Green Card Legal Support Specialist Jobs
Legal Support Specialist roles at U.S. law firms and corporate legal departments qualify for employment-based green card sponsorship under EB-2 or EB-3, depending on your degree and experience. Employers file PERM labor certification with DOL before petitioning USCIS, permanently sponsoring your U.S. residency rather than a temporary status.
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A legal secretary assists lawyers and other legal personnel with regard to various administrative details; coordinates and maintains effective office procedures and efficient work flow; follows policies and procedures set by the Firm; establishes and maintains harmonious working relationships with all personnel, clients, vendors and guests of the Firm.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Types, formats, edits and finalizes documents, including correspondence, memoranda and standard legal documents for transactional clients, including handling tasks related to transactional legal matters like contracts, mergers and acquisitions, manage calendars, prepare legal documents, and coordinate communication between lawyers and clients during deal processes, in accordance with the Firm's document formatting standards using standard computer software specific to the legal industry.
- Ability to format and review of legal documents such as pleadings, briefs, motions, discovery requests, and correspondence, ensuring accuracy and compliance with court rules, in preparation for electronic submission with relevant state and federal courts.
- Support attorneys in pre-, during, and post-trial stages.
- Initiate correspondence and other written materials under own signature or for signature of timekeepers; proofread all work to ensure proper formatting; spelling and grammar.
- Aid other Secretaries within assigned teams whenever necessary to meet Firm and client needs; organize and prioritize workload for maximum efficiency and facilitation of Firm and client goals. Foster professional, cooperative and supportive relationships with peers, superiors, and clients.
- Manages multiple lawyer-assignments and organizes clerical functions and work flow to meet administrative and client needs.
- Act as a subject matter expert for policies and procedures.
- Manages the onboarding of new clients from the processing of conflicts to the assignment of billing information. Works with various Firm departments and resources to complete engagement processes in an expedited and accurate manner.
- Enters, proofreads and posts lawyers' time entries. Works to ensure time entries are in compliance with client billing requirements and to ensure timeliness of entries in compliance with Firm policy.
- Coordinates travel arrangements, including air, hotel and ground transportation for lawyers and clients. Processes lawyers' travel expenses.
- Proofreads all documents, correspondence, etc., to ensure accuracy of copy, grammar, punctuation and syntax. Checks to ensure accuracy of jobs sent to duplicating service.
- Receives, screens telephone calls, conference calls and messages to lawyers, clients and staff (as directed from assignments). Works with various audio and video software to calendar and create calls on behalf of assignments.
- Promptly processes incoming and outgoing mail and distributes upon receipt (as directed from assignments).
- Coordinates conferences, meetings and appointments for lawyers and clients both in person and via remote options. As required, schedules conference rooms and food service using specific Firm software and procedures.
- Manage complex calendars using considerable discretion and judgment as to priorities and effective use of timekeepers’ time; deflecting lower-level issues.
- Works with other Firm departments and resources to coordinate and complete tasks as necessary for the management of multiple responsibilities and assignments.
- Coordinates client billing with billing services (as directed from assignments). Monitor and reconcile billing discrepancies and coordinate with the billing department to resolve issues; maintain information on billing arrangements for key clients.
- Maintains a safe and unobstructed work area, including a neat and well-organized desk. Demonstrates safe work practices.
- Maintains accuracy of electronic and hardcopy client files on a daily basis through both the Firm’s document management system and various electronic repositories for client materials in accordance with standards set by Records Management Center.
- Performs other work related duties as assigned or as judgment or necessity dictate.
Education and/or Experience:
Required:
- High school graduate or equivalency
- Five or more years of related work experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Previous experience in a similar role in a law firm or professional services environment supporting multiple fee earners
- Excellent customer service and client relationship skills
- Thorough working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel), legal terminology and standard document formatting
- Types accurately at a minimum of 60 wpm
- Thoroughly understanding of civil litigation discovery and docketing processes
- Experience with State and Federal court filings, including ECF
- Experience with collaborating with support staff and willingness to develop others through mentoring and sharing experiences
Preferred:
- Bachelor's degree
- Global law firm experience
Other Skills and Abilities:
The following will also be required of the successful candidate:
- Strong organizational skills
- Strong attention to detail and good judgment
- Superior written and verbal communication skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
- Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
- Able to work under pressure
- Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities
The target salary range for this role is:
$95,000 - $115,000 if located in California
Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email sidleytalentacquisition@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).
Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Summary:
A legal secretary assists lawyers and other legal personnel with regard to various administrative details; coordinates and maintains effective office procedures and efficient work flow; follows policies and procedures set by the Firm; establishes and maintains harmonious working relationships with all personnel, clients, vendors and guests of the Firm.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Types, formats, edits and finalizes documents, including correspondence, memoranda and standard legal documents for transactional clients, including handling tasks related to transactional legal matters like contracts, mergers and acquisitions, manage calendars, prepare legal documents, and coordinate communication between lawyers and clients during deal processes, in accordance with the Firm's document formatting standards using standard computer software specific to the legal industry.
- Ability to format and review of legal documents such as pleadings, briefs, motions, discovery requests, and correspondence, ensuring accuracy and compliance with court rules, in preparation for electronic submission with relevant state and federal courts.
- Support attorneys in pre-, during, and post-trial stages.
- Initiate correspondence and other written materials under own signature or for signature of timekeepers; proofread all work to ensure proper formatting; spelling and grammar.
- Aid other Secretaries within assigned teams whenever necessary to meet Firm and client needs; organize and prioritize workload for maximum efficiency and facilitation of Firm and client goals. Foster professional, cooperative and supportive relationships with peers, superiors, and clients.
- Manages multiple lawyer-assignments and organizes clerical functions and work flow to meet administrative and client needs.
- Act as a subject matter expert for policies and procedures.
- Manages the onboarding of new clients from the processing of conflicts to the assignment of billing information. Works with various Firm departments and resources to complete engagement processes in an expedited and accurate manner.
- Enters, proofreads and posts lawyers' time entries. Works to ensure time entries are in compliance with client billing requirements and to ensure timeliness of entries in compliance with Firm policy.
- Coordinates travel arrangements, including air, hotel and ground transportation for lawyers and clients. Processes lawyers' travel expenses.
- Proofreads all documents, correspondence, etc., to ensure accuracy of copy, grammar, punctuation and syntax. Checks to ensure accuracy of jobs sent to duplicating service.
- Receives, screens telephone calls, conference calls and messages to lawyers, clients and staff (as directed from assignments). Works with various audio and video software to calendar and create calls on behalf of assignments.
- Promptly processes incoming and outgoing mail and distributes upon receipt (as directed from assignments).
- Coordinates conferences, meetings and appointments for lawyers and clients both in person and via remote options. As required, schedules conference rooms and food service using specific Firm software and procedures.
- Manage complex calendars using considerable discretion and judgment as to priorities and effective use of timekeepers’ time; deflecting lower-level issues.
- Works with other Firm departments and resources to coordinate and complete tasks as necessary for the management of multiple responsibilities and assignments.
- Coordinates client billing with billing services (as directed from assignments). Monitor and reconcile billing discrepancies and coordinate with the billing department to resolve issues; maintain information on billing arrangements for key clients.
- Maintains a safe and unobstructed work area, including a neat and well-organized desk. Demonstrates safe work practices.
- Maintains accuracy of electronic and hardcopy client files on a daily basis through both the Firm’s document management system and various electronic repositories for client materials in accordance with standards set by Records Management Center.
- Performs other work related duties as assigned or as judgment or necessity dictate.
Education and/or Experience:
Required:
- High school graduate or equivalency
- Five or more years of related work experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Previous experience in a similar role in a law firm or professional services environment supporting multiple fee earners
- Excellent customer service and client relationship skills
- Thorough working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel), legal terminology and standard document formatting
- Types accurately at a minimum of 60 wpm
- Thoroughly understanding of civil litigation discovery and docketing processes
- Experience with State and Federal court filings, including ECF
- Experience with collaborating with support staff and willingness to develop others through mentoring and sharing experiences
Preferred:
- Bachelor's degree
- Global law firm experience
Other Skills and Abilities:
The following will also be required of the successful candidate:
- Strong organizational skills
- Strong attention to detail and good judgment
- Superior written and verbal communication skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
- Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
- Able to work under pressure
- Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities
The target salary range for this role is:
$95,000 - $115,000 if located in California
Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email sidleytalentacquisition@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).
Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship as a Legal Support Specialist
Document your paralegal credential equivalency early
If your legal training came from outside the U.S., get a credential evaluation before applying. PERM requires your foreign degree to satisfy the job's minimum requirements, and a missing equivalency letter can stall your I-140 petition for months.
Target employers with in-house immigration counsel
Law firms and corporate legal departments that already employ immigration attorneys are far more likely to run PERM themselves rather than outsourcing it. That internal expertise shortens your sponsorship timeline and reduces the chance of avoidable PERM audit triggers.
Search for green card sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters Legal Support Specialist openings by employers with active EB-2 and EB-3 sponsorship history, so you're not cold-applying to firms that have never filed PERM. Run your search before reaching out to recruiters.
Clarify the EB-2 versus EB-3 classification before signing an offer
An employer can file under EB-2 if your role requires an advanced degree or you hold a U.S. equivalent master's. EB-3 covers bachelor's-level candidates. Confirm which category applies before the PERM job description is drafted, since changing it later restarts the DOL process.
Understand what PERM's supervised recruitment means for your timeline
DOL requires employers to conduct and document a formal recruitment process before certifying PERM. That adds roughly six to twelve months before your I-140 can be filed. Build this window into any start-date conversation with a prospective employer.
Use the OFLC Wage Search to verify your offered salary tier
PERM certifies at a specific prevailing wage level set by DOL. If your offer falls below Level I for your metro area and job title, DOL can deny certification. Cross-check your offer against the OFLC Wage Search before the labor certification is submitted.
Green Card Legal Support Specialist: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Legal Support Specialist roles qualify for EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship?
Most Legal Support Specialist positions qualify under EB-3, which covers skilled workers and professionals with a bachelor's degree. If your role requires an advanced degree or you hold a master's equivalent, your employer may classify it under EB-2 instead. The distinction matters because EB-2 and EB-3 have different priority date backlogs depending on your country of birth, which directly affects how long you wait for a green card after the I-140 is approved.
How does green card sponsorship differ from H-1B sponsorship for this role?
H-1B visa is a temporary nonimmigrant status capped at 85,000 per year with an annual lottery, while EB-3 green card sponsorship has no lottery and leads to permanent residency. The tradeoff is time: PERM labor certification, I-140, and adjustment of status typically take two to four years from filing, sometimes longer for applicants born in India or China due to priority date backlogs. Green card sponsorship also binds your status to the petitioning employer until your I-485 has been pending for 180 days.
What does the PERM process look like for a Legal Support Specialist role?
Your employer files an Application for Permanent Employment Certification with DOL after conducting a supervised recruitment process to confirm no qualified U.S. workers are available. DOL reviews whether the job duties, minimum requirements, and offered wage meet certification standards. The entire PERM stage typically takes six to eighteen months, after which your employer files an I-140 immigrant petition with USCIS. You can apply for adjustment of status once a visa number becomes available based on your priority date.
How do I find Legal Support Specialist jobs where the employer will sponsor a green card?
Most job postings don't explicitly advertise green card sponsorship, which makes it hard to identify the right employers from a standard job search. Migrate Mate filters openings by employers with documented EB-2 and EB-3 sponsorship history, letting you focus your applications on legal departments and law firms that have already run PERM for similar roles. This cuts out the awkward early-stage conversation about whether sponsorship is even possible.
Can my employer start my green card process while I'm on an H-1B or OPT?
Yes. PERM can be filed while you're in any lawful nonimmigrant status, including H-1B or OPT. Starting early is strategically useful because PERM's supervised recruitment and DOL processing add significant time before you can file an I-485. If you're on OPT with a limited window, your employer can file the I-140 while your current status is still valid, and you'll need to maintain lawful status independently until a visa number becomes available.