H-1B Visa Assistant Professor of Law Jobs
Assistant Professor of Law roles require a J.D. or equivalent advanced law degree, making them strong H-1B visa specialty occupation candidates. Law schools routinely sponsor H-1B petitions for tenure-track and clinical faculty, and the academic calendar shapes LCA timing, I-129 filing windows, and cap-subject versus cap-exempt eligibility.
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INTRODUCTION
The University of San Diego School of Law invites applications from entry-level and lateral candidates for full-time, tenured, and tenure-track positions beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year. We seek applications from candidates with scholarly distinction or promise and a commitment to excellence in teaching.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We welcome candidates with teaching and research interests in all areas of law, and we have a particular interest in applicants in the fields of Anti-Discrimination Law, Civil Procedure; Federal Courts; Immigration; and Property.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants should have a JD, Ph.D., or equivalent degree, as well as a record of high academic achievement.
Background check: Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.
Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Posting Salary:
- $13,750 - $19,583 monthly; Excellent Benefits
Salary Range:
- Assistant/Associate Rank: $165,000-$180,000
- Professor Rank: $175,000-$235,000
The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers.
The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.
SPECIAL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Click the 'Apply Now' button to complete our online application. For full consideration, please upload the following items in pdf format, for the managers’ review.
- A brief letter of application
- Curriculum vitae
- Research Agenda
- List of teaching preferences grouped by preferred subjects and secondary subjects
- Contact information for three references who will be sent a link to upload letters.
All candidates, including those who have registered with the AALS Faculty Appointments Register, must complete an online application via the above link.
For questions about the position, contact: Professor Don Dripps at [lawappts@sandiego.edu].
If you have any technical difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at jobs@sandiego.edu.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.
LOCATION
San Diego, California
FACULTY
Full-time regular
POSITION TITLE & DEPARTMENT
Assistant Professor of Law/ Professor of Law Posting #5721
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
University of San Diego School of Law. Recognized for the excellence of its faculty, curriculum, and clinical programs.
UNIVERSITY DESCRIPTION
The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries-old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Assistant Professor of Law
Align your credentials to specialty occupation requirements
A J.D. from an ABA-accredited school is the baseline, but tenure-track roles often expect an LL.M. or S.J.D. for specialized fields. Gather transcripts and foreign degree equivalency evaluations early so your employer's immigration counsel can document specialty occupation confidently in the I-129.
Target cap-exempt law school employers strategically
Most accredited law schools qualify as cap-exempt institutions under USCIS rules, meaning your petition bypasses the annual H-1B cap and can be filed any time of year. Prioritize faculty openings at degree-granting universities to avoid the selection process entirely.
Search verified law faculty sponsors on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to identify law schools with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history for faculty roles. Focusing your applications on institutions with an active sponsorship track record cuts time spent on employers who handle faculty immigration inconsistently.
Verify prevailing wage tier before accepting an offer
Law faculty salaries vary sharply by rank and institution type. Run your SOC code and worksite location through the OFLC Wage Search before negotiations close. Your offered salary must meet the prevailing wage certified on the LCA, so confirming the tier early prevents last-minute offer restructuring.
File the LCA for each campus worksite separately
If you teach at a main campus and a satellite law clinic at a different address, DOL requires a certified LCA for each physical worksite. Confirm with your department administrator which locations you'll work from before the employer submits the LCA to avoid compliance gaps.
Plan your I-129 timeline around the academic hiring calendar
Law school hiring cycles typically conclude in spring for fall start dates. USCIS standard processing can take several months, so your employer should file the I-129 well before your intended start date. Premium processing is available and cuts adjudication to 15 business days if timing is tight.
H-1B Visa Assistant Professor of Law: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Assistant Professor of Law role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. Law faculty positions require at minimum a J.D., and virtually all accredited law schools treat the degree as a mandatory baseline rather than a preference. USCIS consistently recognizes law professorships as specialty occupations because the role requires theoretical and practical application of highly specialized legal knowledge that is directly tied to that specific degree.
Are law schools cap-exempt for H-1B petitions?
Most accredited law schools are affiliated with degree-granting universities and qualify as cap-exempt institutions under the H-1B statute. This means your petition can be filed at any point in the year without waiting for annual cap registration. Confirm your prospective employer's cap-exempt status with their HR or immigration team before assuming this applies, as freestanding law schools without university affiliation may not qualify.
How do academic hiring timelines interact with H-1B processing?
Law school hiring cycles typically wrap up in spring for positions starting the following academic year. Standard USCIS processing for an I-129 petition can take several months, so your employer needs to file well before your start date. Premium processing accelerates the USCIS decision to 15 business days and is commonly used by law schools when timelines are tight.
What happens to my H-1B status if my faculty appointment is not renewed?
H-1B status is tied to the sponsoring employer, so a non-renewal ends your authorized period of stay. You have a 60-day grace period after your employment ends to find a new sponsor, file for a change of status, or depart the United States. Law faculty seeking new positions can browse schools with active H-1B sponsorship histories on Migrate Mate to shorten the gap between appointments.
Can a visiting professor appointment support an H-1B petition?
Yes, but the appointment must meet specialty occupation standards and be for a definite period. Many law schools use J-1 visa exchange visitor status for short visiting appointments because it involves less employer paperwork, but H-1B is available when the role is structured around substantive teaching or clinical duties tied to a specific law degree. Your employer's immigration counsel can advise on which classification fits your appointment's scope and duration.