Green Card Legal Secretary Jobs
Legal Secretary jobs with green card sponsorship require employers to complete PERM labor certification through the Department of Labor before filing an I-140 petition with USCIS. EB-3 is the most common pathway for this role, covering candidates with a bachelor's degree or at least two years of qualifying experience, leading to lawful permanent residence.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
BakerHostetler is a National Firm with 18 offices and over 1000 attorneys. Established in 1916, our attorneys are award winning. Baker possesses a phenomenal culture with attorneys and staff that take extreme pride in their work. The business practice group has an excellent opportunity for a Legal Secretary in the Cleveland, OH office. This is a non-exempt position that reports to the Regional Human Resources Manager and has an in-person presence of four days per week in the Cleveland office, with one day remote.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We prefer 12-16 years of experience in a law firm environment as a legal secretary, preferably in the business practice group.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that should be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, documents, books, pen/pencil, paper, controls and manipulate a keyboard, and input data into a PC; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk.
- The employee is occasionally required to use hands to prepare correspondence and reports on a personal computer.
- The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms. And stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl.
- Ability to operate a variety of standard office equipment including a computer, copy and facsimile machines.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Benefits
Offering competitive pay and benefits, while providing a collegial and respectful work environment, is part of our commitment to fostering a workplace that values employees.
Our comprehensive and competitive benefit program includes:
- Competitive salaries and a performance bonus program
- Group health, dental, and vision insurance
- Multiple plan options and various benefit levels
- Same-sex domestic partner coverage
- Pre-tax premiums
- Coverage begins on date of hire
- Group term life/AD&D and voluntary supplemental group universal life insurance
- Voluntary accident insurance – self and family
- Long-term care insurance
- Short-term disability benefits
- Long-term disability benefits
- Pre-tax benefit programs – dependent care, health care reimbursement and transit/qualified parking (in most cities)
- Retirement program – voluntary 401(k) plan
COMPENSATION
Salary range for this position is 60-90K.
ABOUT THE FIRM
BakerHostetler is recognized as one of the leading law firms in the country. With over 1,000 attorneys across 18 offices coast to coast, BakerHostetler is a great place to work for those who seek professional and personal growth in a collaborative environment. We deliver the highest quality counsel to our clients, who include many of the nation’s largest and most well-known companies. BakerHostetler’s values have remained unchanged since our founding more than 100 years ago: dedication to the law, commitment to the highest standard of client service, continuous development of our people and active participation in the communities in which we work and live.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter in an application on our website.
Baker & Hostetler LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
INTRODUCTION
BakerHostetler is a National Firm with 18 offices and over 1000 attorneys. Established in 1916, our attorneys are award winning. Baker possesses a phenomenal culture with attorneys and staff that take extreme pride in their work. The business practice group has an excellent opportunity for a Legal Secretary in the Cleveland, OH office. This is a non-exempt position that reports to the Regional Human Resources Manager and has an in-person presence of four days per week in the Cleveland office, with one day remote.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We prefer 12-16 years of experience in a law firm environment as a legal secretary, preferably in the business practice group.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that should be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, documents, books, pen/pencil, paper, controls and manipulate a keyboard, and input data into a PC; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk.
- The employee is occasionally required to use hands to prepare correspondence and reports on a personal computer.
- The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms. And stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl.
- Ability to operate a variety of standard office equipment including a computer, copy and facsimile machines.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Benefits
Offering competitive pay and benefits, while providing a collegial and respectful work environment, is part of our commitment to fostering a workplace that values employees.
Our comprehensive and competitive benefit program includes:
- Competitive salaries and a performance bonus program
- Group health, dental, and vision insurance
- Multiple plan options and various benefit levels
- Same-sex domestic partner coverage
- Pre-tax premiums
- Coverage begins on date of hire
- Group term life/AD&D and voluntary supplemental group universal life insurance
- Voluntary accident insurance – self and family
- Long-term care insurance
- Short-term disability benefits
- Long-term disability benefits
- Pre-tax benefit programs – dependent care, health care reimbursement and transit/qualified parking (in most cities)
- Retirement program – voluntary 401(k) plan
COMPENSATION
Salary range for this position is 60-90K.
ABOUT THE FIRM
BakerHostetler is recognized as one of the leading law firms in the country. With over 1,000 attorneys across 18 offices coast to coast, BakerHostetler is a great place to work for those who seek professional and personal growth in a collaborative environment. We deliver the highest quality counsel to our clients, who include many of the nation’s largest and most well-known companies. BakerHostetler’s values have remained unchanged since our founding more than 100 years ago: dedication to the law, commitment to the highest standard of client service, continuous development of our people and active participation in the communities in which we work and live.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter in an application on our website.
Baker & Hostetler LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship in Legal Secretary
Match your credentials to EB-2 or EB-3
If you hold a bachelor's degree in legal studies, paralegal studies, or a related field, you likely qualify under EB-3. A master's degree or a bachelor's plus five years of progressive legal support experience opens the EB-2 pathway. Confirm which category fits before targeting employers.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark your salary
PERM requires your employer to pay at least the prevailing wage for your SOC code and work location. Pull the OFLC Wage Search results for Legal Secretaries in your target metro before interviews so you can confirm offers meet the DOL threshold and avoid delays later.
Find sponsors through Migrate Mate
Search Migrate Mate for Legal Secretary roles at law firms and corporate legal departments with verified green card sponsorship history. Filtering by employers who have completed PERM filings for this occupation saves time compared to cold-applying and asking HR about sponsorship policies from scratch.
Target firms with dedicated immigration counsel
Law firms and corporate legal departments that already retain in-house or outside immigration attorneys are far more likely to sponsor PERM cases than smaller offices that have never run the process. Ask during screening calls whether the firm has sponsored foreign nationals for permanent residence before.
Document specialized legal software proficiency early
PERM recruitment must demonstrate no qualified U.S. worker applied. Your proficiency in practice-specific tools like document management systems or e-filing platforms differentiates you in the recruitment record and strengthens the employer's case that your skill set meets a specific business need.
Understand AC21 portability before you file I-485
Once your I-485 adjustment-of-status application has been pending 180 days or more, AC21 lets you change employers in the same or a similar Legal Secretary occupation without losing your priority date. Plan any job moves around this threshold to protect your place in the queue.
Green Card Legal Secretary: Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Legal Secretary role qualify for EB-2 or is EB-3 the only option?
Both categories are available depending on your credentials. EB-3 is the standard pathway for Legal Secretaries, covering candidates with a bachelor's degree or at least two years of relevant experience. EB-2 applies if you hold a master's degree or a bachelor's degree combined with five years of progressive legal support experience, and your employer can document that the position requires that level of education.
How does green card sponsorship differ from H-1B sponsorship for a Legal Secretary?
Green card sponsorship through PERM is a permanent immigration benefit, while H-1B visa is a temporary nonimmigrant status. For Legal Secretary roles, the employer must first obtain a prevailing wage determination from the DOL, run a formal recruitment campaign proving no qualified U.S. worker is available, and then file the PERM application. If approved, the employer files an I-140 petition with USCIS, and you pursue adjustment of status or consular processing. There is no lottery, but per-country backlogs can affect nationals of high-demand countries.
How long does the PERM process typically take for a Legal Secretary position?
PERM involves a prevailing wage determination phase at DOL, a mandatory recruitment window, and adjudication of the PERM application itself. Processing times vary and can extend significantly if the application is selected for audit. After PERM approval, USCIS adjudicates the I-140 petition, and your priority date in the queue then determines when you can file for adjustment of status or consular processing.
Where can I find employers who actively sponsor Legal Secretary roles for a green card?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified green card sponsorship history for Legal Secretary and similar legal support roles, so you can target law firms and corporate legal departments that have already run the PERM process for this occupation. This is more reliable than filtering general job boards, where sponsorship willingness is rarely disclosed upfront.
What happens to my green card case if I change employers before my I-485 is approved?
If your I-485 adjustment-of-status application has been pending fewer than 180 days, changing employers generally restarts the PERM process with the new employer. Once the I-485 has been pending 180 days or more, AC21 portability lets you transfer to a new Legal Secretary or substantially similar role without losing your place in the priority date queue, provided your original I-140 was approved.