Assistant Counsel Jobs for OPT Students

Assistant Counsel roles sit at the intersection of legal practice and corporate compliance, making them a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with a J.D. or law-related degree. Your 12-month OPT window, or 24-month STEM extension if your degree qualifies, gives you meaningful runway to secure employer sponsorship for long-term status.

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Overview

Open Jobs717+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type85% On-site
Salary Range$280K – $526K
Top LocationNew York, NY
Most JobsCity of New York

Showing 5 of 717+ Assistant Counsel jobs

Corning Incorporated
Assistant Counsel, IP
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Corning Incorporated
Added 1w ago
Assistant Counsel, IP
Corning Incorporated
Corning, New York
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$156,339/yr - $214,967/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Doctorate

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Corning
Assistant Counsel, IP
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Corning
Added 1w ago
Assistant Counsel, IP
Corning
Corning, New York
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$156,339/yr - $214,967/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Doctorate
10,000+

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City of New York
Assistant Counsel
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City of New York
Added 3w ago
Assistant Counsel
City of New York
Manhattan, New York
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$83,000/yr - $95,450/yr
On-Site
1+ yr exp.
None

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Excelsior University
Associate Counsel or Assistant Counsel
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Excelsior University
Added 1mo ago
Associate Counsel or Assistant Counsel
Excelsior University
Albany, New York
Compliance & Legal
Human Resources
Legal Counsel
$95,000/yr - $120,000/yr
Hybrid
1+ yr exp.
Doctorate

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New York State Homes & Community Renewal
Assistant Counsel - Legislative and Policy
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New York State Homes & Community Renewal
Added 3mo ago
Assistant Counsel - Legislative and Policy
New York State Homes & Community Renewal
New York, New York
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Doctorate

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How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Assistant Counsel

Target in-house legal departments early

Large corporations with in-house legal teams file H-1B petitions far more consistently than small law firms. Focus your OPT job search on Fortune 500 companies and mid-size enterprises with established immigration programs and dedicated HR support.

Clarify your bar admission status upfront

Many Assistant Counsel roles require bar admission in at least one U.S. state. If you've passed the bar, lead with that credential. If not, target roles explicitly open to J.D. graduates pending admission or focused on compliance rather than litigation.

Apply before your OPT start date

Legal hiring timelines often run eight to twelve weeks from application to offer. Submitting applications two to three months before your OPT authorization begins ensures you can start work without gaps that could complicate your status or an employer's onboarding process.

Understand how OPT gap rules affect legal roles

F-1 OPT students may not accumulate more than 90 days of unemployment during their authorization period. Assistant Counsel positions often take longer to fill, so maintaining part-time or contract legal work between applications helps protect your status.

Ask specifically about the employer's H-1B sponsorship history

During interviews, ask whether the legal department has sponsored H-1B or O-1 visas before. Employers with a track record understand the process and timeline, reducing the risk that a sponsorship conversation will stall after you've already joined the team.

Highlight compliance and regulatory experience for STEM adjacency

If your law degree included a concentration in technology, health sciences, or engineering law, emphasize it. Some employers classify compliance-heavy legal roles under STEM-adjacent categories, which can open conversations about STEM OPT extension eligibility with your DSO.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can F-1 OPT students work as Assistant Counsel in the United States?

Yes. F-1 students who have completed a J.D. or relevant law-related degree can work as Assistant Counsel under post-completion OPT. Your Employment Authorization Document authorizes full-time employment in your field of study. The role must be directly related to your degree, which legal and compliance positions typically satisfy without issue.

Do Assistant Counsel roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?

Standard J.D. programs are not classified under a STEM CIP code, so most Assistant Counsel roles do not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on their own. However, if your degree is in a STEM field such as computer science or biomedical engineering and your legal role involves substantial technical compliance work, discuss the specifics with your DSO to assess eligibility.

How do I find Assistant Counsel jobs where employers are open to OPT sponsorship?

Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for employers willing to sponsor F-1 OPT students, saving you from applying to roles where sponsorship is a non-starter. Searching there focuses your effort on companies that have already indicated openness to work authorization support, which matters especially in legal hiring where offer-to-start timelines can be tight.

What visa options should I plan for after my OPT period ends as an Assistant Counsel?

The H-1B is the most common path for lawyers moving from OPT to long-term status, but it requires winning the annual lottery, which runs in March for an October 1 start. Some Assistant Counsel roles at qualifying nonprofit or government legal offices may be cap-exempt. The O-1A is another option if you've built a distinguished legal record with publications, awards, or significant cases.

Does bar admission affect my ability to work as Assistant Counsel on OPT?

OPT authorization itself does not require bar admission. However, the role description often does. Many in-house Assistant Counsel positions require admission to practice in at least one state, while others accept J.D. holders pending admission for compliance-focused work. Read each job description carefully and address your bar status directly in your application to avoid late-stage rejections.

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