Licensing Attorney

Direct Counsel; United States; On-site; USD 155,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

HSA/FSA options

401(k) plan

Paid holidays

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

Direct Counsel is seeking a Licensing Attorney to join its Fintech & Financial Advisory practice of a prestigious Am Law firm in multiple offices across the United States. The role targets 2–6 years of licensing and regulatory experience to support a high-volume nationwide practice for state and federal financial services.

The attorney will advise on licensing, regulatory filings, NMLS processes, and ongoing compliance, collaborating with teams to deliver practical, business-focused guidance.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active state bar membership in the office location.
• 2–6 years licensing/regulatory experience at a law firm, company, government agency, or similar organization.
• Experience obtaining and maintaining state licenses through NMLS.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting state licensing statutes and regulations.
• Knowledge of federal consumer financial laws (TILA, RESPA, UDAP).
• Strong research, drafting, and writing skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with a client-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients through the licensing lifecycle.
• Conduct multistate licensing reviews to determine licensing requirements.
• Prepare, draft, and coordinate state licensing applications and regulatory filings.
• Assist clients with obtaining and maintaining licenses via NMLS.
• Advise on ongoing state and federal compliance obligations for licensed entities.
• Research state licensing statutes, regulations, and guidance.
• Support regulatory, compliance, corporate, and transactional matters.
• Collaborate with attorneys and clients to provide practical regulatory advice.

Skills

Legal research

Analytical thinking

Drafting

Writing

Time management

Client communication

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Education

J.D. degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Licensing Attorney

Direct Counsel is seeking a Licensing Attorney to join the Fintech & Financial Advisory practice of a prestigious Am Law firm in one of the following offices: Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Irvine (Orange County), Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Seattle, Silicon Valley (Menlo Park), or Washington, D.C.

This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney with 2-6 years of licensing and regulatory experience to join a nationally recognized Fintech & Financial Advisory practice. This is an off-track attorney position focused on supporting a high-volume nationwide licensing practice for state and federally regulated financial services companies, including clients in the mortgage, commercial finance, consumer finance, and debt services industries.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients throughout the full licensing lifecycle, from initial licensing assessments through ongoing regulatory maintenance.

• Conduct multistate legal reviews to determine licensing requirements for financial services businesses.

• Prepare, draft, and coordinate state licensing applications and regulatory filings.

• Assist clients with obtaining and maintaining licenses through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS).

• Advise clients on ongoing state and federal compliance obligations for licensed entities.

• Research and analyze state licensing statutes, regulations, and regulatory guidance.

• Support regulatory, compliance, corporate, and transactional matters within the Fintech & Financial Advisory practice.

• Collaborate with attorneys and clients to provide practical, business-focused regulatory advice.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.

• Active membership in the state bar of the office where the attorney will be located.

• 2-6 years of legal experience handling licensing and regulatory matters at a law firm, company, government agency, or similar organization.

• Experience obtaining and maintaining state licenses through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS).

• Experience reviewing and interpreting state licensing statutes and regulations.

• General knowledge of federal consumer financial laws, including TILA, RESPA, UDAP, and related regulations.

• Strong legal research, analytical, drafting, and writing skills.

• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.

• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with a client-focused approach.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-quality work product.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $155,000-$185,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

• Comprehensive benefits package, including:

  • Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

  • Mental health and wellness programs

  • Child, family, elder, and pet care benefits

  • Short- and long-term disability coverage

  • Industry-leading parental leave

  • Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options

  • 401(k) retirement plan

  • Flexible Time Off (FTO) and paid holidays

  • Annual discretionary performance bonus eligibility