negotiating relevant industry contracts, including utility, power purchase, energy services, off-taker agreements, or other customer contracts.
- Exceptional business acumen, critical thinking skills, and professional cadence
- Ability to manage ambiguity and communicate complex legal concepts and strategic goals in a simplified manner to non-lawyers
- Strong negotiation skills
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities, work independently, and operate in a fast-paced, dynamic, entrepreneurial environment
This is a great opportunity to have a long-term impact on a fast-paced, private equity-backed growth business. Some of the core virtues embraced by Scales’ employees include:
- Do the Right Thing
- Act Like an Owner
- Hustle
- Demand Results
- Go Together
- Evolve or Disappear
We offer a competitive compensation package and a comprehensive benefits program including medical benefits, paid vacation and holidays, and 401K matching.
ABOUT SCALE MICROGRIDS
Scale is redefining resilience, with advanced microgrids that go beyond traditional backup power solutions to give businesses the power to adapt and thrive amid all of today’s growing energy challenges. As a vertically-integrated provider of turnkey advanced microgrid systems, Scale combines project design, engineering, and execution expertise with microgrid-as-a-service financing to offer our customers systems that are optimized to deliver maximum value from day one while ensuring ultra-reliable operations and fast time-to-power.
Scale is backed by EQT, a firm with ~$250B in assets, bringing a depth of experience, resources, and capital that will enable Scale to continue pursuing our vision of powering the world with distributed energy. The investment enables Scale to own and operate billions of dollars in distributed generation assets.
ABOUT EQT
EQT is a leading purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 246 billion in total assets under management, divided into two business segments: Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence, and market leadership.
Scale strives to attract and retain a workforce that reflects the composition of our customer base and communities. We are committed to providing a work environment that provides everyone with equal access and opportunity to contribute and drive meaningful outcomes. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply and will consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
INTRODUCTION
We are looking for a Legal Director to serve as one of the company’s primary transactional attorneys. You will support our continuing expansion into the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) space and energy infrastructure for data centers. Reporting to the General Counsel, you’ll work a hybrid schedule in either our Ridgewood, NJ, HQ, our NYC office (Union Square area), or our California offices (Oakland and Santa Monica).
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Key responsibilities will include:
- Microgrid & Data Center Architecture: Support our business development and other cross-functional teams involved in deploying complex microgrid, energy center, and power infrastructure offerings tailored for data centers and large-scale industrial facilities.
- Commercial Contract Negotiation: Lead legal negotiations for a wide range of industry contracts, including Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Microgrid/Energy Services Agreements (MSAs/ESAs); Real property leases, easements, and licenses; Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC), equipment purchase, asset management, and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) agreements; Hedges of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and other environmental attributes; Membership Interest Purchase Agreements (MIPAs) and Development Services Agreements (DSAs).
- Project Finance Alignment: Ensure all project and energy agreements strictly conform to project financing requirements.
- Regulatory & Compliance Oversight: Support the management of compliance matters related to licensing and registrations, industry rules/regulations (e.g., FERC, RTOs/ISOs), and evolving policy frameworks impacting data centers and microgrids.
- Strategic Advisory: Provide regulatory, permitting, and policy guidance/training on pertinent topics for cross-functional teams to streamline project development.
- External Counsel Management: Manage engagements with outside counsel when needed, balancing time, efficiency, and expertise with the cost of such engagements.
- Diligence & Acquisitions: Support acquisition and financing activities, including performing early-stage legal diligence on target assets, portfolios, or developers, and assisting in negotiations with third-party financiers.
- Process Optimization: Propose and implement process improvements related to legal document management and contractual workflows to help the business scale efficiently.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Possess a JD from an accredited law school and be barred in at least one US state
- 7+ years post-JD transactional experience, or 5+ years of transactional experience from a nationally recognized law firm
- Extensive experience structuring and negotiating arrangements in the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) space, and/or the specialized development and power procurement frameworks required for data centers.
- Deep understanding of the U.S. energy landscape, grid interconnection, and utility dynamics.
- Substantive experience negotiating relevant industry contracts, including utility, power purchase, energy services, off-taker agreements, or other customer contracts.
- Exceptional business acumen, critical thinking skills, and professional cadence
- Ability to manage ambiguity and communicate complex legal concepts and strategic goals in a simplified manner to non-lawyers
- Strong negotiation skills
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities, work independently, and operate in a fast-paced, dynamic, entrepreneurial environment
This is a great opportunity to have a long-term impact on a fast-paced, private equity-backed growth business. Some of the core virtues embraced by Scales’ employees include:
- Do the Right Thing
- Act Like an Owner
- Hustle
- Demand Results
- Go Together
- Evolve or Disappear
We offer a competitive compensation package and a comprehensive benefits program including medical benefits, paid vacation and holidays, and 401K matching.
ABOUT SCALE MICROGRIDS
Scale is redefining resilience, with advanced microgrids that go beyond traditional backup power solutions to give businesses the power to adapt and thrive amid all of today’s growing energy challenges. As a vertically-integrated provider of turnkey advanced microgrid systems, Scale combines project design, engineering, and execution expertise with microgrid-as-a-service financing to offer our customers systems that are optimized to deliver maximum value from day one while ensuring ultra-reliable operations and fast time-to-power.
Scale is backed by EQT, a firm with ~$250B in assets, bringing a depth of experience, resources, and capital that will enable Scale to continue pursuing our vision of powering the world with distributed energy. The investment enables Scale to own and operate billions of dollars in distributed generation assets.
ABOUT EQT
EQT is a leading purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 246 billion in total assets under management, divided into two business segments: Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence, and market leadership.
Scale strives to attract and retain a workforce that reflects the composition of our customer base and communities. We are committed to providing a work environment that provides everyone with equal access and opportunity to contribute and drive meaningful outcomes. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply and will consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
See All 285+ Legal Director Jobs in New York
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Find Legal Director JobsLegal Director Jobs by City in New York
Where New York roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Legal Director Job Market in New York
A snapshot from current New York openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- City of New York15
- Columbia University11
- Morgan Stanley11
- Regeneron8
- Standard Chartered Bank7
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software46
- Investment & Asset Management35
- Law & Legal Services30
- Healthcare & Medical Services27
- Banking & Financial Services26
What New York Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in legal director jobs across New York.
- Active membership in the New York State Bar Association or admission to the New York State Bar
- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school plus substantial post-admission legal experience
- Demonstrated experience managing in-house legal teams or supervising outside counsel relationships
- Deep knowledge of New York corporate, regulatory, or industry-specific law relevant to the employer
- Proven ability to advise executive leadership and boards on legal risk and governance matters
- Strong background in contract negotiation, compliance program development, and litigation management
Legal Director Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a legal director in New York?
Becoming a legal director in New York requires admission to the New York State Bar, which means passing the New York Bar Examination administered by the New York State Board of Law Examiners and satisfying the character and fitness review. From there, most candidates build toward the role through years of practice in corporate, regulatory, or litigation work, often moving through associate, senior counsel, and assistant general counsel positions at large New York employers or law firms before being considered for a director-level seat.
How much do legal directors make in New York?
Legal directors in New York earn a median of about $207,860 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $85,200 for the lowest 10% to over $391,420 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire legal directors in New York?
Employers hiring legal directors in New York right now include City of New York, Columbia University, and Morgan Stanley, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. New York's concentration of financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and large media organizations means demand for legal directors with regulatory compliance and transactions experience is especially consistent across the city and surrounding metro area.
Which New York cities have the most legal director jobs?
New York, Brooklyn, and Buffalo account for the largest share of legal director openings in New York. New York City dominates because of its density of corporate headquarters, financial institutions, and major hospital systems, while Westchester County and Albany generate openings tied to regulated industries and state government-adjacent organizations that require directors with deep knowledge of New York law and policy.
Are there remote legal director jobs in New York?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely analytical fields, since legal directors frequently attend board meetings, negotiate in person, and oversee teams on-site. About 25% of legal director openings tied to New York are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting a market that favors flexibility without full relocation of the role. Contract review, compliance oversight, and policy work are the functions most likely to be performed remotely.
How can I get hired as a legal director in New York with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is to enter through a staff or associate counsel role at a large New York employer and build toward the director level from within. Major New York hospital systems, financial institutions, and municipal agencies routinely hire junior in-house attorneys and offer structured mentorship toward senior legal positions. Candidates who hold active New York Bar admission, have completed a clerkship with a New York state or federal court, or have concentrated experience in a high-demand area such as healthcare compliance or securities regulation tend to move up faster than those with general backgrounds.
Where can I find and apply to legal director jobs in New York?
You can find and apply to legal director jobs in New York on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to the New York market. Search the listings to see roles that match your experience and area of legal practice, then apply directly to the ones that fit your background.
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