Assistant Counsel Jobs at Office of the Attorney General with Visa Sponsorship
Assistant Counsel roles at the Office of the Attorney General involve legal research, drafting opinions, and representing state interests across a range of practice areas. The office has sponsored H-1B visas for this function, making it a viable path for internationally trained attorneys pursuing U.S. public sector legal careers.
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OAG - General Counsel | Assistant Attorney General III-IV | 26-0573 (00058864)
Organization: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Primary Location: Texas-Austin
Work Locations: General Counsel 300 W. 15th St Austin 78701
Other Locations: Texas-Dallas
Job: Legal
Employee Status: Regular
Schedule: Full-time
Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00
State Job Code: 3512 3513
Salary Admin Plan: B
Grade: 26 28
Salary (Pay Basis): 9,166.67 - 11,833.34 (Monthly)
Number of Openings: 1
Overtime Status: Exempt
Job Posting: Jun 8, 2026, 2:37:58 PM
Closing Date: Ongoing
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The General Counsel Division of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is seeking an experienced lawyer to provide legal advice and assistance to the OAG and client state agencies. Prior experience as general counsel or in-house counsel is welcomed but is not required.
The selected applicant will work alongside OAG leadership on issues of critical importance to the state. The General Counsel’s work is transactional and diverse with primary focus on the following areas: contracting and procurement, administrative law, novel legal research, legislative analysis, and policy support/implementation.
The OAG is a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees throughout the State of Texas. As the State’s law firm, the OAG provides exemplary legal representation in diverse areas of law. OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans. Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) experience the challenge and honor of public service, flexible work schedules, a healthy work-life balance, hands-on legal experience, and camaraderie with other talented OAG staff. The position is headquartered in Austin, the scenic and lively capital of Texas, but the selected applicant may also work from OAG office in Dallas.
ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS
- Provides legal advice to the Office of the Attorney General, client state agencies, boards, and officials
- Prepares and reviews many types of contracts, purchase orders, amendments, memoranda, grants, invoices, and procurement documents for the Office of the Attorney General and client state agencies
- Assists the Division in ensuring the agency’s compliance with federal and state laws, regulations, court decisions, and legal opinions
- Participates or assists in the negotiation of agreements on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General and client state agencies
- Assists agency’s participation in the state and federal rulemaking process and provides related research, counsel, and document preparation
- Assists in the procurement phase of contracting for goods and services for the State of Texas
- Provides support and guidance and engages with issues that arise during management of a contract
- Performs legal research and reports findings and conclusions
- Assists in developing agency programs and establishing agency procedures
- Reviews laws, rules, and regulations affecting agency operations and administration
- Advises on the interpretation, application, and enforcement of agency laws and regulations
- Provides advice and counsel to the Office of the Attorney General on the preparation of legal opinions, briefs, pleadings, motions, petitions, and other legal documents
- Assists in developing appropriate legal solutions related to the implementation and monitoring of the agency’s internal business operations
- Assists in analyzing legislation and drafting proposals and amendments for legislative consideration
- Maintains effective working relationships with co-workers, attorneys, client agencies, vendors, and opposing counsel
- Assists in training less tenured staff
- Performs related work as assigned
- Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions
- Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedule
- Ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive and/or protected information
- Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Assistant Attorney General III:
- Education: Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree (J.D.)
- Experience: Two years of full-time experience as a licensed attorney in the following (or closely related) fields: state or federal agency, local government, litigation, or in-house counsel
- Licensed as an attorney by the State Bar of Texas
- Must be in good standing with the State Bar of Texas and eligible to practice law in Texas by start date.
- Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines
- Skill in effective oral and written communication (Writing sample required at time of interview, if selected)
- Skill in exercising sound judgment and effective decision making
- Skill in conducting effective legal research
- Skill in working cooperatively with other attorneys, supervisors, investigators, and support staff
- Ability to receive and respond positively to constructive feedback
- Ability to work cooperatively with others in a professional office environment
- Ability to provide excellent customer service
- Ability to work in person at assigned OAG work location, perform all assigned tasks at designated OAG workspace within OAG work location, and perform in-person work with coworkers (e.g., collaborating, training, mentoring) for the entirety of every work week (unless on approved leave)
- Ability to arrange for personal transportation for business-related travel
- Ability to work more than 40 hours as needed and in compliance with the FLSA
- Ability to lift and relocate 30 lbs.
- Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to 5%
Assistant Attorney General IV: All of the above requirements for an AAG III, PLUS:
- Experience: One additional year of full-time experience as a licensed attorney
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience: Eight to ten years of full-time experience as a licensed attorney in the following (or closely related) fields: state or federal agency, local government, litigation, or in-house counsel
- Previous experience in general counsel or in-house counsel is welcomed but not required.
- Judicial clerkship and/or journal experience
- Experience working in the Texas Legislature or familiarity with the Texas legislative process
- Knowledge of laws and legal principles and practices relevant to state government procurement, state contracting, public information, employment law, and transactional law.
- Excellent legal research and writing skills
TO APPLY
To apply for a job with the OAG, electronic applications can be submitted through CAPPS Recruit. A State of Texas application must be completed to be considered, and paper applications are not accepted. Your application for this position may subject you to a criminal background check pursuant to the Texas Government Code. Military Crosswalk information can be accessed at the provided link.
THE OAG IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Assistant Counsel Jobs at Office of the Attorney General
Verify Your Bar Admission Eligibility Early
Most Attorney General offices require active bar admission in the relevant state before hiring Assistant Counsel. Research whether your jurisdiction allows foreign-educated attorneys to sit for the bar, and start that credential evaluation process well before applying.
Target State AG Offices With Civil Divisions
AG offices that run active civil litigation, consumer protection, or regulatory divisions hire Assistant Counsel more consistently than smaller units. Focus your applications on divisions where your practice area experience aligns, as hiring managers favor candidates with relevant substantive law backgrounds.
Request H-1B Sponsorship Before Accepting an Offer
Government employers often have slower internal approval chains for H-1B sponsorship than private firms. Raise visa sponsorship explicitly during the offer stage, and confirm whether the office uses outside immigration counsel or processes filings through a state agency's HR department.
Align Your Application With the H-1B Cap Timeline
USCIS opens H-1B registration in March, with the fiscal year starting October 1. If the Attorney General's office sponsors you, coordinate your start date accordingly. Government employers classified as cap-exempt can file outside this window, so confirm the office's status early.
Prepare a Portfolio of Legal Writing Samples
AG offices screen heavily on legal writing quality. Compile two or three polished writing samples, such as briefs, memos, or opinions, before outreach begins. Samples demonstrating statutory interpretation or administrative law analysis are especially relevant to most Attorney General practice areas.
Browse Open Assistant Counsel Roles on Migrate Mate
Attorney General offices post Assistant Counsel openings sporadically, and roles close quickly once filled. Use Migrate Mate to track open positions filtered by visa sponsorship history, so you can apply promptly when a qualifying role appears at a sponsoring office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Office of the Attorney General sponsor H-1B visas for Assistant Counsels?
The Office of the Attorney General has sponsored H-1B visas for Assistant Counsel roles. Sponsorship is not guaranteed for every hire, as it depends on the specific position, division, and the office's current authorization from state leadership. Raising the question directly during the offer stage is the most reliable way to confirm sponsorship availability for a particular opening.
Which visa types are commonly used for Assistant Counsel roles at Office of the Attorney General?
The H-1B is the most common visa category for Assistant Counsel positions, as the role qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at minimum a bachelor's degree in law or a related field. Some attorneys also hold O-1 visas for extraordinary ability, though this is less common in public sector legal settings. TN visa status may apply for Canadian or Mexican nationals depending on the role's specific classification.
What qualifications and experience are expected for Assistant Counsel roles at Office of the Attorney General?
Most AG offices require a J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar admission in the relevant state. Relevant experience in civil litigation, administrative law, regulatory work, or appellate practice strengthens an application significantly. Foreign-educated attorneys need a credential evaluation confirming their degree's equivalency to a U.S. J.D. before applying for bar admission in most jurisdictions.
How do I apply for Assistant Counsel jobs at Office of the Attorney General?
Attorney General offices typically post Assistant Counsel openings on state government job portals, and applications generally require a resume, cover letter, writing samples, and bar admission documentation. You can also browse current openings with confirmed visa sponsorship history on Migrate Mate, which filters roles by sponsorship activity so you can prioritize applications to offices that have sponsored internationally trained attorneys before.
How do I manage the timing between a job offer and my H-1B filing at a government employer?
Government employers like Attorney General offices can have longer internal review timelines before authorizing an H-1B petition than private sector employers. Once you receive an offer, ask immediately whether the office has outside immigration counsel and what the internal approval process looks like. USCIS premium processing, which provides a faster adjudication decision, is available for H-1B petitions and can reduce uncertainty if your start date is time-sensitive.