OPT Associate Attorney Jobs
Associate Attorney roles qualify for F-1 OPT when the position requires a J.D. and bar admission in a specific practice area. Most law firms sponsor H-1B visa or O-1 visas for high-performing associates, making this one of the more OPT-friendly paths in the legal field.
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Get Access To All JobsJoin a Team of Difference Makers
Joining Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. (QPWB) means becoming part of a team of difference-makers who are passionate about making a positive impact in the legal profession. Our commitment to excellence, diversity, and innovation extends to every aspect of the firm.
Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. (QPWB), a multi-office national law firm and the largest minority owned law firm in the United States, is seeking an Associate Attorney to join our New York City office. This position will work with attorneys handling corporate, securities, business, and related legal matters.
Candidates are not required to have prior corporate or securities experience. We are seeking a motivated attorney who is admitted to practice in New York and interested in developing their experience within these areas of law.
About the Role
The Associate Attorney will work closely with experienced attorneys on a variety of corporate, securities, business, and litigation-related matters. The role offers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience across a diverse practice while developing substantive legal, research, writing, and advocacy skills.
There is no minimum number of years of experience required for this position. We welcome applications from newly admitted attorneys as well as candidates with prior legal experience who are interested in expanding their practice.
The position requires the ability to travel throughout the tri-state area for court appearances and other case-related matters as needed.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist with corporate, securities, business, and related legal matters
- Conduct legal research and analyze applicable statutes, regulations, case law, and regulatory guidance
- Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, motions, correspondence, agreements, and other legal documents
- Assist with case and matter strategy, preparation, and management
- Attend court appearances, hearings, conferences, and other proceedings throughout the tri-state area
- Assist with discovery, document review, and preparation of case materials as applicable
- Communicate professionally with clients, opposing counsel, courts, regulatory bodies, and other parties
- Work closely with partners and senior attorneys on ongoing matters and special projects
- Maintain deadlines and ensure timely completion of assignments
- Perform additional attorney responsibilities as needed based on the needs of the practice
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
- Active admission to the New York State Bar required
- Connecticut Bar admission is a plus, but not required
- No minimum number of years of experience required
- Prior corporate, securities, or business law experience is a plus, but not required
- Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines
- Willingness and ability to travel for court appearances and other matters throughout the tri-state area
- Professional, dependable, and interested in developing within a collaborative legal environment
Compensation & Benefits
The anticipated salary for this position is $85,000, with flexibility based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.
QPWB offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Employer-paid life insurance and short-term disability
- 401(k) with employer match
- Paid vacation, holidays, and personal time off
- Opportunities for professional growth and advancement within a national law firm
To Apply
For immediate consideration, qualified candidates should submit their resume. Compensation is negotiable and commensurate with experience.
QPWB is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
#LI-AR1
Join a Team of Difference Makers
Joining Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. (QPWB) means becoming part of a team of difference-makers who are passionate about making a positive impact in the legal profession. Our commitment to excellence, diversity, and innovation extends to every aspect of the firm.
Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. (QPWB), a multi-office national law firm and the largest minority owned law firm in the United States, is seeking an Associate Attorney to join our New York City office. This position will work with attorneys handling corporate, securities, business, and related legal matters.
Candidates are not required to have prior corporate or securities experience. We are seeking a motivated attorney who is admitted to practice in New York and interested in developing their experience within these areas of law.
About the Role
The Associate Attorney will work closely with experienced attorneys on a variety of corporate, securities, business, and litigation-related matters. The role offers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience across a diverse practice while developing substantive legal, research, writing, and advocacy skills.
There is no minimum number of years of experience required for this position. We welcome applications from newly admitted attorneys as well as candidates with prior legal experience who are interested in expanding their practice.
The position requires the ability to travel throughout the tri-state area for court appearances and other case-related matters as needed.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist with corporate, securities, business, and related legal matters
- Conduct legal research and analyze applicable statutes, regulations, case law, and regulatory guidance
- Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, motions, correspondence, agreements, and other legal documents
- Assist with case and matter strategy, preparation, and management
- Attend court appearances, hearings, conferences, and other proceedings throughout the tri-state area
- Assist with discovery, document review, and preparation of case materials as applicable
- Communicate professionally with clients, opposing counsel, courts, regulatory bodies, and other parties
- Work closely with partners and senior attorneys on ongoing matters and special projects
- Maintain deadlines and ensure timely completion of assignments
- Perform additional attorney responsibilities as needed based on the needs of the practice
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
- Active admission to the New York State Bar required
- Connecticut Bar admission is a plus, but not required
- No minimum number of years of experience required
- Prior corporate, securities, or business law experience is a plus, but not required
- Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines
- Willingness and ability to travel for court appearances and other matters throughout the tri-state area
- Professional, dependable, and interested in developing within a collaborative legal environment
Compensation & Benefits
The anticipated salary for this position is $85,000, with flexibility based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.
QPWB offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Employer-paid life insurance and short-term disability
- 401(k) with employer match
- Paid vacation, holidays, and personal time off
- Opportunities for professional growth and advancement within a national law firm
To Apply
For immediate consideration, qualified candidates should submit their resume. Compensation is negotiable and commensurate with experience.
QPWB is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
#LI-AR1
See all 362+ OPT Associate Attorney Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Associate Attorney Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Associate Attorney
Target firms with a history of sponsoring foreign attorneys
Large Am Law 100 firms and multinational firms with international client bases sponsor associates far more consistently than boutique or regional practices. Review a firm's attorney roster for international names as a proxy for sponsorship willingness.
Time your job search around OPT start and bar exam dates
Most firms want associates who can start within weeks of an offer. Coordinate your OPT authorization start date with your bar exam results timeline so there's no gap between when you're licensed and when you can legally work.
Clarify your work authorization status upfront with recruiters
Legal recruiters screen authorization status early. Be direct: state you're on F-1 OPT, your EAD expiration date, and that you'll need H-1B visa sponsorship before OPT ends. Ambiguity causes offers to fall through late in the process.
Prioritize practice areas with documented attorney shortages
Corporate transactional, intellectual property, and healthcare regulatory practices have persistent associate shortages. Firms in these areas sponsor more aggressively because qualified candidates are scarce, giving OPT applicants stronger negotiating leverage on sponsorship.
Get bar admission in a state your target firms operate in
Waiving into multiple state bars increases your pool of sponsoring employers significantly. New York and California admissions open the most doors. Firms won't sponsor someone who can't practice in their primary jurisdiction.
Network through law school alumni in your target practice area
Referrals from current associates carry weight at firms evaluating OPT candidates. Alumni who navigated sponsorship themselves can connect you directly to hiring partners and share which firms actively support international attorneys through the H-1B process.
Associate Attorney OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Associate Attorney on F-1 OPT?
Yes, as long as your OPT is authorized in a field directly related to your J.D. Law is a qualifying field of study, so associate attorney roles at law firms or in-house legal departments fall within standard OPT scope. Your EAD must be valid before your start date, and your employment must remain in a legal capacity tied to your degree.
Do law firms typically sponsor H-1B visas for associate attorneys on OPT?
Many large law firms sponsor H-1B visas for associates they want to retain, but it's far from universal at smaller firms. Am Law 200 firms and firms with significant international practices sponsor the most consistently. If sponsorship is a condition of accepting an offer, raise it before signing. Some firms also sponsor O-1A or EB-1 visas for associates with strong publication or recognition records.
Does STEM OPT apply to Associate Attorney roles?
No. J.D. programs are not classified under a STEM-designated CIP code, so law graduates are not eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Standard OPT provides 12 months of work authorization. This makes H-1B sponsorship timing critical, since you have a narrower window to secure long-term status compared to STEM graduates.
Where can I find Associate Attorney jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate lists legal roles from employers who are open to sponsoring international candidates. Searching there lets you filter for associate attorney positions without wading through postings that screen out non-citizens at the application stage. It's the most direct way to identify firms already familiar with OPT and H-1B sponsorship.
What happens to my OPT status if I fail the bar exam and can't practice yet?
Failing the bar exam doesn't automatically terminate your OPT, but you must remain employed in a role that qualifies as directly related to your J.D. Some firms place candidates in paralegal or legal research roles while they retake the exam, which can satisfy the OPT employment requirement. Confirm with your DSO whether the specific role your employer offers qualifies before accepting it.