H-1B Visa City Attorney Jobs
City Attorney roles at municipal and county governments can qualify for H-1B sponsorship when the position requires a Juris Doctor and active bar admission in a specific jurisdiction. Government employers file cap-exempt H-1B petitions, bypassing the annual lottery entirely, which makes timing more predictable than private-sector filings.
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Get Access To All JobsCompany Description
Appointment Type: Permanent Exempt (PEX) position; individuals who are appointed to Exempt Positions are appointed at the pleasure of their appointing officer and are considered to be "at-will."
- Application Opening: March 10, 2026
- Application Deadline: Continuous, earliest close 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, 2026
- Compensation Range: $155,428-$272,350
- Recruitment ID: RTF0163439-01097725
The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office is looking for a qualified and motivated real estate transactional attorney to join its Real Estate & Finance Team.
About the Office
The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office is an innovative, nationally-recognized municipal law office working to protect and advance the rights and interests of the City and County of San Francisco and its residents. With nearly 350 talented and dedicated employees, the Office provides exceptional legal services to the City’s Mayor, Board of Supervisors, officials, and departments. Our work empowers City leaders with effective, responsive, and creative legal solutions and representation so they can deliver critical public services, and our affirmative advocacy enhances the lives and wellbeing of San Francisco’s residents and visitors.
The Office recognizes that diversity in the backgrounds, identities, and experiences of our employees enriches our workplace and enhances our work. We aspire to recruit, employ, retain, and promote talented individuals representing the full spectrum of our community, and welcome all candidates, including candidates of any race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and age, and candidates with disabilities. We have a clear vision: to be the place where a diverse mix of people want to come and stay, grow professionally, and find purpose and engagement, and where all employees feel welcomed and respected, and valued for their work and contributions to the Office and the City. To learn more about the Office’s efforts to provide an inclusive workplace where employees feel they belong and can meaningfully contribute, please visit: https://www.sfcityattorney.org/aboutus/dei/.
The Office offers a hybrid work schedule for eligible employees.
About the Real Estate & Finance Team
The Real Estate & Finance Team is a collaborative and dynamic group of 11 attorneys (nine real estate and two public finance attorneys), two paralegals, and three legal secretaries. The Team oversees the legal aspects of real estate, debt financing, and other business transactions for the City. The real estate attorneys work on a wide range of real estate transactions and property management issues for the City – from large, complex development projects, such as mixed-use commercial developments and affordable and supportive housing projects, to purchases and sales, leases, loans, legislation, easements and other real estate matters. The finance attorneys represent the City on various bond and debt transactions, funding all of the capital required to build, operate and maintain City functions and services. The team works closely with many City departments, including the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the Real Estate Department, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, the Office of Public Finance, the Municipal Transportation Agency, and the Recreation and Parks Department.
Deputy City Attorney Position and Responsibilities
The team seeks an experienced real estate attorney with expertise in general real estate matters, transactions and development. In that capacity, the attorney will perform many functions – primarily negotiating real estate contracts and structuring real estate transactions on behalf of various City departments, and advising our clients regarding those contracts and compliance with City and other legal requirements. Attorneys may also appear at Board of Supervisor and Commission hearings relating to contracts and projects on which they worked.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Licensed to practice law in California
Desired Qualifications
- Five or ideally more years of demonstrated real estate management, transactional, and development experience
- Excellent drafting and negotiating skills
- Excellent oral and written communication and legal analytical skills
- Understanding of government legislation, operations and regulations
- Ability to assume responsibility quickly and work independently and efficiently
- Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and wide range of clients with differing levels of expertise with a positive attitude
- Ability to manage and appropriately balance multiple assignments, meet deadlines, and adjust to workload fluctuations
- Commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment
- An interest in and commitment to public service
Verification
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements.
Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.
Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.
Selection Procedures
The selection process will include evaluation of applications in relation to minimum requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to the interview. Depending on the number of applicants, the Department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to comparatively evaluate the qualifications of candidates. If this becomes necessary, only those applicants whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited to participate in the oral/performance interview.
Salary and Benefits
The Deputy City Attorney position has a 16-step salary scale ranging from $155,428 to $272,350. The successful applicant is appointed to a salary step based on years of experience as a lawyer. The City offers robust health, retirement and other benefits. For more information please visit: https://sfdhr.org/benefits-overview. Attorneys are represented by the Municipal Attorneys Association. Information about compensation and benefits is available by entering Classification Code 8177 at https://careers.sf.gov/classifications/.
Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:
- Information About the Hiring Process
- Conviction History
- Employee Benefits Overview
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Disaster Service Worker
- ADA Accommodation
- Right to Work
- Copies of Application Documents
- Diversity Statement
HOW TO APPLY
Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.sf.gov/ and begin the application process.
- Select the “Apply Now” button and follow instructions on the screen
- Make sure to include your CA Bar Number in the education section on your application
- Upload a Cover Letter and a Resume
Applicants who advance in the selection process must submit two references and one writing sample.
Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfcityatty.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).
Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.
Human Resources Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please send your inquiries to Jumy Dang, Senior Human Resources Analyst, at jumy.dang@sfcityatty.org.
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
Company Description
Appointment Type: Permanent Exempt (PEX) position; individuals who are appointed to Exempt Positions are appointed at the pleasure of their appointing officer and are considered to be "at-will."
- Application Opening: March 10, 2026
- Application Deadline: Continuous, earliest close 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, 2026
- Compensation Range: $155,428-$272,350
- Recruitment ID: RTF0163439-01097725
The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office is looking for a qualified and motivated real estate transactional attorney to join its Real Estate & Finance Team.
About the Office
The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office is an innovative, nationally-recognized municipal law office working to protect and advance the rights and interests of the City and County of San Francisco and its residents. With nearly 350 talented and dedicated employees, the Office provides exceptional legal services to the City’s Mayor, Board of Supervisors, officials, and departments. Our work empowers City leaders with effective, responsive, and creative legal solutions and representation so they can deliver critical public services, and our affirmative advocacy enhances the lives and wellbeing of San Francisco’s residents and visitors.
The Office recognizes that diversity in the backgrounds, identities, and experiences of our employees enriches our workplace and enhances our work. We aspire to recruit, employ, retain, and promote talented individuals representing the full spectrum of our community, and welcome all candidates, including candidates of any race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and age, and candidates with disabilities. We have a clear vision: to be the place where a diverse mix of people want to come and stay, grow professionally, and find purpose and engagement, and where all employees feel welcomed and respected, and valued for their work and contributions to the Office and the City. To learn more about the Office’s efforts to provide an inclusive workplace where employees feel they belong and can meaningfully contribute, please visit: https://www.sfcityattorney.org/aboutus/dei/.
The Office offers a hybrid work schedule for eligible employees.
About the Real Estate & Finance Team
The Real Estate & Finance Team is a collaborative and dynamic group of 11 attorneys (nine real estate and two public finance attorneys), two paralegals, and three legal secretaries. The Team oversees the legal aspects of real estate, debt financing, and other business transactions for the City. The real estate attorneys work on a wide range of real estate transactions and property management issues for the City – from large, complex development projects, such as mixed-use commercial developments and affordable and supportive housing projects, to purchases and sales, leases, loans, legislation, easements and other real estate matters. The finance attorneys represent the City on various bond and debt transactions, funding all of the capital required to build, operate and maintain City functions and services. The team works closely with many City departments, including the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the Real Estate Department, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, the Office of Public Finance, the Municipal Transportation Agency, and the Recreation and Parks Department.
Deputy City Attorney Position and Responsibilities
The team seeks an experienced real estate attorney with expertise in general real estate matters, transactions and development. In that capacity, the attorney will perform many functions – primarily negotiating real estate contracts and structuring real estate transactions on behalf of various City departments, and advising our clients regarding those contracts and compliance with City and other legal requirements. Attorneys may also appear at Board of Supervisor and Commission hearings relating to contracts and projects on which they worked.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Licensed to practice law in California
Desired Qualifications
- Five or ideally more years of demonstrated real estate management, transactional, and development experience
- Excellent drafting and negotiating skills
- Excellent oral and written communication and legal analytical skills
- Understanding of government legislation, operations and regulations
- Ability to assume responsibility quickly and work independently and efficiently
- Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and wide range of clients with differing levels of expertise with a positive attitude
- Ability to manage and appropriately balance multiple assignments, meet deadlines, and adjust to workload fluctuations
- Commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment
- An interest in and commitment to public service
Verification
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements.
Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.
All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.
Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.
Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.
Selection Procedures
The selection process will include evaluation of applications in relation to minimum requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to the interview. Depending on the number of applicants, the Department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to comparatively evaluate the qualifications of candidates. If this becomes necessary, only those applicants whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited to participate in the oral/performance interview.
Salary and Benefits
The Deputy City Attorney position has a 16-step salary scale ranging from $155,428 to $272,350. The successful applicant is appointed to a salary step based on years of experience as a lawyer. The City offers robust health, retirement and other benefits. For more information please visit: https://sfdhr.org/benefits-overview. Attorneys are represented by the Municipal Attorneys Association. Information about compensation and benefits is available by entering Classification Code 8177 at https://careers.sf.gov/classifications/.
Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:
- Information About the Hiring Process
- Conviction History
- Employee Benefits Overview
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Disaster Service Worker
- ADA Accommodation
- Right to Work
- Copies of Application Documents
- Diversity Statement
HOW TO APPLY
Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.sf.gov/ and begin the application process.
- Select the “Apply Now” button and follow instructions on the screen
- Make sure to include your CA Bar Number in the education section on your application
- Upload a Cover Letter and a Resume
Applicants who advance in the selection process must submit two references and one writing sample.
Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfcityatty.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).
Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.
Human Resources Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please send your inquiries to Jumy Dang, Senior Human Resources Analyst, at jumy.dang@sfcityatty.org.
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
See all 37+ City Attorney jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new City Attorney roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a City Attorney
Verify your bar admission transfers cleanly
H-1B petitions for City Attorney roles tie specialty occupation to your active bar license. Confirm the jurisdiction accepts your home-country legal credentials before applying, since a pending bar transfer creates gaps USCIS will scrutinize during adjudication.
Target government employers for cap-exempt filing
Municipal, county, and public university legal offices qualify as cap-exempt H-1B employers. You skip the annual 85,000-slot lottery entirely, which means your employer can file any time of year and you can start within weeks of approval.
Use Migrate Mate to filter verified sponsoring employers
Search Migrate Mate to find City Attorney openings at employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history. This saves you from applying to municipalities that have never sponsored, which is common at smaller local government offices.
Check prevailing wage before salary negotiations
Your employer must pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for the City Attorney role in your county. Run the OFLC Wage Search using SOC code 23-1011 and your work location before you negotiate, so your offered salary satisfies the LCA requirement from day one.
Request the I-129 petition timeline in writing
Government law offices often handle H-1B filings through a central HR or legal department unfamiliar with immigration timelines. Ask hiring managers to confirm whether they use premium processing and who prepares the petition before you accept an offer.
Document your specialty occupation with the role posting
USCIS requires proof the City Attorney position normally requires a law degree. Save the original job posting, any civil service classification documents, and your offer letter. These directly support the specialty occupation determination in your I-129 filing.
City Attorney jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find City Attorney JobsCity Attorney H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a City Attorney role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. City Attorney positions require a Juris Doctor and active bar admission, which satisfies the H-1B specialty occupation standard requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field. USCIS has consistently recognized licensed attorney roles as qualifying. You'll need to document that the specific position normally requires a law degree, which the job posting and civil service classification typically provide.
Are government City Attorney employers subject to the H-1B lottery?
No. Municipal governments, counties, and public universities are cap-exempt H-1B employers, meaning they are not subject to the annual 85,000-slot cap or the lottery selection process. Your employer can file an I-129 petition at any point in the year, and your employment can begin as soon as USCIS approves the petition, with no October 1 start-date restriction.
How do I find City Attorney jobs at employers who have sponsored H-1B visas before?
Use Migrate Mate to search City Attorney openings filtered by employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history. This is especially useful because H-1B sponsorship history at government law offices is uneven. Many smaller municipalities have never filed an H-1B petition, so targeting employers with a documented track record avoids wasted applications and late-stage offer rescissions.
Can my employer file my H-1B petition while I'm on OPT or STEM OPT?
Yes. If you're currently authorized to work under OPT or STEM OPT, your employer can file an H-1B petition while you're actively employed. Because government legal offices are cap-exempt, there's no registration period or lottery wait. Your OPT authorization continues until USCIS adjudicates the petition, and cap-gap protection does not apply since there's no April filing window for cap-exempt employers.
What happens to my H-1B status if the City Attorney position is eliminated or I'm laid off?
You have a 60-day grace period from your last day of employment to find a new H-1B sponsor, file for a change of status, or depart the U.S. Government employers are not required to pay return transportation costs under H-1B rules, unlike private-sector employers. Notify USCIS of any status change promptly. If you move to another cap-exempt employer like a different municipality or public university, the transfer process follows standard H-1B portability rules under AC21.
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