Jobs › Medline

Legal Counsel, Labor & Employment

Medline · Northfield, IL · $154,000–$231,000 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 23, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a workplace investigation you supported. How did you protect privilege and fairness?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how to keep investigations credible and defensible when they partner with employee relations.

Tell me about a time you told a business leader something they did not want to hear.

What they are checking: Whether they can deliver hard legal advice in a way leaders accept and act on.

Describe a training you delivered to managers. How did you know it changed behavior?

What they are checking: Whether their training is practical enough that managers actually make fewer legal mistakes.

What would you do

An HR leader wants to terminate a high performer who just asked about FMLA leave. Walk me through how you advise them.

What they are checking: Whether they spot retaliation risk quickly and give HR a practical path, not just a warning.

A manager in a warehouse needs an answer on an accommodation request today. How do you give useful advice quickly?

What they are checking: Whether they can give practical, timely guidance under ADA rules without slowing the business down.

You receive a demand letter alleging discrimination. What are your first steps?

What they are checking: Whether they act quickly on preservation, facts and risk assessment before deciding strategy.

How do you balance legal risk with the business's need to move quickly on a reorganization?

What they are checking: Whether they see themselves as a partner who finds a safe path, not a blocker.

About the work

How do you decide whether a role is properly classified as exempt under the FLSA, and what do you look at first?

What they are checking: Whether they can apply wage and hour rules to real jobs at a company with thousands of hourly workers.

How do you manage outside counsel on an agency charge so cost and strategy stay in line with the business?

What they are checking: Whether they can direct outside firms rather than simply forward matters and pay the bills.

How enforceable are non-competes for employees in Illinois, and how would that shape the agreements you draft?

What they are checking: Whether they know current Illinois restrictive covenant law, since the role is based in Northfield.

How do you keep a company with sites in many states current on changing employment laws?

What they are checking: Whether they have a system for tracking legal changes and turning them into policy updates.

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The full job description

As published by Medline.

Job Summary As Employment Counsel, you’ll partner with Human Resources and business leaders on the decisions that shape the employee experience. You’ll provide clear, practical legal guidance, help teams navigate sensitive workplace matters, and develop solutions that support both our people and our business. This is a hybrid role based in Northfield, IL, with onsite work Tuesday through Thursday. Job Description What you’ll do • Advise HR and business leaders on recruiting, hiring, performance management, discipline, accommodations, leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, restrictive covenants, and terminations. • Partner with the employee relations team on workplace investigations and the resolution of employee concerns. • Identify employment law risks and recommend practical ways to address them. • Manage outside counsel and help shape strategy for employment litigation, agency charges, demand letters, arbitrations, and other disputes. • Draft employment agreements, policies, employee communications, and training materials. • Stay current on employment law developments and help keep company practices compliant. • Deliver employment law training to HR, managers, and employees. What you’ll bring • A Juris Doctor degree and membership in good standing with a state bar. • At least four years of experience providing employment law counsel at a law firm or corporation. • Experience developing legal strategies for complex, high-profile matters and advising senior leaders. • Strong judgment and the ability to work across teams to solve complex problems. • The ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. This position requires up to 10% travel for business purposes, both in and out of state. Medline Industries, LP, and its subsidiaries, offer a competitive total rewards package, continuing education & training, and tremendous potential with a growing worldwide organization. The anticipated salary range for this position: $154,000.00 - $231,000.00 Annual The actual salary will vary based on applicant’s location, education, experience, skills, and abilities. This role is bonus and/or incentive eligible. Medline will not pay less than the applicable minimum wage or salary threshold. Our benefit package includes health insurance, life and disability, 401(k) contributions, paid time off, etc., for employees working 30 or more hours per week on average. For roles where employees work less than 30 hours per week, benefits include 401(k) contributions, paid time off, as well as access to the Employee Assistance Program, Employee Resource Groups and the Employee Service Corp. For a more comprehensive list of our benefits please click here . We’re dedicated to creating a Medline where everyone feels they belong and can grow their career. We strive to do this by seeking diversity in all forms, acting inclusively, and ensuring that people have tools and resources to perform at their best. Explore our Belonging page here . Medline Industries, LP is an equal opportunity employer. Medline evaluates qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, neurodivergence, protected veteran status, marital or family status, caregiver responsibilities, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

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