Corporate Legal Counsel Jobs for OPT Students
Corporate Legal Counsel roles on OPT require a J.D. or equivalent law degree and active bar admission in at least one U.S. state. Most positions fall under specialty occupation status, supporting OPT authorization. Cap-gap protection applies if your H-1B is filed before your OPT expires.
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Get Access To All JobsAbout GenScript
GenScript Biotech Corporation (Stock Code: 1548.HK) is a global biotechnology group. Founded in 2002, GenScript has an established global presence across North America, Europe, the Greater China, and Asia Pacific. GenScript's businesses encompass four major categories based on its leading gene synthesis technology, including operation as a Life Science CRO, enzyme and synthetic biology products, biologics development and manufacturing, and cell therapy.
GenScript is committed to striving towards its vision of being the most reliable biotech company in the world to make humans and nature healthier through biotechnology.
Corporate Legal Counsel
Job Scope:
GenScript Legal Department has a mid-sized in-house legal team, responsible for U.S. Legal and Compliance issues. The Legal Department offers opportunities to grow for our lawyers and supporting members who are committed to grow with the company.
Reporting to: Head of Legal Team I
Location: Onsite in Piscataway, NJ (4 days per week)
The estimated salary range is $90,000 - $100,000 based on experience level.
Key Responsibilities:
- General Corporate Duties:
- Review contracts and provide legal support to business Units in the U.S. markets
- Conduct legal research on legal issues assigned by supervising attorney
- Use of Legal research platforms (LexisNexis) and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools required
- Coordinating with Corporate Secretary Office to support corporate organizational works for the U.S. legal entities, verification, clarification, and documenting organizational structures
-
Collect, organize, and update new developments on laws, regulations, and relevant cases related to Biotechnology, Technology, and Life Science industry, and Employment/HR, for compliance purposes
-
Litigation Management:
- Manage litigation cases
-
Collect information, participate in internal investigations, and assist with the management of outside legal counsel
-
Immigration/work permit related tasks:
-
Coordinate with HR and outside law firms on employment related immigration and/or visa matters
-
Other responsibilities as assigned by supervising attorney. On site in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Qualifications
- Law degree (J.D.) plus two years of legal experience as U.S. licensed lawyer with a law firm or an in-house legal team; or LLM degree, passed a U.S. State bar, with two years legal experience
- Motivation and committed to perform solid ground work and find opportunity to grow in the legal field
- Strong organizational skills, attention to details, and effectively prioritize and meet deadlines
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English. Chinese mandarin language a plus
- Ability to troubleshoot issues and create solutions
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point
GenScript USA Inc/ProBio Inc. is a proud equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to attracting, retaining, and maximizing the performance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the Company's policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status, uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
GenScript USA Inc./ProBio Inc. maintains a drug-free workplace.
Please note: GenScript USA Inc./ProBio Inc. will only contact candidates through verified application sources. GenScript/Probio does not request personal information from candidates through individual email or any other platform.
About GenScript
GenScript Biotech Corporation (Stock Code: 1548.HK) is a global biotechnology group. Founded in 2002, GenScript has an established global presence across North America, Europe, the Greater China, and Asia Pacific. GenScript's businesses encompass four major categories based on its leading gene synthesis technology, including operation as a Life Science CRO, enzyme and synthetic biology products, biologics development and manufacturing, and cell therapy.
GenScript is committed to striving towards its vision of being the most reliable biotech company in the world to make humans and nature healthier through biotechnology.
Corporate Legal Counsel
Job Scope:
GenScript Legal Department has a mid-sized in-house legal team, responsible for U.S. Legal and Compliance issues. The Legal Department offers opportunities to grow for our lawyers and supporting members who are committed to grow with the company.
Reporting to: Head of Legal Team I
Location: Onsite in Piscataway, NJ (4 days per week)
The estimated salary range is $90,000 - $100,000 based on experience level.
Key Responsibilities:
- General Corporate Duties:
- Review contracts and provide legal support to business Units in the U.S. markets
- Conduct legal research on legal issues assigned by supervising attorney
- Use of Legal research platforms (LexisNexis) and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools required
- Coordinating with Corporate Secretary Office to support corporate organizational works for the U.S. legal entities, verification, clarification, and documenting organizational structures
-
Collect, organize, and update new developments on laws, regulations, and relevant cases related to Biotechnology, Technology, and Life Science industry, and Employment/HR, for compliance purposes
-
Litigation Management:
- Manage litigation cases
-
Collect information, participate in internal investigations, and assist with the management of outside legal counsel
-
Immigration/work permit related tasks:
-
Coordinate with HR and outside law firms on employment related immigration and/or visa matters
-
Other responsibilities as assigned by supervising attorney. On site in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Qualifications
- Law degree (J.D.) plus two years of legal experience as U.S. licensed lawyer with a law firm or an in-house legal team; or LLM degree, passed a U.S. State bar, with two years legal experience
- Motivation and committed to perform solid ground work and find opportunity to grow in the legal field
- Strong organizational skills, attention to details, and effectively prioritize and meet deadlines
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English. Chinese mandarin language a plus
- Ability to troubleshoot issues and create solutions
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point
GenScript USA Inc/ProBio Inc. is a proud equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to attracting, retaining, and maximizing the performance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the Company's policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status, uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
GenScript USA Inc./ProBio Inc. maintains a drug-free workplace.
Please note: GenScript USA Inc./ProBio Inc. will only contact candidates through verified application sources. GenScript/Probio does not request personal information from candidates through individual email or any other platform.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Corporate Legal Counsel
Target in-house legal departments over law firms
In-house corporate legal teams hire on employment visas far more readily than BigLaw firms. Focus your search on companies with dedicated legal departments, where the role is a direct employment relationship rather than client-facing legal work.
Confirm bar admission requirements before applying
Most Corporate Legal Counsel roles require active bar admission in at least one U.S. state. Verify which state the role is based in and whether the employer accepts admission in a different jurisdiction before investing time in the application.
Frame your specialty occupation eligibility clearly
Your J.D. directly satisfies the specialty occupation requirement for OPT and H-1B purposes. Communicate this explicitly in cover letters and interviews so employers understand there is no ambiguity around your work authorization eligibility for the role.
Prioritize employers with existing immigration infrastructure
Large corporations with HR legal teams or retained immigration counsel process sponsorship far more efficiently than smaller companies. Look for roles at companies with 500 or more employees, where sponsorship workflows are already established and well understood.
Highlight your dual legal and business value
Employers sponsoring OPT students weigh the cost against the return. Emphasizing your ability to handle both legal risk management and commercial deal support makes the sponsorship investment far easier for hiring managers to justify internally.
Corporate Legal Counsel jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Corporate Legal Counsel role qualify as a specialty occupation for OPT?
Yes. Corporate Legal Counsel positions require a J.D. or equivalent law degree as a standard entry requirement, which satisfies the specialty occupation definition for both OPT STEM extension purposes and H-1B eligibility. The direct relationship between the degree field and the role is clear-cut, making this one of the cleaner specialty occupation cases for immigration purposes.
Can I work as Corporate Legal Counsel on OPT without passing the bar?
It depends on the role's specific duties. Positions involving legal advice, contract negotiation, or regulatory guidance almost always require bar admission. Some junior roles focused on legal research or compliance support may not, but most employers treat bar admission as a hard requirement. Review the job description carefully and clarify with the employer before applying.
How do I find Corporate Legal Counsel roles that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters roles by visa sponsorship willingness, which removes the guesswork of cold-applying to companies that won't sponsor. Focus your search on in-house legal roles at large corporations, where immigration infrastructure already exists and sponsorship decisions move faster.
What happens to my OPT authorization if the company's H-1B petition is filed on time?
If your employer files a cap-subject H-1B petition before your OPT expiration date and your OPT end date falls between April 1 and September 30, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. Your I-20 must reflect the cap-gap extension, and your DSO should update it promptly after the H-1B receipt notice is issued.
Do Corporate Legal Counsel roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension?
Not directly. The STEM OPT extension applies to STEM-designated degree fields, and a J.D. is not on the STEM designated degree program list. However, if you hold an underlying STEM bachelor's or master's degree alongside your J.D. and the role can be linked to that STEM degree, some students have successfully argued eligibility. This requires close coordination with your DSO and is not guaranteed.
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