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Senior Counsel: Operations and Pharmacy Legal

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Legal

Posted Sep 16, 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

How do you stay proactive rather than only being asked after the fact?

What they are checking: The posting names providing proactive counsel.

This role is based in North Chicago. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: The posting states the location.

What would you do

How do you give legal advice that a business team can actually use?

What they are checking: The posting names providing clear, timely guidance to cross-functional teams.

A business team wants to do something you think carries real risk. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: The daily judgment of in-house counsel.

How do you manage a dispute without letting it consume the business relationship?

What they are checking: The posting names resolving disputes and influencing outcomes.

How do you work with outside counsel so you get value from them?

What they are checking: The posting names collaborating with internal and external partners.

How do you decide when to say a clear no rather than flag a risk?

What they are checking: The distinction that separates useful counsel from an obstacle.

About the work

Tell me about your legal practice and the industries you have worked in.

What they are checking: The posting is a senior counsel role advising business teams.

How do you advise on a regulatory question where the rules are still moving?

What they are checking: The posting names guidance on evolving issues across commercial, regulatory and operational areas.

What do you know about pharmacy operations and the regulation around it?

What they are checking: The posting names operations and pharmacy legal specifically.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Empower business innovation through strategic legal guidance. As a Senior Counsel at AbbVie, you will partner closely with cross-functional teams to shape decisions that bring great possibilities to patients ethically and effectively. This role builds on foundational experience, enabling you to navigate regulatory complexity, assess risk, and influence business outcomes, all while developing leadership capabilities for long-term career growth. The role will support various Operations stakeholders, including AbbVie’s onsite Pharmacy and advise on pharmacy regulatory compliance, controlled substance management, pharmacy licensure matters, as well as commercial contracts requests . Responsibilities: • Serve as a key legal advisor to cross-functional business teams, providing proactive counsel on commercial, regulatory, or operational issues Interpret and apply U.S. laws and global regulations relevant to the pharmaceutical or healthcare environment Review and advise on contracts, business activities, and strategic initiatives to ensure legal compliance and alignment with company objectives. Support the development and implementation of legal policies, compliance programs, and training effort. • Collaborate with internal and external partners to manage risk, resolve disputes, and influence outcomes Provide clear, timely guidance on evolving legal questions in a business-first manner • Translate complex legal/regulatory issues into practical business advice. • Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide range of commercial contracts. • Advise the onsite specialty pharmacy team on federal and state pharmacy laws, including DEA and state Board of Pharmacy regulations governing controlled substance procurement, storage, dispensing, and recordkeeping. • Support specialty pharmacy licensure and permit applications, renewals, and compliance audits across applicable jurisdictions, coordinating with Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance as needed. • Partner with the pharmacy team to develop and maintain standard operating procedures, policies, and training materials that reflect current legal and regulatory requirements. Required : • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school. Active license to practice law in job location. • Minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience practicing in-house at a pharmaceutical company, practicing as a member of a nationally recognized law firm in a life sciences or healthcare practice, or practicing as an attorney for a government agency, or any combination of the above. • Experience advising on pharmacy-related legal matters. Preferred : • Exposure to biopharma, healthcare, or life sciences compliance topics • Demonstrate ability to advise business clients and assess legal risk in real time • Experience handling complex matters with a degree of autonomy and cross-functional collaboration • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate legal complexity into business clarity Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​ • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. ​ • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​ • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs. ​ Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.​ AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more: https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

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