OPT Corporate Counsel Jobs
Corporate Counsel roles qualify for OPT work authorization because they require at minimum a J.D. degree, meeting the specialty occupation standard STEM-designated law programs may also qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Most in-house legal teams at mid-size and large companies actively hire OPT candidates for contract review, compliance, and regulatory work.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Overview:
Power your future with Qualus as our Corporate Counsel in our Legal department! Reporting to the Associate General Counsel, you will play a key role within the company’s Legal team, contributing significantly to a wide variety of legal and business matters that impact the corporation. As Corporate Counsel you will be viewed as a leader within the organization regarding ethics and integrity, upholding the highest standards of personal conduct, supported by transparent and honest communication. While the role encompasses a diverse range of legal services, your primary responsibility will focus on the review, negotiation, and initial risk assessment of contracts.
Responsibilities:
- Provide legal advice and risk assessments across a broad range of legal matters related to contracts.
- Conduct transactional risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies aligned with corporate risk tolerances.
- Analyze and summarize legal documents and contracts.
- Anticipate and mitigate potential legal problems involving the assigned Business Units.
- Conduct and compile research.
- Review owner contracts and support Business Unit leaders in the bidding/negotiation process.
- Review routine project-related agreements.
- Analyze change orders and waivers/releases prepared by others for legal risks.
- Maintain and utilize best practices with respect to contract terms.
- Deliver legal training to the Business Units on a variety of legal topics, including project specific requirements and ethics/compliance.
- Develop and provide input to capture market trends and continuously improve processes.
- Other activities, duties, and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications
- Possession of a Juris Doctorate, sitting for the bar or with admission to the bar in the United States.
- 1-2 years of experience with contracts.
- Exercises independent judgment and discretion with ability to identify problems and initiate corrective action.
- Triage and ability to prioritize and successfully manage multiple competing demands simultaneously.
- Maintain knowledge of industry best practices and applicable legislation affecting the operations.
- Adaptable and flexible to operate with minimal direction and little or no supervision while working in complex and changing environment.
- Proven written and verbal communication abilities with emphasis on problem solving and negotiation, with ability to explain complex legal concepts to employees and staff at all levels.
- Proficiency with computer applications, including Microsoft Office suite, and various legal case management systems.
- Ability to read, understand, and interpret contracts and insurance documents.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work with staff at all levels, both internal and external.
LI-AM2
Benefits & Compensation:
Qualus benefits offered include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short and Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays, for those who qualify.
The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The salary range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.
Company Overview:
Qualus is a leading pure-play power solutions firm and innovator at the forefront of power infrastructure transformation, with differentiated capabilities across grid modernization, resiliency, security, and sustainability. The firm partners with utilities, commercial, industrial, data center, and government clients, and renewable and energy storage developers, offering comprehensive solutions through boutique and integrated advisory, planning, engineering, digital solutions, program management, and specialized field services. Qualus also provides software and technology enabled services and develops breakthrough solutions for critical power industry challenges such as distributed and variable resource integration, emergency management, and secure data exchange. The firm has over 1,800 professionals, with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We are committed to providing an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on any grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation across Canada and the US.
Position Overview:
Power your future with Qualus as our Corporate Counsel in our Legal department! Reporting to the Associate General Counsel, you will play a key role within the company’s Legal team, contributing significantly to a wide variety of legal and business matters that impact the corporation. As Corporate Counsel you will be viewed as a leader within the organization regarding ethics and integrity, upholding the highest standards of personal conduct, supported by transparent and honest communication. While the role encompasses a diverse range of legal services, your primary responsibility will focus on the review, negotiation, and initial risk assessment of contracts.
Responsibilities:
- Provide legal advice and risk assessments across a broad range of legal matters related to contracts.
- Conduct transactional risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies aligned with corporate risk tolerances.
- Analyze and summarize legal documents and contracts.
- Anticipate and mitigate potential legal problems involving the assigned Business Units.
- Conduct and compile research.
- Review owner contracts and support Business Unit leaders in the bidding/negotiation process.
- Review routine project-related agreements.
- Analyze change orders and waivers/releases prepared by others for legal risks.
- Maintain and utilize best practices with respect to contract terms.
- Deliver legal training to the Business Units on a variety of legal topics, including project specific requirements and ethics/compliance.
- Develop and provide input to capture market trends and continuously improve processes.
- Other activities, duties, and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications
- Possession of a Juris Doctorate, sitting for the bar or with admission to the bar in the United States.
- 1-2 years of experience with contracts.
- Exercises independent judgment and discretion with ability to identify problems and initiate corrective action.
- Triage and ability to prioritize and successfully manage multiple competing demands simultaneously.
- Maintain knowledge of industry best practices and applicable legislation affecting the operations.
- Adaptable and flexible to operate with minimal direction and little or no supervision while working in complex and changing environment.
- Proven written and verbal communication abilities with emphasis on problem solving and negotiation, with ability to explain complex legal concepts to employees and staff at all levels.
- Proficiency with computer applications, including Microsoft Office suite, and various legal case management systems.
- Ability to read, understand, and interpret contracts and insurance documents.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work with staff at all levels, both internal and external.
LI-AM2
Benefits & Compensation:
Qualus benefits offered include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short and Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays, for those who qualify.
The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The salary range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.
Company Overview:
Qualus is a leading pure-play power solutions firm and innovator at the forefront of power infrastructure transformation, with differentiated capabilities across grid modernization, resiliency, security, and sustainability. The firm partners with utilities, commercial, industrial, data center, and government clients, and renewable and energy storage developers, offering comprehensive solutions through boutique and integrated advisory, planning, engineering, digital solutions, program management, and specialized field services. Qualus also provides software and technology enabled services and develops breakthrough solutions for critical power industry challenges such as distributed and variable resource integration, emergency management, and secure data exchange. The firm has over 1,800 professionals, with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We are committed to providing an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on any grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation across Canada and the US.
See all 370+ OPT Corporate Counsel Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Corporate Counsel Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Corporate Counsel
Target companies with established legal departments
Large corporations with dedicated legal teams are more likely to have HR infrastructure to support OPT work authorization. Focus on companies with 500-plus employees where in-house counsel headcount justifies hiring international graduates.
Emphasize your J.D. and bar admission status
Employers hiring Corporate Counsel need someone who can practice law. Lead with your J.D., the state you're admitted to practice in, and any pending bar applications. Sponsorship conversations go smoother when your credentials are unambiguous.
Apply before your OPT start date, not after
Corporate legal hiring moves slowly. Background checks, conflict screenings, and onboarding paperwork for attorneys take four to eight weeks. Start applying three to four months before your OPT authorization begins to avoid gaps.
Frame H-1B sponsorship as a low-lift for legal employers
In-house legal departments already work with outside counsel on immigration matters. Many are more comfortable sponsoring H-1B visa than hiring managers in other departments. Address sponsorship directly and offer to explain the process if needed.
Use your STEM OPT extension if your law program qualifies
Some J.D. programs with a technology law or data privacy concentration carry STEM designation. If yours does, you may have 36 months of OPT total, giving employers significantly more runway before H-1B sponsorship becomes necessary.
Prioritize contract, compliance, and privacy roles first
Contract management, regulatory compliance, and data privacy are the highest-volume Corporate Counsel entry points. These areas have persistent demand and are commonly filled by candidates still on OPT at companies comfortable with work authorization timelines.
Corporate Counsel OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as Corporate Counsel on OPT?
Yes. Corporate Counsel roles require a J.D. degree at minimum, which satisfies the specialty occupation standard that makes OPT work authorization valid for the position. You'll need to be authorized to practice law in the state where you'll be working, so bar admission status matters alongside your OPT authorization.
Do Corporate Counsel jobs typically come with H-1B sponsorship?
Many do, particularly at companies with 500-plus employees that already work with outside immigration counsel. In-house legal teams tend to understand the H-1B process better than other departments. The most straightforward way to find Corporate Counsel roles where employers are open to OPT and sponsorship is to browse Migrate Mate, which filters specifically for visa-friendly opportunities.
Does my law school's STEM designation affect my OPT timeline as a Corporate Counsel candidate?
It can meaningfully. If your J.D. program holds a STEM designation, typically programs with a technology law, cybersecurity law, or data privacy concentration, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of your initial 12 months. That gives you 36 months of total work authorization, which makes employers significantly more willing to hire before committing to H-1B sponsorship.
What practice areas hire Corporate Counsel on OPT most often?
Contract management, data privacy, regulatory compliance, and employment law are the most active hiring areas for entry-level Corporate Counsel on OPT. These functions have high transaction volume and persistent headcount needs at technology companies, financial services firms, and healthcare organizations. Roles tied to specific regulatory frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, or SOX compliance are especially common.
How should I handle the OPT and bar admission conversation with employers?
Address both upfront and together. Confirm your OPT end date, whether you're pursuing STEM extension eligibility, and your bar admission status or timeline in your first substantive conversation. Employers evaluating Corporate Counsel candidates need to know you can legally practice in their jurisdiction. Combining both topics in one clear statement prevents confusion and builds credibility with hiring managers.