Special Counsel Jobs
Special counsel jobs are open across law firms, financial institutions, healthcare systems, and government agencies, from mid-level attorney to senior partner-track roles, with specializations in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and litigation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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DESCRIPTION
The Office of People's Counsel (“OPC”) is an independent Maryland State agency that advocates for Maryland’s residential utility consumers. OPC represents the interests of residential customers of natural gas, electric, private water, and telecommunications utilities in proceedings before the Public Service Commission (“PSC”), federal regulatory agencies, and the courts. OPC works to ensure that utility service is reliable, safe, reasonably priced, and supportive of the State’s environmental and climate goals.
OPC is seeking a mission-driven attorney to serve as a Special Assistant People’s Counsel (SAPC). The position is a fellowship sponsored by the Vermont Law & Graduate School’s Multistate Assistance for Public Service Leadership and Excellence (MAPLE) Initiative. The SAPC Fellow will support OPC’s statutory responsibility of protecting residential utility customers with particular attention to the agency’s mandate to “consider the…environmental interests of the State and its residents, including the State’s progress toward meeting its greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals.”
Attorney work at OPC covers a spectrum of topic areas and skill sets, including energy law, economics, environmental policy, litigation, and public utility policy. The SAPC will focus on advocating for residential utility customers in matters that may include:
- Electricity transmission and plant retirement planning;
- The future of natural gas and gas infrastructure;
- Clean and renewable energy, including wind energy, solar energy, and renewable energy credits; and
- Electric vehicles and time-of-use rates.
OPC’s work includes appearances before the Maryland Public Service Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and State and federal appellate courts. We also participate in state and national-level policy initiatives regarding utility customers and new technologies—such as distributed resources, renewable generation, and electric vehicles.
The SAPC is a one-year fellowship position and is expected to be extended for at least an additional year, contingent on funding. The position’s salary is supported by the Vermont Law & Graduate School. The SAPC will work out of the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, located in Baltimore City, as a hybrid teleworker—working a schedule that includes remote and in-office time.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- A Juris Doctor degree or an equivalent degree from an accredited school of law.
- Membership in the Maryland bar (can be forthcoming).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Consumer protection and administrative litigation experience.
- Background in or familiarity with utility regulation, energy policy, and/or climate science.
- Experience in a government agency practicing law related to the regulation of public utilities.
HOW TO APPLY
Candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples to Sarah DeMaio, Chief Operating Officer via email at sarah.demaio@maryland.gov.
EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
The successful candidates will be eligible for subsidized health benefits (medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage) and life insurance; leave, including annual (vacation), personal, sick, and paid parental leave. The candidate is also eligible to participate in a retirement plan. For information regarding benefits for this fellowship, please visit VLGS's website at: https://vermontlawschool.trgportal.com/.
As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.
Pay: $71,198.00 - $131,299.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
License/Certification:
- license to practice law (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Baltimore, MD 21202
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Find Special Counsel JobsSpecial Counsel Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Non-Profit & Social Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in special counsel jobs.
- Juris Doctor degree and active bar admission in relevant jurisdiction
- Seven or more years of legal practice in a defined specialty area
- Experience advising on regulatory compliance, transactions, or litigation strategy
- Demonstrated ability to manage outside counsel and control legal spend
- Strong written and oral communication skills for executive-level audiences
- Proficiency with contract management systems and legal research platforms
Tips for Your Special Counsel Job Search
Tailor your resume to practice area
Special counsel roles are practice-specific, so your resume needs to signal the right subspecialty immediately. Lead with your most relevant matters, not a generic summary. A corporate governance special counsel and a regulatory enforcement special counsel read very differently on paper.
Highlight your bar admissions prominently
Hiring managers for special counsel roles screen on jurisdiction before anything else. List every active bar admission near the top of your resume, not buried in a credentials section. Multi-state admissions are a differentiator, especially for roles at national companies or firms.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists special counsel openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target organizations with in-house legal teams
Special counsel roles exist inside corporations, hospitals, financial institutions, and government agencies, not just law firms. Search for general counsel offices and legal departments directly. In-house openings often move faster and attract fewer applicants than firm postings.
Prepare a matter list before interviews
Interviewers for special counsel positions will ask about specific transactions, cases, or regulatory matters you have led. Prepare a concise matter list with your role, the counterparties, and the outcome for each. Vague answers about experience are the fastest way to lose a special counsel offer.
Negotiate scope and reporting structure
Special counsel titles vary widely in authority and independence. Before accepting any offer, clarify whether you report to the general counsel or a practice group leader, and what client origination expectations apply. These details affect compensation, advancement, and day-to-day autonomy more than title alone.
Special Counsel Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most special counsels?
The companies hiring the most special counsels right now include Apple, M&T Bank, and Amazon, with the largest share of openings in New York, Illinois, and District of Columbia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Financial services, healthcare, and technology sectors consistently post the highest volume of special counsel roles nationally.
How many special counsel jobs are remote?
About 100% of special counsel openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though availability varies significantly by practice area. Regulatory compliance and contract review roles tend to offer the most remote flexibility, while litigation-focused and corporate advisory positions more often require in-person presence at client or firm locations.
How do you become a special counsel?
Becoming a special counsel typically requires earning a Juris Doctor, passing the bar in your target jurisdiction, and spending several years developing deep expertise in a focused practice area such as securities law, healthcare regulation, or mergers and acquisitions. Most attorneys reach special counsel by advancing through associate ranks at a firm or moving from a government agency role into private practice, then demonstrating the ability to handle complex matters with minimal supervision.
Can you get a special counsel job with limited experience?
Special counsel roles are senior positions, so they rarely go to candidates with fewer than five or six years of practice, but adjacent experience can help close gaps. Government attorneys, federal agency lawyers, and experienced litigators from smaller firms often transition into special counsel roles by emphasizing specialized subject-matter knowledge rather than years of private practice alone. Clerkship experience and regulatory agency backgrounds carry real weight with hiring committees.
What does the special counsel interview process look like?
The interview process for special counsel roles typically involves an initial screening call with a talent or HR contact, followed by substantive interviews with the general counsel or managing partner, and then meetings with one or two practice group leaders or department heads. Candidates are usually asked to walk through specific matters in depth and may face a writing sample review or a hypothetical legal scenario. The full process commonly runs across multiple rounds before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to special counsel jobs?
You can find and apply to special counsel jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Find roles that match your practice area and experience level, then apply directly to each listing.
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