Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.
Job Purpose:
To manage the Company's contracts around the world. In doing so, this role within the Company's corporate legal department will: (a) work directly with commercial counterparts in all divisions and regions to review, draft, negotiate, and finalize a variety of contract types; (b) support legal department colleagues in drafting, reviewing, and editing contracts and in other contract-related assignments; (c) manage the Company's contract retention system and procedures; (d) standardize contract terms and associated procedures across divisions and regions; and (e) develop familiarity with internal departments and the Company's business practices to help identify and manage risk related to contracts.While the role is contemplated to be a full-time position, the Company is willing to consider candidates seeking a reduced time commitment (e.g., four-day-per-week schedule).
Essential Duties:
Drive and Support Contract Formation (70%) Review, draft, negotiate, and finalize contracts for all divisions and regions worldwide, including supply agreements, sales agreements, distribution agreements, service agreements, non-disclosure agreements, software and IT related agreements, consulting agreements, inter-company agreements and government contracts, both individually and in partnership with legal department colleagues Accurately and clearly communicate to commercial counterparts the meaning of contract terms and associated risk as they relate to the business of the CompanyDevelop and maintain standard terms, forms, and procedures for contract formation Manage Existing Contracts (20%) Manage the Company's contract database, including by refining procedures and providing user training Review the terms of signed contracts and assist commercial counterparts in understanding the rights and obligations of the Company; provide practical, business-orientated guidance on compliance with contract terms and relations with counterparties Monitor contract expiration and administer potential contract renewals Perform diligence and contract review in support of M&A and litigation projects Other (10%) Track emerging issues and industry best practices regarding contracts and keep legal department colleagues informed of the same Work on special projects as assigned by Associate, Deputy, and General Counsels of the Company from time to time Understand the product categories, commercial channels, and business practices of the Company's divisions and regions Effectively utilize internal and external resources and cost drivers, and continuously improve administrative processes
Requirements:
Education/CertificationsJuris doctorate degree from an accredited law school Bachelor's degree ExperienceMeaningful prior contract negotiation and drafting experience, including contracts involving parties and transactions outside of the United StatesExperience analyzing contract provisions and advising businesses on interpretation, risk, and compliance Experience working with global manufacturing clients is preferred Experience working with government contracts is preferred Experience with contracts that concern data protection regulations is preferred KnowledgeComprehensive understanding of contract terms, formation, and interpretation Contract negotiation strategies and related best practices Comfortable acquiring knowledge and understanding of manufacturing and distribution practices General finance and accounting principles Skills/CompetenciesExcellent business judgment and negotiation skills Strong drafting, communication and problem solving skills, and ability to find creative solutions Solid analytical skills and detail orientation Exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills with a can-do approach Ability to communicate effectively at all organizational levels High ethical standards Ability to handle sensitive information in a confidential manner Readily handle substantive work with only general supervision, and to work independently on a variety of projects Takes initiative in organizing, prioritizing, and planning multiple projects and responsibilities Proficient with computers and related programs, as well as ability to conduct legal research online
Power to BeAt Graco, the Power to Be means providing the support, resources and freedom to pave your own way. Bring your unique attributes to the table, along with a commitment to being your best self, and you can be a part of a culture that rewards effort, celebrates uniqueness, and gives you the tools you need to succeed and become your best, fullest self along the way. Our culture empowers employees to chart their own career path. Our managers provide support and opportunities while offering freedom for employees to find their own Power to Be. Whether you decide to move up within the same department or expand to another cross-functional group, you will gain the well-rounded experience to succeed on your own terms.
Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019 & 2021. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco's comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.
Proven Quality. Leading Technology. Launch your career with Graco!
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How to hire a contract attorney
Contract attorney hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring contract attorneys in the United States:
- HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
- It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
- It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
- The median cost to hire a contract attorney is $1,633.
- Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per contract attorney on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
- There are currently 235,839 contract attorneys in the US and 13,592 job openings.
- Atlanta, GA, has the highest demand for contract attorneys, with 6 job openings.
- New York, NY has the highest concentration of contract attorneys.
How to hire a contract attorney, step by step
To hire a contract attorney, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a contract attorney:
Here's a step-by-step contract attorney hiring guide:
- Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
- Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
- Step 3: Make a budget
- Step 4: Write a contract attorney job description
- Step 5: Post your job
- Step 6: Interview candidates
- Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new contract attorney
- Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
What does a contract attorney do?
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. Contract attorneys represent clients at court, assist with law proceedings, and advise clients for the necessary legal procedures. A contract attorney must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills to manage client legal matters and expertise in traditional disciplines and processes.
Post a contract attorney job for free, promote it for a fee
Identify your hiring needs
Before you post your contract attorney job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a contract attorney for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.
Determine employee vs contractor statusIs the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?Hiring the perfect contract attorney 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 contract attorneys and their corresponding salaries.
Type of Contract Attorney Description Hourly rate Contract Attorney Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes. $28-75 Legal Extern Legal externs are law students who took the opportunity to do on-the-job training at a law firm. Instead of monetary compensation, they receive academic credits... Show more $11-44 General Counsel A general counsel, also called a chief legal officer, is the chief lawyer in the legal department of an organization. The counsel represents an enterprise for any pending legal matters... Show more $36-100 Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:- Litigation
- E-Discovery
- Legal Research
- Legal Issues
- Real Estate
- Intellectual Property
- Legal Advice
- Due Diligence
- Privilege Logs
- Juris
- QC
- Product Liability
- Attorney-Client Privilege
- Law Firm
Responsibilities:- Conduct first-level document review, QC review, and privilege review for complex residential mortgage-backed securities litigation.
- Experience in e-discovery document review teams assessing responsiveness in second requests, pharmaceutical litigation/product liability cases and patent infringement suits.
- Consult with law firms regarding deposition and hearing preparations and provide other litigation support services for various banking and pharmaceutical antitrust matters
- Remove confidential personal information and HIPAA.
- Prepare deposition files, write pleadings, subpoenas and participate in other discovery-relate projects.
- Privilege log line writing and privilege QC in large-scale anti-trust litigation/investigation of several private equity firms.
Make a budget
Including a salary range in the contract attorney job description is a good way to get more applicants. A contract attorney salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.
For example, the average salary for a contract attorney in Kansas may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level contract attorney. Additionally, a contract attorney with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.
Average contract attorney salary
$97,474yearly
$46.86 hourly rateEntry-level contract attorney salary$60,000 yearly salaryUpdated January 31, 2026Average contract attorney salary by state
Rank State Avg. salary Hourly rate 1 California $116,000 $56 2 New York $107,808 $52 3 District of Columbia $104,220 $50 4 Massachusetts $94,253 $45 5 Maryland $88,510 $43 6 Illinois $79,771 $38 7 Texas $79,624 $38 8 Virginia $79,132 $38 9 Colorado $77,149 $37 10 New Jersey $76,046 $37 11 Washington $72,434 $35 12 Minnesota $71,470 $34 13 Florida $70,174 $34 14 Alaska $69,674 $34 15 Georgia $67,963 $33 16 North Carolina $62,053 $30 17 Michigan $60,204 $29 18 Nebraska $59,972 $29 19 Alabama $59,924 $29 20 Oklahoma $59,514 $29 Average contract attorney salary by company
Rank Company Average salary Hourly rate Job openings 1 Perkins Coie $169,819 $81.64 26 2 The Knot $142,903 $68.70 3 Littler Mendelson $135,307 $65.05 4 SpecialCounsel $121,851 $58.58 5 The TJX Companies $110,893 $53.31 4 6 Planned Parenthood $101,048 $48.58 7 Wegman $99,656 $47.91 25 8 TrialSpark $98,067 $47.15 9 Randstad North America, Inc. $98,038 $47.13 10 RSM US $97,646 $46.95 11 Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories $97,587 $46.92 12 Transmit Security $97,377 $46.82 13 Kion Group $96,551 $46.42 14 CIA Inc $96,551 $46.42 15 board of education $96,439 $46.36 16 UPS $96,149 $46.23 17 VOLTAGE $95,971 $46.14 18 Medpace $95,894 $46.10 3 19 Kemper $95,215 $45.78 8 20 CarLotz $92,878 $44.65 Writing a contract attorney job description
A contract attorney 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. Below, you can find an example of a contract attorney job description:
Contract attorney job description example
Post your job
To find contract attorneys for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
- Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any contract attorneys they would recommend.
- Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level contract attorneys with the right educational background.
- Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
- Post your contract attorney job on Zippia to find and recruit contract attorney candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
To successfully recruit contract attorneys, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.
Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new contract attorney
Once you've decided on a perfect contract attorney candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.
It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.
Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new contract attorney. 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.
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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How much does it cost to hire a contract attorney?
Before you start to hire contract attorneys, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire contract attorneys pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.
You can expect to pay around $97,474 per year for a contract attorney, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for contract attorneys in the US typically range between $28 and $75 an hour.
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Updated January 31, 2026