H-1B Visa Senior Litigation Counsel Jobs
Senior Litigation Counsel roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations because they require at minimum a J.D. and active bar admission. Large law firms, Fortune 500 legal departments, and financial institutions regularly file H-1B petitions for this title, making it one of the more sponsor-active roles in the legal field.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming great products, services, and customer experiences very quickly! Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Do you love taking on big challenges without precedent? Do you possess a deep knowledge of the legal field and a passion for innovation? As a part of our Legal group, you’ll help uphold Apple’s high ethical and corporate standards, as well as defend our intellectual property. You’ll help provide legal support for all our products and businesses across the globe. Working for a company that invents entire categories and industries means you’ll be challenged to creatively apply your deep legal expertise to rare and often unexplored aspects of the law. Together with your team, you’ll provide the critical support needed worldwide for all Apple products and businesses. We are looking for an IP litigator (focusing outside of patent litigation) with excellent judgment and communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to handle the day-to-day progress of IP cases. You will be a self-starter who can quickly learn Apple's IP litigation docket and practices, identify, and manage risks and exposures, and find strategic opportunities for resolution.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a member of Apple's IP litigation team, you will not be merely monitoring outside counsel. Rather, you will be directly engaged in formulating and driving strategy as well as providing counsel to internal clients on IP litigation matters and issues. The position requires a high degree of self-sufficiency, independent judgment, and a trial-focused approach. You will operate as part of a supportive and fun team of lawyers, legal specialists and support staff who work closely together to protect Apple's interests.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Combined 4+ years of major law firm experience and 1+ year of in-house experience in trade litigation and investigations
- JD or equivalent and admission to at least one US state bar.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong technology interest and aptitude.
- Excellent communication, analytical, organization, and negotiation skills are essential.
- Preference given to candidates who have broad non-patent IP litigation experience, especially in high-tech trade secret or AI copyright matters.
PAY & BENEFITS
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $204,700 and $307,700, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
INTRODUCTION
Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming great products, services, and customer experiences very quickly! Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Do you love taking on big challenges without precedent? Do you possess a deep knowledge of the legal field and a passion for innovation? As a part of our Legal group, you’ll help uphold Apple’s high ethical and corporate standards, as well as defend our intellectual property. You’ll help provide legal support for all our products and businesses across the globe. Working for a company that invents entire categories and industries means you’ll be challenged to creatively apply your deep legal expertise to rare and often unexplored aspects of the law. Together with your team, you’ll provide the critical support needed worldwide for all Apple products and businesses. We are looking for an IP litigator (focusing outside of patent litigation) with excellent judgment and communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to handle the day-to-day progress of IP cases. You will be a self-starter who can quickly learn Apple's IP litigation docket and practices, identify, and manage risks and exposures, and find strategic opportunities for resolution.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a member of Apple's IP litigation team, you will not be merely monitoring outside counsel. Rather, you will be directly engaged in formulating and driving strategy as well as providing counsel to internal clients on IP litigation matters and issues. The position requires a high degree of self-sufficiency, independent judgment, and a trial-focused approach. You will operate as part of a supportive and fun team of lawyers, legal specialists and support staff who work closely together to protect Apple's interests.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Combined 4+ years of major law firm experience and 1+ year of in-house experience in trade litigation and investigations
- JD or equivalent and admission to at least one US state bar.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong technology interest and aptitude.
- Excellent communication, analytical, organization, and negotiation skills are essential.
- Preference given to candidates who have broad non-patent IP litigation experience, especially in high-tech trade secret or AI copyright matters.
PAY & BENEFITS
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $204,700 and $307,700, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
See all 86+ H-1B Visa Senior Litigation Counsel Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Senior Litigation Counsel
Verify your bar admission transfers correctly
H-1B petitions for litigation counsel roles require active bar admission in a U.S. jurisdiction. Confirm your admission is in good standing and matches the state where you'll primarily work before your employer files.
Target in-house legal departments strategically
Fortune 500 legal departments and financial institutions file H-1B petitions far more consistently than boutique litigation firms. Search DOL LCA disclosure data on Migrate Mate to identify which employers have filed for Senior Litigation Counsel or equivalent titles.
Check prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Your employer must certify your salary meets the DOL prevailing wage for litigation counsel in your work location. Run the OFLC Wage Search for SOC code 23-1011 before accepting an offer so you know the floor your employer must meet.
Clarify specialty occupation documentation early
USCIS scrutinizes legal roles where duties blend litigation with general counsel work. Ask your employer to document that the position requires a J.D. specifically, not just a law degree in any field, to reduce RFE risk on specialty occupation grounds.
Request premium processing for time-sensitive matters
Litigation calendars don't pause for USCIS processing queues. If you have a trial schedule or court deadline within six months of your start date, push your employer to file with premium processing to get a 15-business-day adjudication window.
Understand the 60-day grace period between roles
If you leave a litigation counsel role before your H-1B ends, USCIS allows a 60-day grace period to secure a new sponsoring employer. Use that window to line up a new I-129 transfer petition, not to evaluate offers casually.
H-1B Visa Senior Litigation Counsel: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Litigation Counsel role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. USCIS consistently treats Senior Litigation Counsel as a specialty occupation because the role has a direct degree requirement: a J.D. and active bar admission in the relevant jurisdiction. The O*NET profile for lawyers confirms a doctoral or professional degree as the standard entry requirement, which satisfies USCIS's specialty occupation definition.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for litigation counsel roles?
In-house legal departments at large corporations, financial services firms, insurance companies, and government contractors are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for Senior Litigation Counsel. Large law firms also sponsor, but less frequently for senior roles since partners and equity positions fall outside H-1B eligibility. You can filter employers by LCA filing history on Migrate Mate to find active sponsors.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new litigation counsel role mid-petition?
Yes. H-1B portability under AC21 lets you start working for a new employer once your transfer petition is filed, as long as your prior H-1B was approved and you've been in valid status for at least 180 days. For litigation roles, make sure your bar admission is current in the new employer's primary jurisdiction before the transfer petition is filed.
Does my employer need to file a PERM labor certification for this role?
Not for the H-1B petition itself. PERM is required only if your employer wants to sponsor you for a green card through the EB-2 or EB-3 employment-based immigrant visa categories. The H-1B is a nonimmigrant status that doesn't require labor market testing, so your employer files an LCA with DOL and an I-129 petition with USCIS only.
How does the H-1B cap lottery affect hiring timelines for litigation counsel positions?
Cap-subject H-1B petitions are registered in March, with employment starting no earlier than October 1 of that fiscal year. Employers with cap-exempt status, such as nonprofits or government research organizations with in-house legal teams, can file outside the lottery at any time. If a firm is cap-subject and you miss the lottery, the earliest possible start is the following October.