Principal Legal Counsel Jobs

Principal Legal Counsel jobs cover corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and commercial transactions across industries from technology and financial services to healthcare and energy, at every level from senior associate counsel to deputy general counsel. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

Find Principal Legal Counsel JobsLooking for remote work? View remote principal legal counsel jobs →

Overview

Open roles56
Top stateNew York
Top employerRosendin Electric
Top cityNew York, NY
Work type50% Hybrid
Top industryFintech

Showing 5 of 56+ Principal Legal Counsel jobs

Corporate Counsel - Digital Law, Cybersecurity, AI, & Privacy
We won't show you this job again
Added 2d ago
Corporate Counsel - Digital Law, Cybersecurity, AI, & Privacy
Baxter
Deerfield, Illinois
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
Security & Protective Services
$192k - $264k/yr
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Corporate Counsel, Lawful Intercept and Law Enforcement Response, Leo Legal
We won't show you this job again
Added 3d ago
Corporate Counsel, Lawful Intercept and Law Enforcement Response, Leo Legal
Amazon.com
Arlington, Virginia
Compliance & Legal
Corporate Development & M&A
Legal Counsel
$154k - $208k/yr
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Senior Counsel, Employment Law & Compliance
We won't show you this job again
Added 6d ago
Senior Counsel, Employment Law & Compliance
BASF
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Compliance & Legal
Corporate Development & M&A
Legal Counsel
Hybrid
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Sr Principal Legal Counsel - Direct Sourcing GOSC Legal
We won't show you this job again
Added 6d ago
Sr Principal Legal Counsel - Direct Sourcing GOSC Legal
Medtronic
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Account Management
Customer Success
Partnerships & Business Development
$191k - $287k/yr
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Sr. Principal IP legal Counsel
We won't show you this job again
Added 1w ago
Sr. Principal IP legal Counsel
MiniMed
Los Angeles, California
Academic & Educational Administration
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Human Resources
$164k - $309k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in Physics

Have you applied for this role?

See All 56 Principal Legal Counsel Jobs

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

Find Principal Legal Counsel Jobs

Principal Legal Counsel Job Market

Who's Hiring

Rosendin Electric3 open roles
OKG2 open roles
Hines2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Fintech
  • Government & Public Sector
  • Banking & Financial Services
  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Investment & Asset Management

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in principal legal counsel jobs.

  • Juris Doctor degree and active bar admission in at least one state
  • Eight or more years of legal experience in corporate, regulatory, or litigation practice
  • Demonstrated ability to advise C-suite executives and board members on legal risk
  • Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts and licensing agreements
  • Proficiency managing outside counsel relationships and controlling legal spend
  • Familiarity with relevant industry regulations such as SEC, HIPAA, or financial services compliance frameworks

Tips for Your Principal Legal Counsel Job Search

Tailor your resume for each vertical

Principal legal counsel roles in fintech carry different priorities than those in healthcare or energy. Restructure your resume so the most relevant practice areas, deal types, and regulatory frameworks lead for each application you submit.

Quantify your legal impact concretely

Hiring committees at this level want outcomes, not duties. Replace phrases like 'advised on contracts' with specifics: volume of agreements reviewed, risk exposure reduced, or regulatory matters resolved. Concrete outcomes differentiate you from equally credentialed candidates.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists principal legal counsel openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Target postings by matter complexity

Filter openings by the complexity of legal work described, not just the job title. A role requiring cross-border M&A experience signals very different expectations than one focused on day-to-day commercial contracts, even when both carry the same title.

Prepare a business-side narrative for interviews

Interviewers at this level probe how you balance legal risk with business objectives. Prepare two or three examples where your legal judgment directly shaped a business decision, and be ready to explain the tradeoffs you weighed and why you landed where you did.

Negotiate scope before negotiating compensation

Before discussing pay, clarify reporting structure, budget authority, and whether the role carries outside counsel management responsibility. Those factors affect your leverage and long-term career trajectory more than the starting figure alone.

Principal Legal Counsel Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most principal legal counsels?

The most active employers for principal legal counsels right now are Rosendin Electric, OKG, and Hines, and the most openings are in New York, California, and Virginia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand tends to be highest in heavily regulated sectors such as financial services, healthcare, and energy.

How many principal legal counsel jobs are remote?

About 71% of principal legal counsel openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting broader flexibility in in-house legal departments. Roles focused on contract management and regulatory advisory tend to be the most remote-compatible, while positions requiring frequent board interaction or litigation oversight are more likely to require on-site presence.

How do you become a principal legal counsel?

Start by earning a Juris Doctor and passing the bar in your target state, then build seven to ten years of substantive experience in corporate, regulatory, or transactional law at a law firm or in-house team. Develop fluency in a specific industry by seeking out matters in that sector consistently. Demonstrate business judgment alongside legal skill by volunteering for cross-functional projects, and build relationships with general counsel who can advocate for your promotion into a principal role.

Can you get hired as a principal legal counsel with limited in-house experience?

Yes, but you need to close the credibility gap before applying. Law firm partners or senior associates who have led complex client matters and managed junior attorneys can compete for principal counsel roles if they frame their experience around business outcomes rather than billable work. Highlighting secondments, client-facing advisory work, or industry specialization that maps directly to the employer's core legal needs makes the transition more convincing to hiring committees.

What does the principal legal counsel interview process look like?

Most processes run three to four rounds and include an initial screening with HR or a talent partner, a substantive interview with the general counsel or chief legal officer, and a panel interview with business leaders whose teams you would support. Expect scenario-based questions that test how you balance legal risk against commercial pressure. Some employers add a written exercise asking you to analyze a hypothetical contract issue or regulatory problem before the final round.

Where can I find and apply to principal legal counsel jobs?

You can find and apply to principal legal counsel jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your practice area and industry background, and apply directly to each listing that fits your experience.

See All 56 Principal Legal Counsel Jobs

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

Find Principal Legal Counsel Jobs