Assistant Corporation Counsel Jobs for OPT Students
Assistant Corporation Counsel positions at city and county law offices qualify as specialty occupations under OPT, requiring a J.D. and active bar admission. Most municipal legal departments can sponsor H-1B visas, making these roles a strong option for OPT students with a law degree seeking long-term work authorization.
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Purpose of Position:
Under the direction of the Corporation Counsel this position will provide civil legal representation and services to the County Board, its committees, commissions, department officers, and employees. Also to provide counsel regarding human service matters.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily and in a timely manner. The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all inclusive. Other duties may be required or assigned.
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As directed by Corporation Counsel, serve as civil/corporate legal advisor to the County Board of Supervisors, all County Departments, duly constituted committees, agencies, boards and commissions, County elected officials and appointed officials, and employees acting on behalf of the County.
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Perform legal research and draft written legal opinions and give oral advice on behalf of the County.
-
Represents the County, its officials, and employees in all civil actions under the jurisdiction of the office. To include pretrial preparation, conduct of the trial, and any appeals therefrom in local, state, and federal courts, in, among other matters, the prosecution of ordinance violation cases and representation of the County in actions of law or in equity except where insurance carrier represents the interest of the County.
-
Review contracts, leases, agreements and other legal documents involving the County. Draft contracts, leases and agreements on behalf of the County.
-
Perform and direct all necessary actions as the attorney designated by the board of supervisors to represent the interests of the public in the conduct of all proceedings under Chapter 49, 51, 55, 767, and 880, Wis. Stats.
-
Those duties presently assigned to the family court commissioner are not included here. (Sec. 757.69 and 767.13, Wis. Stats.)
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Draft, revise and approve resolutions and ordinances.
-
In absence of Corporation Counsel attend County Board meetings and serve as parliamentarian.
-
Advise the County on a variety of legal matters including open meetings law, function of Counties and public record law. Chapters 19.59, Wis. Stats.
-
Process real estate transactions including foreclosures, purchases and sales.
-
Assign and review work of clerical staff.
-
Represent the interest of Pierce County in resolution of disputes with other counties and units of government and develop intergovernmental agreements.
-
Performs routine office tasks including answering telephones, operating photocopier.
Minimum Qualifications:
Graduation from accredited law school, membership in the State Bar of WI; minimum two years professional legal experience in municipal and public law.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Ability to determine the adequacy and accuracy of findings of fact, application of legal principals, and the content of pleadings, briefs and opinions. Skills in effective use and interpretation of written professional terminology and structure. Demonstrated capacity for presenting evidence and for making oral arguments and presentations. Skill in public relations. Ability to interpret basic descriptive statistical reports. Ability to organize work and develop work procedures with minimum supervision; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the staff and general public; ability to prepare and maintain records. Must be dependable, tactful, and maintain confidentiality. Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rates, ratios, and percentages. Must be able to read, write, and understand English. Ability to exert light physical efforts in sedentary to light work, involving lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling up to 20 pounds.
Physical Requirements:
This work requires speaking and hearing, repetitive motions, frequently requires standing and reaching with hands and arms and occasionally requires sitting, walking, climbing stairs, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and lifting. Work requires close vision, ability to adjust focus, color perception and peripheral vision, vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written computer data, operating machines and observing general surroundings and activities.
Environmental Ability:
Ability to work under generally safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors poses little risk of injury.
Pierce County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Pay: $83,200.00 - $95,097.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Loan forgiveness
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person

Purpose of Position:
Under the direction of the Corporation Counsel this position will provide civil legal representation and services to the County Board, its committees, commissions, department officers, and employees. Also to provide counsel regarding human service matters.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily and in a timely manner. The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all inclusive. Other duties may be required or assigned.
-
As directed by Corporation Counsel, serve as civil/corporate legal advisor to the County Board of Supervisors, all County Departments, duly constituted committees, agencies, boards and commissions, County elected officials and appointed officials, and employees acting on behalf of the County.
-
Perform legal research and draft written legal opinions and give oral advice on behalf of the County.
-
Represents the County, its officials, and employees in all civil actions under the jurisdiction of the office. To include pretrial preparation, conduct of the trial, and any appeals therefrom in local, state, and federal courts, in, among other matters, the prosecution of ordinance violation cases and representation of the County in actions of law or in equity except where insurance carrier represents the interest of the County.
-
Review contracts, leases, agreements and other legal documents involving the County. Draft contracts, leases and agreements on behalf of the County.
-
Perform and direct all necessary actions as the attorney designated by the board of supervisors to represent the interests of the public in the conduct of all proceedings under Chapter 49, 51, 55, 767, and 880, Wis. Stats.
-
Those duties presently assigned to the family court commissioner are not included here. (Sec. 757.69 and 767.13, Wis. Stats.)
-
Draft, revise and approve resolutions and ordinances.
-
In absence of Corporation Counsel attend County Board meetings and serve as parliamentarian.
-
Advise the County on a variety of legal matters including open meetings law, function of Counties and public record law. Chapters 19.59, Wis. Stats.
-
Process real estate transactions including foreclosures, purchases and sales.
-
Assign and review work of clerical staff.
-
Represent the interest of Pierce County in resolution of disputes with other counties and units of government and develop intergovernmental agreements.
-
Performs routine office tasks including answering telephones, operating photocopier.
Minimum Qualifications:
Graduation from accredited law school, membership in the State Bar of WI; minimum two years professional legal experience in municipal and public law.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Ability to determine the adequacy and accuracy of findings of fact, application of legal principals, and the content of pleadings, briefs and opinions. Skills in effective use and interpretation of written professional terminology and structure. Demonstrated capacity for presenting evidence and for making oral arguments and presentations. Skill in public relations. Ability to interpret basic descriptive statistical reports. Ability to organize work and develop work procedures with minimum supervision; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the staff and general public; ability to prepare and maintain records. Must be dependable, tactful, and maintain confidentiality. Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rates, ratios, and percentages. Must be able to read, write, and understand English. Ability to exert light physical efforts in sedentary to light work, involving lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling up to 20 pounds.
Physical Requirements:
This work requires speaking and hearing, repetitive motions, frequently requires standing and reaching with hands and arms and occasionally requires sitting, walking, climbing stairs, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and lifting. Work requires close vision, ability to adjust focus, color perception and peripheral vision, vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written computer data, operating machines and observing general surroundings and activities.
Environmental Ability:
Ability to work under generally safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors poses little risk of injury.
Pierce County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Pay: $83,200.00 - $95,097.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Loan forgiveness
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Assistant Corporation Counsel
Confirm your OPT end date before applying
Assistant Corporation Counsel hiring cycles at government law offices can run three to six months. Calculate your OPT expiration date and apply early enough that your start date falls within your authorized period, including any STEM OPT extension if applicable.
Verify bar admission requirements by jurisdiction
Most municipal law departments require active bar admission in the state where the office operates. Confirm you're admitted or pending admission before applying, since OPT authorization alone won't satisfy the core licensure requirement for this role.
Target government employers with H-1B cap-exempt status
Public universities and nonprofits affiliated with government agencies are often cap-exempt for H-1B purposes. Prioritize city attorney offices and public interest organizations that have sponsored international attorneys before, as they're more likely to understand the process.
Ask about sponsorship history during the interview
Government law offices vary widely in H-1B sponsorship experience. Asking directly whether the office has sponsored international attorneys before is appropriate and signals you've done your research, not that you're a flight risk.
Use your J.D. to qualify for STEM OPT if your program qualifies
Most J.D. programs do not qualify for STEM OPT extension. Confirm your degree classification with your DSO early, since a 12-month standard OPT window creates a tighter timeline for completing the hiring process at government employers.
Highlight your practice area alignment in your cover letter
Municipal law offices handle litigation, land use, labor relations, and regulatory enforcement. Matching your coursework or clinic experience to the office's specific practice areas increases your chances, particularly when hiring managers are unfamiliar with OPT work authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Assistant Corporation Counsel?
Yes. Assistant Corporation Counsel roles qualify as specialty occupations under OPT because they require a J.D. and typically active bar admission. Your OPT Employment Authorization Document authorizes you to work in a role directly related to your degree field. Make sure your offer letter reflects the legal practice area your J.D. covers.
Do government law offices sponsor H-1B visas for Assistant Corporation Counsel positions?
Many do, but practices vary by jurisdiction. Larger city and county attorney offices in major metro areas have established processes for sponsoring international attorneys, while smaller municipal offices may not. Some government-affiliated legal employers qualify as cap-exempt H-1B sponsors, which means they can file outside the annual lottery. Research each employer's sponsorship history before applying.
Where can I find Assistant Corporation Counsel jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate lists government and public sector legal jobs that are open to international candidates on OPT. Filtering by role type and employer lets you identify municipal law offices that have a track record of sponsoring work visas, which saves time compared to applying broadly and asking about sponsorship after the interview.
Does bar admission affect my OPT eligibility for this role?
OPT eligibility depends on your degree field, not your bar admission status. However, most Assistant Corporation Counsel positions require active bar admission as a condition of employment, separate from OPT authorization. If you're pending admission, disclose that early in the process. Some offices will extend conditional offers while you wait for results.
What happens if my OPT expires before the hiring process is complete?
If your OPT expires before you receive a formal offer or start date, you lose authorization to work in the U.S. and cannot begin the role. Government hiring timelines can stretch four to six months. Apply early, communicate your OPT end date proactively with HR, and explore whether a cap-gap extension applies if an H-1B petition is filed on your behalf before April 1.
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