General Counsel refers to a chief lawyer in a government department or a corporation. General Counsel investigates and finds out about unfair labor practices, charges and prosecutes these practices, and often also oversees the other attorneys within the department. This position, especially in a corporate environment, is usually a full time salaried position.
General Counsels can be found in many large businesses. It is also often abbreviated as GC. You could think of this position as the managing attorney.