OPT Attorney Jobs
Attorney roles on OPT are available at law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies, though bar admission requirements vary by state and often require separate licensing steps. Your 12-month OPT window, or 24-month STEM extension if your law degree qualifies, determines how much time you have to secure H-1B visa sponsorship.
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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 Attorney Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Attorney
Target employers with H-1B sponsorship history
Large law firms and corporate legal departments file H-1B visa petitions regularly. Prioritize employers with a documented history of sponsoring foreign national attorneys, since smaller firms often lack the infrastructure to navigate the sponsorship process.
Understand your bar admission timeline
Most attorney roles require bar admission, which takes months after graduation. Plan your OPT start date carefully so your work authorization is active when you're ready to practice, not just when you finish law school.
Consider law school's STEM extension eligibility
Some JD programs with quantitative concentrations, such as technology law or law and data science, may qualify for a STEM OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before assuming you have 36 months of total OPT.
Leverage your foreign law background strategically
Fluency in a foreign legal system is a genuine differentiator for international arbitration, cross-border transactions, and comparative law roles. Frame your dual legal training as an asset, not a gap, in applications and interviews.
Pursue law firm associate programs that have sponsored before
Big Law associate classes at firms like Kirkland, Latham, and Skadden have sponsored OPT attorneys before. Research summer associate and first-year programs at firms with global practices, where sponsorship infrastructure already exists.
Disclose your authorization status early and clearly
Attorney hiring is structured and slow. Disclosing your OPT status early in the process avoids wasted time on both sides and lets employers begin internal H-1B sponsorship approvals before your 12-month window starts running short.
Attorney OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an attorney on OPT without a green card or H-1B?
Yes, F-1 OPT authorizes you to work as an attorney in a role directly related to your law degree. You don't need an H-1B or green card to start. However, you must have valid OPT authorization through USCIS, your employment must be full-time, and you still need to satisfy your state bar's admission requirements independently of your immigration status.
Do law firms typically sponsor H-1B visas for OPT attorneys?
Large law firms, particularly AmLaw 100 firms with international practices, have sponsored H-1B petitions for associates. Smaller regional firms rarely do. Corporate legal departments at multinational companies are also reliable sponsors. The key factor is whether the firm has a dedicated HR or immigration function that can manage the petition process before your OPT expires.
How does bar admission affect my OPT employment authorization?
Bar admission is a state licensing requirement separate from your federal immigration status. OPT authorizes you to work, but your employer and state bar determine whether you can practice law unsupervised. Some states allow foreign-trained attorneys to sit for the bar; others don't. Confirm your state's character and fitness and educational requirements before accepting a role that requires immediate admission.
Where can I find attorney jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers open to sponsoring international candidates. Browsing attorney roles on Migrate Mate lets you identify law firms and corporate legal departments that have hired OPT students before, saving you from applying to firms that will screen you out for needing sponsorship.
Does my law degree qualify for a STEM OPT extension?
Most JD programs do not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension because law is not a STEM-designated field under DHS guidelines. However, dual-degree programs combining law with a STEM field, such as a JD/MS in computer science, may qualify based on the STEM degree's CIP code. Confirm with your Designated School Official before making any timeline assumptions.