OPT Assistant General Counsel Jobs
Assistant General Counsel roles fall squarely within OPT's specialty occupation requirement, as they demand a J.D. and active bar admission. Your 12-month OPT window (or 24-month STEM extension if your law degree qualifies) starts the day you begin work, so timing your bar passage and job search carefully matters.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
This position requires an attorney to review and negotiate government contracts, respond to public records, advise on ethics questions, and handle open meeting law issues. This is not a litigation position, although support of other counsel handling litigation matters, and internal investigations may be required from time to time.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Review and negotiate all BPHC contracts, memoranda of agreement, license agreements, construction contracts, and other related legal agreements.
- Review and advise on Massachusetts construction law MGL c. 149.
- Serve as the Records Access Officer for BPHC, coordinate internally and externally and respond to public records requests in accordance with the Massachusetts Public Records Law.
- Supervise and manage BPHC’s outside counsel on BPHC employees’ immigration or other contract related matters.
- Assist management staff in the development and drafting of BPHC policies, and procedures.
- Research and draft memoranda regarding legal issues relating to the BPHC and its employees.
- Review ethics and open meeting law issues as assigned.
- Support other BPHC counsel with litigation and internal investigations as needed.
- Work in a confidential capacity.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the General Counsel.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Skill in organizing.
- Experience answering various types of requests, e.g. interrogatories, general public questions, etc.
- Skill in using computers, familiarity with AI and understanding the limitations of these tools, and software related to job duties.
- Skill in conducting research using Westlaw and Internet searches.
- Skill in legal writing, including creating legal documents.
- Ability to effectively communicate on legal and nonlegal issues with individuals (lawyers and nonlawyers) intra-agency within BPHC and inter-agency across the City and state.
- Ability to use independent judgment and discretion to make decisions.
- Ability to approach and address problems with an equity lens.
- Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the role of public health in addressing racism, the social determinants of health, and inequities in health outcomes as well as strategies to advance racial justice and health equity.
- Ability to work well with people and be part of a close-knit team.
- Willingness to have a diverse set of responsibilities and learn varied areas of law and public policy.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Juris Doctorate and at least two (2) to three (3) years of related work experience with one (1) year general legal experience in related job duties, preferably with another governmental agency or a law firm performing municipal work.
SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS/LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS (if applicable)
Requires good standing as a member of the Massachusetts Bar.
The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.
- City of Boston residency is required; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mid-Dorchester, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, West Roxbury, Wharf district.
- A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.
- Certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.
- Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.
- Certain positions at the BPHC may be Grant Funded.
- The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply.
- Certain positions at the BPHC may require Child Protective Service Background verification.
- The advertised shift and schedule are subject to change at the department's discretion.
SCHEDULE
Monday to Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
COMPENSATION
$95,000 - $105,000
INTRODUCTION
This position requires an attorney to review and negotiate government contracts, respond to public records, advise on ethics questions, and handle open meeting law issues. This is not a litigation position, although support of other counsel handling litigation matters, and internal investigations may be required from time to time.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Review and negotiate all BPHC contracts, memoranda of agreement, license agreements, construction contracts, and other related legal agreements.
- Review and advise on Massachusetts construction law MGL c. 149.
- Serve as the Records Access Officer for BPHC, coordinate internally and externally and respond to public records requests in accordance with the Massachusetts Public Records Law.
- Supervise and manage BPHC’s outside counsel on BPHC employees’ immigration or other contract related matters.
- Assist management staff in the development and drafting of BPHC policies, and procedures.
- Research and draft memoranda regarding legal issues relating to the BPHC and its employees.
- Review ethics and open meeting law issues as assigned.
- Support other BPHC counsel with litigation and internal investigations as needed.
- Work in a confidential capacity.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the General Counsel.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Skill in organizing.
- Experience answering various types of requests, e.g. interrogatories, general public questions, etc.
- Skill in using computers, familiarity with AI and understanding the limitations of these tools, and software related to job duties.
- Skill in conducting research using Westlaw and Internet searches.
- Skill in legal writing, including creating legal documents.
- Ability to effectively communicate on legal and nonlegal issues with individuals (lawyers and nonlawyers) intra-agency within BPHC and inter-agency across the City and state.
- Ability to use independent judgment and discretion to make decisions.
- Ability to approach and address problems with an equity lens.
- Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the role of public health in addressing racism, the social determinants of health, and inequities in health outcomes as well as strategies to advance racial justice and health equity.
- Ability to work well with people and be part of a close-knit team.
- Willingness to have a diverse set of responsibilities and learn varied areas of law and public policy.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Juris Doctorate and at least two (2) to three (3) years of related work experience with one (1) year general legal experience in related job duties, preferably with another governmental agency or a law firm performing municipal work.
SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS/LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS (if applicable)
Requires good standing as a member of the Massachusetts Bar.
The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.
- City of Boston residency is required; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mid-Dorchester, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, West Roxbury, Wharf district.
- A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.
- Certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.
- Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.
- Certain positions at the BPHC may be Grant Funded.
- The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply.
- Certain positions at the BPHC may require Child Protective Service Background verification.
- The advertised shift and schedule are subject to change at the department's discretion.
SCHEDULE
Monday to Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
COMPENSATION
$95,000 - $105,000
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Assistant General Counsel
Target companies with dedicated legal departments
Large corporations, financial institutions, and tech companies maintain in-house legal teams that hire regularly and have established immigration compliance processes. They're far more likely to understand OPT work authorization than smaller firms without dedicated HR support.
Lead with your bar admission status
Most Assistant General Counsel roles require active bar admission in at least one U.S. state. Confirm your bar status upfront in applications. Employers screening for this requirement will filter out candidates who don't address it clearly and early.
Emphasize your practice area specialization
In-house legal teams hire for specific needs: employment law, contracts, regulatory compliance, IP, or M&A. Tailoring your application to match the company's industry and legal needs dramatically improves your chances over a generalist approach.
Start your search at least four months before OPT begins
Legal hiring moves slowly. Background checks, conflicts assessments, and offer approvals take time at larger employers. Beginning your search well before your OPT authorization date gives you realistic runway to land an offer before your window opens.
Prepare to explain OPT confidently to hiring managers
Many in-house legal teams haven't hired on OPT before. A one-paragraph explanation of your authorization period, the employer's verification obligation, and the H-1B visa transition pathway removes uncertainty and shows the professional clarity they expect from legal talent.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers already sponsoring legal roles
Filtering for companies that have previously sponsored legal professionals saves significant time. Migrate Mate surfaces these employers, so you're focusing your applications on organizations already familiar with work authorization rather than educating every hiring manager from scratch.
Assistant General Counsel OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Assistant General Counsel role qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes. Assistant General Counsel positions require a J.D. and bar admission, which satisfies the specialty occupation standard that underpins OPT eligibility. The role must be directly related to your legal field of study. If your degree is in law and the position requires legal expertise, the connection is straightforward and well-supported.
Can I work as an Assistant General Counsel during the 60-day OPT grace period?
No. The 60-day grace period between jobs does not authorize employment. You cannot begin or continue working as an Assistant General Counsel during that window. You must secure a new position and update your SEVIS record before starting work. The grace period exists only for job searching and immigration planning, not active employment.
Do employers need to do anything special to hire me on OPT as an Assistant General Counsel?
The process is simpler than most employers expect. They verify your Employment Authorization Document, confirm the role aligns with your field of study, and update their I-9 records. No government petition or approval is required during OPT itself. The complexity only arises later if they pursue H-1B sponsorship, which most legal employers are already familiar with.
Where can I find Assistant General Counsel jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this. It surfaces in-house legal roles at employers who have sponsored work visas before, so you're not spending time on companies that will reject you at the authorization question. Filtering by OPT-friendly employers in Migrate Mate is the most efficient way to build a targeted application list for counsel roles.
Does my J.D. qualify for the STEM OPT extension to extend my work authorization?
No. A J.D. is not classified as a STEM degree under the Department of Homeland Security's STEM designated degree program list, so it does not qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Your OPT authorization is limited to 12 months. Planning your H-1B sponsorship timeline well before that window closes is essential for maintaining continuous work authorization in a legal role.