How to hire an assistant general counsel

How to hire an assistant general counsel, step by step

Here's a step-by-step assistant general counsel hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an assistant general counsel job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant general counsel
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an assistant general counsel do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The assistant general counsel hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect assistant general counsel also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of assistants general counsel and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Assistant General Counsel	Description	Hourly rate
   Assistant General Counsel	Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes.	$44-102
   Lawyer	A lawyer is a legal practitioner who specializes in understanding and interpreting laws and other legal matters. Their responsibilities revolve around providing legal counseling and advice, representing clients in different kinds of court proceedings, conducting research, collecting evidence, and coordinating with various experts... Show more	$30-100
   Contract Attorney	A contract attorney is responsible for handling their clients' legal issues and settling cases by researching, analyzing, and collecting essential files that would support the clients' claims. Contract attorneys usually work for private clients without being permanently employed in a law firm or government agency... Show more	$28-75

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Legal Advice
   • Litigation
   • Legal Issues
   • Legal Support
   • Legal Research
   • Legal Services
   • Real Estate
   • Human Resources
   • Ethics
   • Risk Management
   • Intellectual Property
   • In-House Counsel
   • NYSE
   • Due Diligence

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage debt and equity offerings and relate disclosure under applicable state and federal securities laws.
   • Manage the litigation referral process; work with examiners and investigators preparing subpoenas, taking witness testimony and reviewing documentary evidence.
   • Assist in liaising with insurance authorities, responding to regulatory inquiries and managing relationship with region from legal and business perspective.
   • Draft and assist in the implementation of data use authorizations with all clinical trial sites to ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations.
   • Advise clients on many legal matters in pharmacy services administration, audits, HIPAA, and health care issues in general.
   • Coordinate defective pricing reviews, post award audits and conduct internal ethics investigations.

   More assistant general counsel duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your assistant general counsel job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An assistant general counsel salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an assistant general counsel in Kentucky may be lower than in California, and an entry-level assistant general counsel usually earns less than a senior-level assistant general counsel. Additionally, an assistant general counsel with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average assistant general counsel salary

   $141,227yearly

   $67.90 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level assistant general counsel salary

   $93,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average assistant general counsel salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$183,989	$88
   2	New York	$162,889	$78
   3	District of Columbia	$152,929	$74
   4	Colorado	$150,742	$72
   5	New Jersey	$144,320	$69
   6	Georgia	$140,763	$68
   7	Virginia	$136,852	$66
   8	Nevada	$130,609	$63
   9	Connecticut	$129,530	$62
   10	Illinois	$127,125	$61
   11	Arizona	$126,144	$61
   12	Minnesota	$121,205	$58
   13	Maryland	$119,583	$57
   14	Massachusetts	$119,517	$57
   15	Texas	$114,322	$55
   16	Oregon	$113,546	$55
   17	Ohio	$110,280	$53
   18	Pennsylvania	$106,047	$51
   19	Missouri	$104,817	$50
   20	North Carolina	$104,414	$50

   Average assistant general counsel salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Coty	$212,550	$102.19
   2	Chegg	$208,130	$100.06
   3	Nike	$205,216	$98.66	5
   4	Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation	$203,018	$97.60
   5	Genentech	$201,332	$96.79	7
   6	Ropes & Gray	$193,815	$93.18
   7	Palo Alto Networks	$186,896	$89.85
   8	Tallgrass Energy	$184,021	$88.47
   9	Groupon	$181,846	$87.43	2
   10	AvePoint	$179,606	$86.35
   11	White & Case	$178,704	$85.92	1
   12	GoDaddy	$176,749	$84.98
   13	Allegis Group	$176,093	$84.66	2
   14	Constellation Brands	$175,609	$84.43
   15	Dollar Tree	$174,792	$84.03	4
   16	Emergent BioSolutions	$173,103	$83.22
   17	Microsoft	$172,315	$82.84	8
   18	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$170,180	$81.82	45
   19	Novo Nordisk	$169,191	$81.34	2
   20	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$169,179	$81.34	1

4. Writing an assistant general counsel job description

   An assistant general counsel job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an assistant general counsel job description:

   Assistant general counsel job description example

   You're an original. So are we.
   
   We're a company of people who like to forge our own path. We invented the blue jean in 1873, and we reinvented khaki pants in 1986. We pioneered labor and environmental guidelines in manufacturing. And we work to build sustainability into everything we do. Our brands stand for freedom and self-expression around the world.
   
   Where we lead, others follow. For more than 160 years, we've used the strength of our brands to lead with our values and make an outsized impact on the world. We employ more than 15,000 people globally to support our great brands: Levi's , Dockers , Denizen , Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™ and Beyond Yoga.
   
   We are looking for an Assistant General Counsel, Real Estate to manage the real estate transactions of the company and its internal clients in the U.S. and Canada. This position will report to an Associate General Counsel and partner closely with the Vice President of Real Estate.
   
   This position is remote or a hybrid role based out of our San Francisco headquarters.
   
   About the Job:
   Provide strategic, creative and effective legal and business advice to support the Company's overall real estate plans and priorities Manage legal support for all new retail store leases, renewals, amendments, lease actions and real estate related activity for existing fleet of over 250 retail stores, offices, and showrooms, as well as future store expansion plans Manage legal support for construction and related services agreements for distribution centers, retail stores, and facilities Oversee outside leasing counsel and serve as liaison to internal clients Collaborate with internal stakeholders in finance, construction, design, insurance and operations and manage inter-department input into legal documents Develop, establish, and administer lease term standards Work as a collaborative member of the Legal Team in support of the U.S./Canada retail lease portfolio, addressing issues and assisting in the management and resolution of disputes with landlords, contractors and attendant third parties including managing outside counsel in litigation and threatened litigation matters Collaborate with internal stakeholders to execute real estate strategy, provide guidance on leasing and answer questions on lease interpretation Help develop and implement new processes, policies and training as needed, based on legal requirements, industry standards and best practices Develop, maintain and improve company real estate agreement standards and template provisions and forms
   
   About You:
   JD and membership in a state barA minimum of 7 years of experience as retail real estate leasing counsel in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to handle responsibilities with minimum supervision. Both external law firm and in-house experience at a retailer strongly preferred Subject matter expert in retail real estate leases and related agreements, including having an intimate understanding of retail real estate deal terms such as co-tenancy, percentage rent and omni-channel gross sales definitions, gross sale termination rights, and radius restrictions Preferred experience in regional mall, lifestyle center and outlet center leases, as well as office leases and construction agreements Ability to handle and manage a variety of internal client demands and significant number of leasing deals simultaneously, and coordinate with internal stakeholder teams to meet store buildout timeframes Strong time management, project management and prioritization skills, with the ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects / matters to closure Strategic thinking with an ability to leverage business sense, creative problem-solving skills and sense of prioritization when resolving issues Exceptional organizational, interpersonal and communication skills
   
   We put a lot of thought into our programs to provide you with a benefits package that matters. Whether it is for medical care, taking time off, improving your health or planning for retirement, we've got you covered. Here's a small snapshot:
   401K match: $1.25 for every $1.00 you contribute up to the first 6% of pay you save.Five hours of paid volunteer time per month with nonprofit organizations Product discount of 60% off regular-price merchandise Paid Family Leave
   
   Currently, LS&CO requires proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of commencing employment, except in those jurisdictions where prohibited by law. Medical or religious accommodations, or other exemptions that may be required by applicable law, will be approved when properly supported. Further information is provided during the recruitment process.
   
   EOE M/F/Disability/Vets
   
   LOCATION
   San Francisco, CA, USA
   
   FULL TIME/PART TIME
   Full time
   Current LS&Co Employees, apply via your Workday account.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find assistants general counsel for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your assistant general counsel job on Zippia to find and recruit assistant general counsel candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit assistants general counsel, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new assistant general counsel

   Once you've selected the best assistant general counsel candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new assistant general counsel. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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