Employment Lawyer - In-House

Provide legal counsel on all aspects of employment law to protect the organization from employment-related legal risk. Advise HR and business leaders on hiring, termination, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, FMLA, ADA, NLRA, and other employment law matters. Manage employment litigation, EEOC charges, and arbitrations; draft and review employment agreements, severance packages, and HR policies; and conduct employment law training for managers and HR professionals.

Median salary: $185,000. Projected growth to 2033: 6% (as fast as average) - steady demand across all industries. Typical education: Doctoral or Professional Degree.

At a glance

Median salary: $185,000
Entry-level: $120,000 - $155,000
Senior: $280,000+
Growth by 2033: 6% (as fast as average) - steady demand across all industries
Demand: Stable
Remote: Hybrid
Hours per week: 45-60 hours/week
Stress: High

What you'd do

People interaction: Extensive
Team vs solo: 45% Team / 55% Solo
Client facing: Always
Impact visibility: High

How to get there

Minimum education: Doctoral or Professional Degree
Licensing: Yes
Years to mid-career: 4-6 years
Years to senior: 8-12 years
Career switching: Very Hard
Typical student debt: $100,000 - $200,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

Federal & State Employment Law (Title VII / ADA / FMLA / FLSA / NLRA)
Employment Litigation Management
EEOC Charge Response & Investigation
Employment Agreement & Severance Drafting
HR Policy Legal Review
Wage & Hour Compliance

Soft skills

Legal Analysis
Written Communication
Stakeholder Influence
Negotiation
Discretion

Technical complexity: High

Typical career path

Associate
Senior Associate
Counsel
Senior Counsel
VP & Associate General Counsel
General Counsel