J-1 Visa Legal Counsel Jobs
Legal Counsel roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship, most commonly under the Trainee or Research Scholar category. A designated sponsor organization issues your DS-2019, while your U.S. law firm or corporate legal department serves as the host. No lottery stands between you and placement.
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Get Access To All JobsJob no: 506786
Work type: Full-Time
Location:
University City - Philadelphia, PA
Categories: Drexel University, Kline School of Law
Job Summary
The Visiting Assistant Professor (VAP) offers an attorney with an interest in clinical teaching and immigration and asylum law the opportunity to refine their teaching and supervisory skills while working together with the clinic director in a law school clinical program. The VAP will work closely with the Director of Federal Litigation and Appeals Clinic to supervise students and provide direct legal services to non-citizens in immigration-related matters. Essential duties include supervising Clinic students’ casework, some direct client representation, and preparing and teaching clinic seminar classes. The VAP may have opportunities to collaborate with faculty and students in the Law School’s other clinics. The VAP can also work on scholarships, attend and participate in faculty workshops, and engage in advocacy and service projects related to the Clinic’s mission.
This is a 12-month, non-tenure track, potentially renewable position at the Law School campus in Philadelphia, PA. The position is expected to begin in the summer of 2026 and continue for one year with the potential option of a renewal for a second year. It does not lead to tenure or permanent appointment.
This position is grant-funded; employment is contingent upon the continued availability of those funds.
Essential Functions
- Supervise students in the Federal Litigation and Appeals Clinic in their casework and advocacy project; co-teach clinic seminar classes; and perform other work related to running the clinical course.
- Provide representation for the clinic’s existing clients along with students, as well as during transitions between semesters and over the summer; conduct intake interviews with prospective clients.
- Coordinate grant reporting information as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum of a J.D. Degree.
- Minimum of at least one year of experience representing clients, preferably in immigration law matters.
- Must be a licensed attorney in good standing who has an active membership to a bar in any U.S. jurisdiction.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent trial lawyering skills.
- Proactive communicator with creative, solution-focused orientation, including the ability to work collaboratively with others to develop new ideas and effectively incorporate feedback.
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to zealously pursue creative and collaborative legal services and strategies.
- Excellent time management and ability to produce high quality work on tight deadlines.
- Excellent professional judgment.
- Ability to hit the ground working, multi-task, and work independently.
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong interest in working on behalf of non-citizens.
- Commitment to working with and mentoring students.
- Successful track record of and a demonstrated commitment to working effectively with diverse and vulnerable client populations.
- Flexibility and adaptability to changing circumstances, needs, and interests within the clinic and community.
- Proficiency in a second language is preferred but not required.
Physical Demands
- Typically sitting at a desk/table
- Lifting demands: 25lbs
Location
- University City - Philadelphia, PA
Additional Information
This is a Full-Time Faculty position classified as Exempt. The offered salary is based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review. For information about benefits, please review Drexel’s Full-Time Faculty Benefit Fact Sheet or Part-Time Faculty Benefit Fact Sheet.
Special Instructions to the Applicant
Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.
Additional Required Documents:
- A letter of interest that includes discussion of why you are seeking the position and your relevant qualifications and experience.
- A list of 3 references along with contact information.
- Applicants with less than five years of post-law school practice experience should also submit an informal or official law school transcript.
Evaluation of applicants will begin immediately. The deadline for applying is June 30, 2026, though later applications may be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
For further information, contact Professor Richard Frankel, the Associate Dean for Experiential Learning.
Advertised: Jun 3 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Jul 3 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Job no: 506786
Work type: Full-Time
Location:
University City - Philadelphia, PA
Categories: Drexel University, Kline School of Law
Job Summary
The Visiting Assistant Professor (VAP) offers an attorney with an interest in clinical teaching and immigration and asylum law the opportunity to refine their teaching and supervisory skills while working together with the clinic director in a law school clinical program. The VAP will work closely with the Director of Federal Litigation and Appeals Clinic to supervise students and provide direct legal services to non-citizens in immigration-related matters. Essential duties include supervising Clinic students’ casework, some direct client representation, and preparing and teaching clinic seminar classes. The VAP may have opportunities to collaborate with faculty and students in the Law School’s other clinics. The VAP can also work on scholarships, attend and participate in faculty workshops, and engage in advocacy and service projects related to the Clinic’s mission.
This is a 12-month, non-tenure track, potentially renewable position at the Law School campus in Philadelphia, PA. The position is expected to begin in the summer of 2026 and continue for one year with the potential option of a renewal for a second year. It does not lead to tenure or permanent appointment.
This position is grant-funded; employment is contingent upon the continued availability of those funds.
Essential Functions
- Supervise students in the Federal Litigation and Appeals Clinic in their casework and advocacy project; co-teach clinic seminar classes; and perform other work related to running the clinical course.
- Provide representation for the clinic’s existing clients along with students, as well as during transitions between semesters and over the summer; conduct intake interviews with prospective clients.
- Coordinate grant reporting information as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum of a J.D. Degree.
- Minimum of at least one year of experience representing clients, preferably in immigration law matters.
- Must be a licensed attorney in good standing who has an active membership to a bar in any U.S. jurisdiction.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent trial lawyering skills.
- Proactive communicator with creative, solution-focused orientation, including the ability to work collaboratively with others to develop new ideas and effectively incorporate feedback.
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to zealously pursue creative and collaborative legal services and strategies.
- Excellent time management and ability to produce high quality work on tight deadlines.
- Excellent professional judgment.
- Ability to hit the ground working, multi-task, and work independently.
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong interest in working on behalf of non-citizens.
- Commitment to working with and mentoring students.
- Successful track record of and a demonstrated commitment to working effectively with diverse and vulnerable client populations.
- Flexibility and adaptability to changing circumstances, needs, and interests within the clinic and community.
- Proficiency in a second language is preferred but not required.
Physical Demands
- Typically sitting at a desk/table
- Lifting demands: 25lbs
Location
- University City - Philadelphia, PA
Additional Information
This is a Full-Time Faculty position classified as Exempt. The offered salary is based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review. For information about benefits, please review Drexel’s Full-Time Faculty Benefit Fact Sheet or Part-Time Faculty Benefit Fact Sheet.
Special Instructions to the Applicant
Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.
Additional Required Documents:
- A letter of interest that includes discussion of why you are seeking the position and your relevant qualifications and experience.
- A list of 3 references along with contact information.
- Applicants with less than five years of post-law school practice experience should also submit an informal or official law school transcript.
Evaluation of applicants will begin immediately. The deadline for applying is June 30, 2026, though later applications may be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
For further information, contact Professor Richard Frankel, the Associate Dean for Experiential Learning.
Advertised: Jun 3 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Jul 3 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
See all J-1 Visa Legal Counsel Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Legal Counsel Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Legal Counsel
Align your credentials with J-1 category requirements
Trainee category suits early-career legal professionals within one year of graduation or with under five years of experience. Research Scholar fits established attorneys pursuing comparative law or policy research. Confirm which category your background supports before applying to host employers.
Target host employers with prior J-1 history
Large law firms and corporate legal departments with international secondment programs are more familiar with DS-2019 procedures and training plan obligations. Search Migrate Mate to surface Legal Counsel roles at employers already structured for exchange visitor placements.
Draft a precise individualized training plan early
Your designated sponsor requires a detailed training plan outlining specific legal skills, supervising attorneys, and weekly learning objectives. Vague plans cause DS-2019 delays. Prepare this document alongside your resume so your host employer can sign off quickly.
Clarify the two-year home residency requirement upfront
Legal Counsel positions funded by your home government or a U.S. government agency often trigger a two-year foreign residency requirement after your J-1 visa program ends. Confirm with USCIS whether this restriction applies before accepting an offer, as it affects H-1B visa or green card eligibility.
Confirm your host employer can fulfill compliance obligations
The host organization must designate a responsible officer, maintain training supervision records, and cooperate with SEVIS reporting. Ask your prospective employer directly whether they have an existing relationship with a designated sponsor or are willing to establish one.
Verify bar admission and unauthorized practice rules before your start date
J-1 legal trainees working in U.S. jurisdictions may face restrictions on practicing law without local bar admission. Some host employers structure roles as research or compliance functions to stay within authorized scope. Clarify your permitted duties with the host's general counsel before your DS-2019 is issued.
Legal Counsel J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Legal Counsel roles?
It depends on where you are in your career. The Trainee category fits legal professionals within five years of graduation or up to five years of post-degree work experience who are building specific skills. The Research Scholar category suits established attorneys engaged in academic or policy-focused research. The Specialist category applies to recognized experts in a narrow legal field. Your designated sponsor determines the appropriate category based on your background and training objectives.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa as a Legal Counsel?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not your employer. Organizations such as Cultural Vistas, CIEE, or IIE issue the DS-2019 form, monitor your program compliance, and manage SEVIS reporting. Your law firm or corporate legal department is the host organization. The host provides the training environment and signs the training plan, but the designated sponsor holds the legal sponsorship responsibility under Department of State regulations.
Can I search specifically for Legal Counsel positions open to J-1 exchange visitors?
General job boards rarely filter by J-1 program compatibility. Migrate Mate lets you search Legal Counsel roles at U.S. employers that align with exchange visitor placements, so you can focus your outreach on hosts already familiar with DS-2019 procedures and training plan requirements rather than pitching unfamiliar employers from scratch.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect Legal Counsel J-1 holders?
It can. The requirement applies when your J-1 program is funded by your home government, a U.S. government agency, or when your home country's government has designated your field as a skills shortage area. Legal professionals sponsored through government-affiliated research or exchange programs are commonly affected. If the requirement applies, you must return home for two years before changing to H-1B or applying for permanent residence, unless you obtain a waiver through USCIS.
What does the individualized training plan need to cover for a legal role?
Your designated sponsor requires a structured plan specifying the legal skills you will develop, the phases of training, supervising attorneys by name and title, and the proportion of time spent on each activity. For Legal Counsel placements this typically includes legal research methods, contract review processes, regulatory compliance analysis, and client advisory procedures. A vague or generic plan will delay DS-2019 issuance. Your host employer must sign the plan before your sponsor finalizes the document.