OPT Legal Assistant Jobs
Legal Assistant jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in paralegal studies, legal studies, or political science. Most roles fall under SOC code 23-2011, which qualifies for standard 12-month OPT authorization, with STEM extension eligibility depending on your degree classification.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At Minnesota Cannabis Services, we’re not just building businesses — we’re building the people who make them great. Our team partners with leading operators across cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and retail to deliver world-class expertise in legal, finance, analytics, marketing, HR, and technology.
We’re looking for professionals who take pride in their work, move with purpose, and thrive in fast-changing environments. The kind of people who hold themselves to high standards, think creatively, and find satisfaction in solving hard problems.
When you join our team, you’ll work alongside some of the most experienced leaders in the industry — professionals who share their knowledge freely and lead by example. You’ll be challenged, supported, and trusted to take ownership of meaningful work that shapes the future of one of the fastest-growing industries in America.
ABOUT THE ROLE
As a Paralegal / Legal Assistant, you'll play a critical role in supporting the General Counsel and broader Legal team across one of the most highly regulated industries in the country. You'll own the day-to-day flow of contracts, licensing files, corporate records, and compliance documentation that keeps our stores open and our customers served 365 days a year.
This is a high-trust, high-ownership position for someone who thrives on precision, confidentiality, and pace—and who wants to help a first-mover legal cannabis company set the professional standard for the industry.
- Draft, redline, and route NDAs, vendor agreements, leases, and routine commercial contracts for attorney review.
- Maintain the contract lifecycle management (CLM) system—intake, naming conventions, executed copies, renewal calendars, and surviving obligations.
- Manage state and local cannabis licensing files: track expirations, prepare renewals, assemble disclosures, and coordinate signatures.
- Support corporate governance: maintain entity records, minute books, resolutions, officer/director updates, and good-standing filings across multiple states.
- Conduct legal research on regulatory, employment, real estate, and commercial matters and summarize findings for attorneys.
- Coordinate e-signature workflows (DocuSign), signature blocks, exhibits, and pre-signature checklists.
- Support litigation, subpoena response, and litigation hold administration—collecting documents, tracking deadlines, and maintaining the matter file.
- Partner with HR, Finance, Procurement, and Retail Operations on legal intake, vendor onboarding, and compliance escalations.
- Maintain strict confidentiality, attorney-client privilege, and document retention standards.
WHO YOU ARE
You are a detail-obsessed, accountable, and discreet professional who treats every document like it's going to be reviewed in court. You hold yourself to the highest standards of accuracy and integrity, embrace technology to move work faster without losing precision, and take pride in being the person the legal team—and the business—can rely on.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree an/or paralegal certificate (or equivalent experience)
- 2+ years of legal assistant or paralegal experience, ideally in a corporate legal department or regulatory agency
- Knowledge of cannabis regulations or experience in another highly regulated industry preferred
- Excellent written communication and document management skills
- Detail-oriented, highly organized, and comfortable working under pressure
- Professional discretion and commitment to confidentiality
- Proficiency in G-Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and project tracking systems like Monday.com and Asana
- Must be willing to work 100% on-site in our Edina Headquarters
- Ability to travel up to 25% of role between offices and regulated sites as needed
- Must commit to coming to work sober
- Successfully pass a pre-employment criminal background check
- Minimum 21 years of age
BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION
- Pay range between $58,240 - $72,800 annually
- Employee discount includes 50% off smokable cannabis products
- Health, Dental and Vision insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- 401K
- Employee Discount Program offering exclusive discounts from top national retailers
- Paid Sick Leave (PSL) and Personal Time Off (PTO)
- Holidays observed include New Years Day, 4/20, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
At Minnesota Cannabis Services, we believe great teams are built on trust, initiative, and follow-through. We invest deeply in our people — providing mentorship, on-the-job training, and opportunities for advancement across multiple sectors of the cannabis industry.
Here, you’ll be part of a high-performing culture that values precision, reliability, and continuous improvement. Every project is a chance to grow your skills, strengthen your leadership, and contribute to something that matters.
If you’re driven, resourceful, and ready to make an impact, we want you on our team. Apply today and take the next step in your career with Minnesota Cannabis Services.
INTRODUCTION
At Minnesota Cannabis Services, we’re not just building businesses — we’re building the people who make them great. Our team partners with leading operators across cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and retail to deliver world-class expertise in legal, finance, analytics, marketing, HR, and technology.
We’re looking for professionals who take pride in their work, move with purpose, and thrive in fast-changing environments. The kind of people who hold themselves to high standards, think creatively, and find satisfaction in solving hard problems.
When you join our team, you’ll work alongside some of the most experienced leaders in the industry — professionals who share their knowledge freely and lead by example. You’ll be challenged, supported, and trusted to take ownership of meaningful work that shapes the future of one of the fastest-growing industries in America.
ABOUT THE ROLE
As a Paralegal / Legal Assistant, you'll play a critical role in supporting the General Counsel and broader Legal team across one of the most highly regulated industries in the country. You'll own the day-to-day flow of contracts, licensing files, corporate records, and compliance documentation that keeps our stores open and our customers served 365 days a year.
This is a high-trust, high-ownership position for someone who thrives on precision, confidentiality, and pace—and who wants to help a first-mover legal cannabis company set the professional standard for the industry.
- Draft, redline, and route NDAs, vendor agreements, leases, and routine commercial contracts for attorney review.
- Maintain the contract lifecycle management (CLM) system—intake, naming conventions, executed copies, renewal calendars, and surviving obligations.
- Manage state and local cannabis licensing files: track expirations, prepare renewals, assemble disclosures, and coordinate signatures.
- Support corporate governance: maintain entity records, minute books, resolutions, officer/director updates, and good-standing filings across multiple states.
- Conduct legal research on regulatory, employment, real estate, and commercial matters and summarize findings for attorneys.
- Coordinate e-signature workflows (DocuSign), signature blocks, exhibits, and pre-signature checklists.
- Support litigation, subpoena response, and litigation hold administration—collecting documents, tracking deadlines, and maintaining the matter file.
- Partner with HR, Finance, Procurement, and Retail Operations on legal intake, vendor onboarding, and compliance escalations.
- Maintain strict confidentiality, attorney-client privilege, and document retention standards.
WHO YOU ARE
You are a detail-obsessed, accountable, and discreet professional who treats every document like it's going to be reviewed in court. You hold yourself to the highest standards of accuracy and integrity, embrace technology to move work faster without losing precision, and take pride in being the person the legal team—and the business—can rely on.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree an/or paralegal certificate (or equivalent experience)
- 2+ years of legal assistant or paralegal experience, ideally in a corporate legal department or regulatory agency
- Knowledge of cannabis regulations or experience in another highly regulated industry preferred
- Excellent written communication and document management skills
- Detail-oriented, highly organized, and comfortable working under pressure
- Professional discretion and commitment to confidentiality
- Proficiency in G-Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and project tracking systems like Monday.com and Asana
- Must be willing to work 100% on-site in our Edina Headquarters
- Ability to travel up to 25% of role between offices and regulated sites as needed
- Must commit to coming to work sober
- Successfully pass a pre-employment criminal background check
- Minimum 21 years of age
BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION
- Pay range between $58,240 - $72,800 annually
- Employee discount includes 50% off smokable cannabis products
- Health, Dental and Vision insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- 401K
- Employee Discount Program offering exclusive discounts from top national retailers
- Paid Sick Leave (PSL) and Personal Time Off (PTO)
- Holidays observed include New Years Day, 4/20, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
At Minnesota Cannabis Services, we believe great teams are built on trust, initiative, and follow-through. We invest deeply in our people — providing mentorship, on-the-job training, and opportunities for advancement across multiple sectors of the cannabis industry.
Here, you’ll be part of a high-performing culture that values precision, reliability, and continuous improvement. Every project is a chance to grow your skills, strengthen your leadership, and contribute to something that matters.
If you’re driven, resourceful, and ready to make an impact, we want you on our team. Apply today and take the next step in your career with Minnesota Cannabis Services.
See all 342+ OPT Legal Assistant Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Legal Assistant
Target law firms that regularly hire OPT candidates
Mid-size and large law firms with active immigration or corporate practices hire OPT students regularly. Search Migrate Mate to filter for employers with a documented history of OPT-friendly hiring in legal support roles.
Confirm your degree supports the Legal Assistant SOC code
USCIS requires your OPT employment to be directly related to your degree. A paralegal studies or legal studies degree maps cleanly. Political science and pre-law degrees can qualify if your duties align with your coursework.
Apply before your OPT start date is finalized
Law firms move slowly on hiring decisions. Starting your search 60 to 90 days before your OPT authorization begins gives employers time to process paperwork without feeling rushed by your work authorization timeline.
Highlight legal research and writing skills prominently
Employers screening OPT candidates want proof of practical skills immediately. Emphasize Westlaw, LexisNexis proficiency, brief drafting, and document review experience on your resume, since these reduce onboarding time for busy practices.
Ask directly about H-1B sponsorship during later interview stages
Legal support roles at larger firms often lead to H-1B visa sponsorship after OPT. Raise this question after receiving an offer, not during early interviews, and frame it around your long-term commitment to the firm.
Consider in-house legal departments at large corporations
Corporate legal departments at companies like Google, Amazon, or major financial institutions hire Legal Assistants and have dedicated immigration counsel on staff, making OPT authorization and future H-1B sponsorship significantly more straightforward.
Legal Assistant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Legal Assistant job qualify for F-1 OPT work authorization?
Yes, Legal Assistant roles qualify for F-1 OPT as long as the position is directly related to your degree field. Degrees in paralegal studies, legal studies, political science, or criminal justice typically support this connection. Your DSO will confirm the relationship between your specific degree and the role before authorizing employment.
Can I work as a Legal Assistant on OPT without a paralegal certificate?
Yes. A paralegal certificate is not required for OPT eligibility or for most Legal Assistant positions. What matters for OPT purposes is that your degree field relates to the role. Many employers prefer candidates with relevant degrees and writing skills over formal certification, particularly for entry-level legal support positions.
Do law firms typically sponsor Legal Assistants for H-1B visas after OPT?
Some do, particularly mid-size and large firms in corporate, immigration, and intellectual property practices. Sponsorship is less common at small firms due to cost and limited HR infrastructure. Demonstrating strong performance during your OPT period significantly improves your chances. Searching Migrate Mate for employers with a history of sponsorship is a practical first step.
Is Legal Assistant work eligible for a STEM OPT extension?
Standard Legal Assistant roles classified under SOC 23-2011 are not on the STEM OPT designated degree list, so STEM extension is not available for this SOC code. However, if your underlying degree is in a STEM field and you pursue a role in legal technology, compliance analytics, or e-discovery with a qualifying employer, a STEM extension may apply.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I change law firms during my OPT period?
You can change employers during OPT, but you must report the change to your DSO within 10 days through your school's SEVIS reporting system. There is no formal transfer process with USCIS for OPT, but the new position must still be directly related to your degree. A gap between positions is allowed up to a 90-day unemployment limit across your full OPT period.