Corporate Attorney Jobs for OPT Students
Corporate Attorney jobs on OPT require an active EAD and a J.D. from a U.S. law school, plus bar admission in the state where you'll practice. Most roles are at law firms or in-house legal departments, and many sponsor H-1B after OPT. STEM OPT extension does not apply to J.D. programs.
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INTRODUCTION
Vestas is a major wind turbine manufacturing company with significant operations in the United States.
Corporate Attorney
This is a department with a focus on project execution and offshore sales matters in the United States and Canada that provides legal advice, detailed claims analysis, drafting and negotiation. The scope includes both project execution and sales, with a wide range of pre-litigation project claims, contract drafting, negotiation and advice.
Responsibilities:
The legal counsel will be responsible for preparing analyses of project claims, coordinating with contract managers and technical experts, drafting contracts, amendments and certificates, advising on myriad legal issues, and negotiating contracts, settlements and other legal documents, as well as internal governance and approvals, all as directed by the Director, Project Execution and Offshore Legal, including:
- Evaluate complex situations and provide practical, timely and accurate legal advice
- Prepare detailed analyses of delay, extended time and additional cost claims
- Draft and negotiate complex and often very technical agreements, amendments, change orders and certificates that accurately reflect the commercial and legal decisions and comply with company guidelines and preferences
- Exhibit solid judgment and possess effective leadership, decision-making, critical reasoning, and communication skills
- Work closely and effectively with Director, Project Execution and Offshore Legal, General Counsel, senior management, other company lawyers and employees of all levels and cultures within a global organization
- Develop and implement programs to educate and train business teams on legal issues
- Ensure accurate completion of relevant risk assessments
- All other responsibilities as assigned
- The matters are highly complex and involve a great range of business and technical issues.
Qualifications
- 2+ years of legal work, preferably with some experience at an Am Law 100 firm and with some focus on energy or other infrastructure projects
- Juris Doctorate
Competencies:
- Effectively and accurately draft, review, and negotiate analyses of delay, extended time and other contract claims
- Accurately draft, review, and negotiate detailed and complex contracts and other legal documents involving technical subjects
- Clearly communicate legal concepts and analysis with outside lawyers, company lawyers, customers, and internal clients, in writing and orally
- Establish and maintain good relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels and in a wide range of functions, with an understanding of diverse cultures
- Effectively assist the Director - Project Execution and Offshore Legal and the General Counsel
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other software systems commonly in use in legal and corporate environments
- Comfort with and willingness to learn complex technical matters
- Highly developed organizational abilities and efficient time management
- Capability to function effectively on one's own
What We Offer:
We offer an exciting position with great development opportunities in an inspiring environment at the world's number one wind turbine producer. We value initiative, responsibility, and accuracy. You will become part of an international environment with a commitment to sustainability and safety and you will work among colleagues that support each other.
- Attractive salary and one of the most comprehensive benefits plans in the industry
- Great benefits coverage that includes dental and vision
- Generous Paid Time Off policies
- Great 401(k) plan (with employer match)
- Tuition assistance
CCPA Notice for California Applicants
Our commitment to a fair hiring
At Vestas, we evaluate all candidates solely based on their professional experience, education, and relevant skills. To support a fair recruitment process, we kindly ask that you remove any photos, dates of birth or graduation, gender pronouns, marital status, or other personal information not relevant to the role before submitting your CV/resume. Your CV/resume should focus on your professional and educational background, along with the necessary contact details (email and phone number). We train our hiring teams in inclusive evaluation and regularly review process outcomes to ensure fairness.
DEIB Statement
At Vestas, we recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in driving innovation and success. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, particularly those who may hesitate due to their identity or feel they do not meet every criterion. As our CEO states, "Expertise and talent come in many forms, and a diverse workforce enhances our ability to think differently and solve the complex challenges of our industry". Your unique perspective is what will help us powering the solution for a sustainable, green energy future.
BEWARE – RECRUITMENT FRAUD
It has come to our attention that there are a number of fraudulent emails from people pretending to work for Vestas. Read more via this link, https://www.vestas.com/en/careers/our-recruitment-process
About Vestas
Vestas is the energy industry’s global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We are specialised in designing, manufacturing, installing, and servicing wind turbines, both onshore and offshore.
Across the globe, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. We consider ourselves pioneers within the industry, as we continuously aim to design new solutions and technologies to create a more sustainable future for all of us. With more than 185 GW of wind power installed worldwide and 40+ years of experience in wind energy, we have an unmatched track record demonstrating our expertise within the field.
With 30,000 employees globally, we are a diverse team united by a common goal: to power the solution – today, tomorrow, and far into the future.
Vestas promotes a diverse workforce which embraces all social identities and is free of any discrimination. We commit to create and sustain an environment that acknowledges and harvests different experiences, skills, and perspectives. We also aim to give everyone equal access to opportunity.

INTRODUCTION
Vestas is a major wind turbine manufacturing company with significant operations in the United States.
Corporate Attorney
This is a department with a focus on project execution and offshore sales matters in the United States and Canada that provides legal advice, detailed claims analysis, drafting and negotiation. The scope includes both project execution and sales, with a wide range of pre-litigation project claims, contract drafting, negotiation and advice.
Responsibilities:
The legal counsel will be responsible for preparing analyses of project claims, coordinating with contract managers and technical experts, drafting contracts, amendments and certificates, advising on myriad legal issues, and negotiating contracts, settlements and other legal documents, as well as internal governance and approvals, all as directed by the Director, Project Execution and Offshore Legal, including:
- Evaluate complex situations and provide practical, timely and accurate legal advice
- Prepare detailed analyses of delay, extended time and additional cost claims
- Draft and negotiate complex and often very technical agreements, amendments, change orders and certificates that accurately reflect the commercial and legal decisions and comply with company guidelines and preferences
- Exhibit solid judgment and possess effective leadership, decision-making, critical reasoning, and communication skills
- Work closely and effectively with Director, Project Execution and Offshore Legal, General Counsel, senior management, other company lawyers and employees of all levels and cultures within a global organization
- Develop and implement programs to educate and train business teams on legal issues
- Ensure accurate completion of relevant risk assessments
- All other responsibilities as assigned
- The matters are highly complex and involve a great range of business and technical issues.
Qualifications
- 2+ years of legal work, preferably with some experience at an Am Law 100 firm and with some focus on energy or other infrastructure projects
- Juris Doctorate
Competencies:
- Effectively and accurately draft, review, and negotiate analyses of delay, extended time and other contract claims
- Accurately draft, review, and negotiate detailed and complex contracts and other legal documents involving technical subjects
- Clearly communicate legal concepts and analysis with outside lawyers, company lawyers, customers, and internal clients, in writing and orally
- Establish and maintain good relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels and in a wide range of functions, with an understanding of diverse cultures
- Effectively assist the Director - Project Execution and Offshore Legal and the General Counsel
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other software systems commonly in use in legal and corporate environments
- Comfort with and willingness to learn complex technical matters
- Highly developed organizational abilities and efficient time management
- Capability to function effectively on one's own
What We Offer:
We offer an exciting position with great development opportunities in an inspiring environment at the world's number one wind turbine producer. We value initiative, responsibility, and accuracy. You will become part of an international environment with a commitment to sustainability and safety and you will work among colleagues that support each other.
- Attractive salary and one of the most comprehensive benefits plans in the industry
- Great benefits coverage that includes dental and vision
- Generous Paid Time Off policies
- Great 401(k) plan (with employer match)
- Tuition assistance
CCPA Notice for California Applicants
Our commitment to a fair hiring
At Vestas, we evaluate all candidates solely based on their professional experience, education, and relevant skills. To support a fair recruitment process, we kindly ask that you remove any photos, dates of birth or graduation, gender pronouns, marital status, or other personal information not relevant to the role before submitting your CV/resume. Your CV/resume should focus on your professional and educational background, along with the necessary contact details (email and phone number). We train our hiring teams in inclusive evaluation and regularly review process outcomes to ensure fairness.
DEIB Statement
At Vestas, we recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in driving innovation and success. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, particularly those who may hesitate due to their identity or feel they do not meet every criterion. As our CEO states, "Expertise and talent come in many forms, and a diverse workforce enhances our ability to think differently and solve the complex challenges of our industry". Your unique perspective is what will help us powering the solution for a sustainable, green energy future.
BEWARE – RECRUITMENT FRAUD
It has come to our attention that there are a number of fraudulent emails from people pretending to work for Vestas. Read more via this link, https://www.vestas.com/en/careers/our-recruitment-process
About Vestas
Vestas is the energy industry’s global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We are specialised in designing, manufacturing, installing, and servicing wind turbines, both onshore and offshore.
Across the globe, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. We consider ourselves pioneers within the industry, as we continuously aim to design new solutions and technologies to create a more sustainable future for all of us. With more than 185 GW of wind power installed worldwide and 40+ years of experience in wind energy, we have an unmatched track record demonstrating our expertise within the field.
With 30,000 employees globally, we are a diverse team united by a common goal: to power the solution – today, tomorrow, and far into the future.
Vestas promotes a diverse workforce which embraces all social identities and is free of any discrimination. We commit to create and sustain an environment that acknowledges and harvests different experiences, skills, and perspectives. We also aim to give everyone equal access to opportunity.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Corporate Attorney
Target firms with a sponsorship track record
Large law firms and Fortune 500 in-house legal departments sponsor H-1B for associates far more often than boutique firms. Research a firm's past filings through DOL disclosure data before investing time in applications.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront
Standard OPT gives you 12 months of work authorization. J.D. programs are not STEM-designated, so there is no 24-month extension. Know your end date before starting any role that requires visa sponsorship within the year.
Get bar admitted before OPT expires
Passing the bar exam while on OPT is critical. Employers can only sponsor attorneys who are licensed to practice. Waiting until after your EAD expires to sit for the bar creates a gap that most firms will not accommodate.
Highlight transactional or regulatory specialization
Corporate attorneys with a defined specialty, such as M&A, securities, or data privacy, are easier for employers to sponsor under the H-1B specialty occupation standard. Generalist framing makes the petition harder to support convincingly.
Ask about the H-1B lottery plan during the offer stage
Most law firms register associates in the H-1B lottery in March. Ask your recruiting contact when they register and whether they file cap-exempt petitions through a nonprofit affiliate, which some firms maintain to reduce lottery risk.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly legal employers
Not every corporate law role is open to candidates who need visa sponsorship. Browse Migrate Mate to surface employers actively hiring OPT students for legal roles, so you focus your applications on firms already prepared to sponsor.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Corporate Attorney on OPT?
Yes, if you have a J.D. from a U.S. law school, an active EAD, and bar admission in the relevant state. Your OPT must be authorized for legal practice, meaning your employment must be directly related to your field of study. Corporate attorney roles in transactional law, compliance, or in-house counsel functions typically satisfy this requirement.
Does a J.D. qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
No. J.D. programs are not listed on the STEM Designated Degree Program list maintained by DHS, so graduates cannot apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Corporate attorney candidates on OPT have a maximum of 12 months of post-completion work authorization, which makes early H-1B planning with your employer essential.
How do law firms typically sponsor Corporate Attorneys for H-1B?
Most large firms register OPT associates in the H-1B cap lottery in March for an October 1 start date. If selected, the firm files a petition and the attorney transitions from OPT to H-1B status. Some firms also maintain cap-exempt nonprofit affiliates, allowing them to file H-1B petitions outside the lottery with no cap restriction.
What happens if my OPT expires before the H-1B takes effect?
If you are selected in the H-1B lottery and your OPT EAD expires before October 1, you may be eligible for a cap-gap extension. This automatically extends your OPT and F-1 status through September 30, allowing you to keep working legally. Your employer's immigration counsel should file the H-1B petition before your EAD expires to preserve the cap-gap.
Where can I find Corporate Attorney jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists corporate attorney and in-house legal roles from employers open to hiring OPT candidates. Filtering by visa sponsorship on Migrate Mate removes the guesswork of cold-applying to firms that will screen out international candidates. This is especially important in legal hiring, where sponsorship willingness varies significantly by firm size and practice area.
See which Corporate Attorney employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
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