H-1B Visa Legal Director Jobs
Legal Director roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as specialty occupations requiring at least a Juris Doctor and active bar admission. Employers filing H-1B petitions must certify a prevailing wage through DOL, making law departments at large corporations, financial institutions, and tech companies the most active sponsors for this title.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff.
As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic, and social value.
We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.
At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.
DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW
The UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice, housed at Berkeley Law, works to establish equity and fairness in the marketplace. Through research, advocacy, policy, and teaching, the Center strives to apply robust consumer protection laws in places, and among people, where those laws haven't been used before, and to create a society in which economic, racial and social justice are available to all. The Center believes that building economic justice means developing and enforcing laws that fight fraud and deception, that protect low-income communities and communities of color, and that promote financial security and empowerment. Our activities always highlight the interests and experiences of vulnerable consumers, including immigrants, survivors of domestic violence & elder abuse, people impacted by the criminal legal system, and others.
Contributing to policy making by federal and state legislatures and regulatory agencies has long been a priority for the Center's work. In recent years the Center and our affiliates have supported a range legislation in California and elsewhere promoting economic justice, including:
- Expanding the rights of student loan borrowers, survivors of domestic violence and elder financial abuse, low-income homeowners seeking clean energy improvements, and tenants;
- Protecting consumers in debt collection and foreclosure proceedings by curbing the ability of creditors to garnish wages, issue bank levies, or seek foreclosure;
- Removing the effect of eviction proceedings and medical debt on credit reports;
- Safeguarding personal data and consumer privacy from third-party data brokers and credit reporting agencies;
- Eliminating opaque and hidden "junk fees" in most consumer products and services, including residential rentals and state-chartered banks;
- Creating California's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation; and
- Expanding access to the court system for low-income consumers, including by overhauling the system for assuring effective service of process.
Position Summary
The Legal Director will be responsible for drafting amicus briefs, working with counsel, writing regulatory comments, supervising law students, and generally advancing the cause of economic justice in the courts and agencies of every level of government throughout the U.S., including especially California.
The Legal Director will also help to coordinate the CLASS (Consumer Law Advocates, Scholars, & Students) Network, a nationwide consortium dedicated to promoting consumer rights and economic justice programs in law schools around the United States and beyond. The CLASS Network has helped build and support programs at dozens of law schools, including assisting in the creation of first-ever courses in Consumer Protection Law offered at numerous schools, developing and fostering new clinics and student organizations, and providing the chance for law students to work on shared research projects requested by nonprofit, legal aid, and governmental agencies around the country.
The Legal Director will also be involved with the full range of the Center's activities, from arranging conferences to delivering presentations and testimony to spurring the development of consumer protection law across the country and the world.
APPLICATION REVIEW DATE
The First Review Date for this job is June 23, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.
Responsibilities
In collaboration with the Executive Director and the Center team, the Legal Director has the following responsibilities:
Legal and Policy Analysis:
- Leads the research, analysis, and drafting of amicus briefs in appellate courts across California and the United States, addressing complex issues in consumer protection and economic justice.
- Develops and submits regulatory comments in federal and state rulemaking proceedings, translating legal research into policy-relevant recommendations.
- Identifies emerging legal and policy trends; formulates strategic responses to influence the development of consumer law.
Operational and Program Management:
- Oversees the legal and programmatic operations of the Center's initiatives, including amicus briefing, regulatory advocacy, and national network activities.
- Manages multiple concurrent projects with competing deadlines, ensuring timely and high-quality outcomes.
- Develops and implements processes to support coordination, collaboration, and program effectiveness across initiatives.
Student Mentorship and Research Leadership:
- Works closely with students, including law student fellows who formally report to the Executive Director, by providing mentorship, guidance, and support in connection with Center initiatives and programs, such as the Consumer Protection Public Policy Order (C3PO).
- Oversees student-led research projects conducted in partnership with external organizations, ensuring high-quality legal analysis and deliverables.
- May supervise student assistants.
Network Coordination and Engagement:
- Coordinates the Consumer Law Advocates, Scholars & Students (CLASS) Network, a nationwide consortium of law schools, faculty, students, and practitioners.
- Serves as a primary liaison to external stakeholders, including non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), legal aid organizations, and regulatory agencies, ensuring effective coordination across geographically dispersed partners.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:
- Works closely with faculty, students, nonprofit leaders, and government attorneys to advance programmatic and policy goals.
- Represents the Center in public forums, including conferences, presentations, and legislative or regulatory testimony.
- Communicates complex legal and policy concepts clearly to diverse audiences, including academic, professional, and public stakeholders.
Program Leadership and Strategy:
- Provides strategic direction for legal advocacy initiatives, including long-term planning for impact litigation and regulatory engagement aimed at shaping the evolution of consumer protection law.
- Designs and implements innovative programs to expand consumer law education and advocacy, including launching new academic offerings and clinics at law schools nationwide.
- Addresses complex, non-routine challenges requiring creative problem-solving, including building support for new legal programs in institutions without existing consumer law infrastructure.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced knowledge of consumer protection law or related field(s), administrative law, and experience with the regulatory process at state and/or federal levels.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with all levels of staff, students, and external partners, both verbally and in writing.
- Exceptional legal research, analytical, and persuasive writing skills, particularly in drafting appellate briefs and regulatory comments.
- Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality.
- Strong project and program management skills, including the ability to lead complex, multi-institutional initiatives with competing deadlines.
- Thorough knowledge of and/or ability to learn organizational or initiative processes, protocols and procedures.
- Strategic planning skills, including the ability to help design long-term initiatives that influence legal and policy outcomes.
- Advanced problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop creative and strategic solutions to novel legal and programmatic challenges.
- Ability to work independently with a high degree of autonomy while managing multiple high-impact projects.
- Ability to form and maintain strong working relationships across a broad spectrum of people and organizations.
- Ability to manage ambiguity and adapt to evolving legal, policy, and organizational priorities.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work effectively with individuals and groups from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
- Demonstrated commitment and/or ability to demonstrate how to foster an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes collaboration and mutual respect among all members of the UC Berkeley community and its stakeholders.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage with and understand individuals from varied academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, and ethnic backgrounds.
- Ability to supervise, train, and evaluate student work to ensure high-quality legal analysis and deliverables.
- Demonstrated experience researching and drafting amicus and/or appellate briefs.
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing consumer rights, economic justice, and public interest law.
- Experience in and/or knowledge of Consumer Protection Law or related field(s).
EDUCATION / TRAINING
- Advanced degree in Law, such as a Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M), and/or equivalent experience/training.
LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS
- Admission to at least one state bar.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience preparing and submitting regulatory comments in state and/or federal rulemaking proceedings.
- Admission to the State Bar of California.
SALARY & BENEFITS
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.
Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
The budgeted annual salary range for this position is $107,000.00 - $130,000.00. However, the expected hiring range is $115,000.00 - $125,000.00, commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is an exempt, monthly-paid position. This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for full UC benefits.
The salary for this position may be subject to future negotiated adjustments in accordance with the RP collective bargaining agreement. A finalized copy of the agreement will be made available on the UC Net bargaining agreements page once published here: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources/employment-policies-contracts/bargaining-units/rp-research-and-public-service-professionals/contract/
INTRODUCTION
At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff.
As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic, and social value.
We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.
At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.
DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW
The UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice, housed at Berkeley Law, works to establish equity and fairness in the marketplace. Through research, advocacy, policy, and teaching, the Center strives to apply robust consumer protection laws in places, and among people, where those laws haven't been used before, and to create a society in which economic, racial and social justice are available to all. The Center believes that building economic justice means developing and enforcing laws that fight fraud and deception, that protect low-income communities and communities of color, and that promote financial security and empowerment. Our activities always highlight the interests and experiences of vulnerable consumers, including immigrants, survivors of domestic violence & elder abuse, people impacted by the criminal legal system, and others.
Contributing to policy making by federal and state legislatures and regulatory agencies has long been a priority for the Center's work. In recent years the Center and our affiliates have supported a range legislation in California and elsewhere promoting economic justice, including:
- Expanding the rights of student loan borrowers, survivors of domestic violence and elder financial abuse, low-income homeowners seeking clean energy improvements, and tenants;
- Protecting consumers in debt collection and foreclosure proceedings by curbing the ability of creditors to garnish wages, issue bank levies, or seek foreclosure;
- Removing the effect of eviction proceedings and medical debt on credit reports;
- Safeguarding personal data and consumer privacy from third-party data brokers and credit reporting agencies;
- Eliminating opaque and hidden "junk fees" in most consumer products and services, including residential rentals and state-chartered banks;
- Creating California's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation; and
- Expanding access to the court system for low-income consumers, including by overhauling the system for assuring effective service of process.
Position Summary
The Legal Director will be responsible for drafting amicus briefs, working with counsel, writing regulatory comments, supervising law students, and generally advancing the cause of economic justice in the courts and agencies of every level of government throughout the U.S., including especially California.
The Legal Director will also help to coordinate the CLASS (Consumer Law Advocates, Scholars, & Students) Network, a nationwide consortium dedicated to promoting consumer rights and economic justice programs in law schools around the United States and beyond. The CLASS Network has helped build and support programs at dozens of law schools, including assisting in the creation of first-ever courses in Consumer Protection Law offered at numerous schools, developing and fostering new clinics and student organizations, and providing the chance for law students to work on shared research projects requested by nonprofit, legal aid, and governmental agencies around the country.
The Legal Director will also be involved with the full range of the Center's activities, from arranging conferences to delivering presentations and testimony to spurring the development of consumer protection law across the country and the world.
APPLICATION REVIEW DATE
The First Review Date for this job is June 23, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.
Responsibilities
In collaboration with the Executive Director and the Center team, the Legal Director has the following responsibilities:
Legal and Policy Analysis:
- Leads the research, analysis, and drafting of amicus briefs in appellate courts across California and the United States, addressing complex issues in consumer protection and economic justice.
- Develops and submits regulatory comments in federal and state rulemaking proceedings, translating legal research into policy-relevant recommendations.
- Identifies emerging legal and policy trends; formulates strategic responses to influence the development of consumer law.
Operational and Program Management:
- Oversees the legal and programmatic operations of the Center's initiatives, including amicus briefing, regulatory advocacy, and national network activities.
- Manages multiple concurrent projects with competing deadlines, ensuring timely and high-quality outcomes.
- Develops and implements processes to support coordination, collaboration, and program effectiveness across initiatives.
Student Mentorship and Research Leadership:
- Works closely with students, including law student fellows who formally report to the Executive Director, by providing mentorship, guidance, and support in connection with Center initiatives and programs, such as the Consumer Protection Public Policy Order (C3PO).
- Oversees student-led research projects conducted in partnership with external organizations, ensuring high-quality legal analysis and deliverables.
- May supervise student assistants.
Network Coordination and Engagement:
- Coordinates the Consumer Law Advocates, Scholars & Students (CLASS) Network, a nationwide consortium of law schools, faculty, students, and practitioners.
- Serves as a primary liaison to external stakeholders, including non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), legal aid organizations, and regulatory agencies, ensuring effective coordination across geographically dispersed partners.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:
- Works closely with faculty, students, nonprofit leaders, and government attorneys to advance programmatic and policy goals.
- Represents the Center in public forums, including conferences, presentations, and legislative or regulatory testimony.
- Communicates complex legal and policy concepts clearly to diverse audiences, including academic, professional, and public stakeholders.
Program Leadership and Strategy:
- Provides strategic direction for legal advocacy initiatives, including long-term planning for impact litigation and regulatory engagement aimed at shaping the evolution of consumer protection law.
- Designs and implements innovative programs to expand consumer law education and advocacy, including launching new academic offerings and clinics at law schools nationwide.
- Addresses complex, non-routine challenges requiring creative problem-solving, including building support for new legal programs in institutions without existing consumer law infrastructure.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced knowledge of consumer protection law or related field(s), administrative law, and experience with the regulatory process at state and/or federal levels.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with all levels of staff, students, and external partners, both verbally and in writing.
- Exceptional legal research, analytical, and persuasive writing skills, particularly in drafting appellate briefs and regulatory comments.
- Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality.
- Strong project and program management skills, including the ability to lead complex, multi-institutional initiatives with competing deadlines.
- Thorough knowledge of and/or ability to learn organizational or initiative processes, protocols and procedures.
- Strategic planning skills, including the ability to help design long-term initiatives that influence legal and policy outcomes.
- Advanced problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop creative and strategic solutions to novel legal and programmatic challenges.
- Ability to work independently with a high degree of autonomy while managing multiple high-impact projects.
- Ability to form and maintain strong working relationships across a broad spectrum of people and organizations.
- Ability to manage ambiguity and adapt to evolving legal, policy, and organizational priorities.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work effectively with individuals and groups from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
- Demonstrated commitment and/or ability to demonstrate how to foster an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes collaboration and mutual respect among all members of the UC Berkeley community and its stakeholders.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage with and understand individuals from varied academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, and ethnic backgrounds.
- Ability to supervise, train, and evaluate student work to ensure high-quality legal analysis and deliverables.
- Demonstrated experience researching and drafting amicus and/or appellate briefs.
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing consumer rights, economic justice, and public interest law.
- Experience in and/or knowledge of Consumer Protection Law or related field(s).
EDUCATION / TRAINING
- Advanced degree in Law, such as a Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M), and/or equivalent experience/training.
LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS
- Admission to at least one state bar.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience preparing and submitting regulatory comments in state and/or federal rulemaking proceedings.
- Admission to the State Bar of California.
SALARY & BENEFITS
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.
Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
The budgeted annual salary range for this position is $107,000.00 - $130,000.00. However, the expected hiring range is $115,000.00 - $125,000.00, commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is an exempt, monthly-paid position. This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for full UC benefits.
The salary for this position may be subject to future negotiated adjustments in accordance with the RP collective bargaining agreement. A finalized copy of the agreement will be made available on the UC Net bargaining agreements page once published here: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources/employment-policies-contracts/bargaining-units/rp-research-and-public-service-professionals/contract/
See all 2,245+ H-1B Visa Legal Director Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Legal Director
Verify your JD satisfies specialty occupation
USCIS requires a direct relationship between your degree and the role. A JD alone isn't always sufficient, your petition should document that the Legal Director position requires legal expertise in a specific practice area, not general management.
Pull LCA filings by job title
Search the OFLC Wage Search for 'Legal Director' and 'Chief Legal Officer' filings to identify which employers have certified LCAs for this exact title. Migrate Mate surfaces this DOL data by employer so you can target companies with active H-1B filing history.
Prioritize law departments over law firms
In-house legal departments at publicly traded companies file H-1B petitions through USCIS like any employer. Law firms, by contrast, often classify attorneys as partners or counsel under different visa structures, so corporate legal roles typically have more straightforward sponsorship paths.
Get your bar admission documented early
USCIS adjudicators scrutinize Legal Director petitions for proof of active bar admission in the relevant jurisdiction. Gather your certificate of good standing and any multi-state bar records before your employer files the I-129 to avoid a Request for Evidence.
Negotiate who pays filing fees upfront
The I-129 petition fee and any premium processing costs are legally the employer's responsibility under DOL rules, but the split on attorney fees varies by employer. Clarify the fee arrangement in writing before your employer engages outside immigration counsel.
Use O*NET to strengthen your specialty occupation argument
The O*NET occupation profile for Legal Directors lists a JD as the standard entry-level requirement. Reference this in your support letter to establish that the position normally demands a specific degree, which directly supports the specialty occupation determination under USCIS standards.
H-1B Visa Legal Director: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Legal Director role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, provided the position requires at least a Juris Doctor in a directly related legal field. USCIS evaluates whether a JD is the normal minimum for the role, not just preferred. Employers strengthen the petition by documenting that the Legal Director function demands specialized legal expertise, not general executive management skills.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for Legal Director positions?
Large corporations with in-house legal departments are the most consistent sponsors, particularly in tech, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Migrate Mate lets you filter for companies that have filed Labor Condition Applications for Legal Director or equivalent titles, so you can focus on employers with a documented sponsorship track record rather than guessing.
How does bar admission affect H-1B eligibility for a Legal Director role?
Active bar admission in the relevant U.S. jurisdiction is typically required documentation in the H-1B petition. USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence if your bar status is inactive, lapsed, or limited to a different state than where you'll be employed. Maintaining good standing before and during filing reduces adjudication delays.
Can a Legal Director H-1B petition be denied if the role has management responsibilities?
USCIS occasionally questions whether a role with broad managerial duties still meets the specialty occupation standard. To counter this, your employer's support letter should emphasize that the Legal Director position requires applying specialized legal knowledge daily, and that a JD in a specific practice area is the baseline requirement, not a general business or management degree.
What is the prevailing wage level typically assigned to Legal Director H-1B filings?
DOL assigns prevailing wages to Legal Director roles using the Standard Occupational Classification system, typically at Level III or Level IV depending on supervisory scope and years of experience. Your employer certifies this wage through the LCA process before filing the I-129. You can look up applicable wage levels for your specific location using the OFLC Wage Search.