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
Resource will provide legal, communication, organizational, and decision-making support to the Legal Department. Must be self-motivated and able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Perform a variety of legal support and decision-making duties including:
- Assisting in preparing responses to foreclosure actions, bankruptcy actions, and other process-oriented legal responses
- Tracking status of foreclosure cases and Sheriff’s sales involving the client
- Preparing a variety of legal documents necessary for the organization, such as contracts, mortgage releases/lien releases, reports, budgets, and internal communication
- Sorting, analyzing and distributing mail within the legal department
- Assisting Legal Counsel with word processing, filing and document transmittal services
- Assisting Legal Counsel in transmitting legal correspondence to clients, customers, outside counsel and court officials by electronic filing, mail, fax or messenger
- Managing special projects as assigned, including ensuring project progress, coordinating meetings, and maintaining organized project and case files
- Assisting Legal Counsel in reviewing and making necessary data entry updates to Sharepoint contracts database
- Performing records research, legal research, checking legal forms for accuracy, preparing legal documents, preparing drafts of contracts, preparing contract amendments
- Performing other tasks as needed and assigned
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Two (2) or four (4) year relevant educational degree (such as a Paralegal degree or certificate) - Required - 2 Years
- or minimum of 2 years exp in a law firm, government legal dept, corporate legal dept or equivalent setting w/exposure to legal terms and/or procedures - Required - 2 Years
- Minimum 2 years experience in the same position/employers - Required - 2 Years
- Demonstrated independent judgment and critical thinking skills - Required
- Exceptional organizational skills - Required
- Willingness and ability to take on a wide variety of tasks and new tasks as requested - Required
- Ability to work with sensitive documents and information w/o divulging information to internal or external parties - Required
- Interested in the mission of the client and taking part in work that furthers that mission - Required
- Demonstrated effective verbal and superior written communication skills - Required
- Demonstrated customer service orientation - Required
- Able to think logically and analytically - Required
- Proactive in anticipating and alerting others to problems with projects or processes - Required
- Exceedingly high detail orientation and accuracy - Required
- Takes initiative and needs little supervision - Required
- Able to prioritize, organize tasks and time, and follow up without being prompted - Required
- Able to perform responsibilities efficiently, accurately and timely - Required
- Able to work well in a team environment and as part of a team - Required
- Possess a high level of expertise in Microsoft Word and proficient in basics of Microsoft Excel - Required
LOCATION
Onsite
VIVA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants have an equal opportunity for placement, and all employees have an equal opportunity to develop on the job. This means that VIVA will not discriminate against any employee or qualified applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
INTRODUCTION
Resource will provide legal, communication, organizational, and decision-making support to the Legal Department. Must be self-motivated and able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Perform a variety of legal support and decision-making duties including:
- Assisting in preparing responses to foreclosure actions, bankruptcy actions, and other process-oriented legal responses
- Tracking status of foreclosure cases and Sheriff’s sales involving the client
- Preparing a variety of legal documents necessary for the organization, such as contracts, mortgage releases/lien releases, reports, budgets, and internal communication
- Sorting, analyzing and distributing mail within the legal department
- Assisting Legal Counsel with word processing, filing and document transmittal services
- Assisting Legal Counsel in transmitting legal correspondence to clients, customers, outside counsel and court officials by electronic filing, mail, fax or messenger
- Managing special projects as assigned, including ensuring project progress, coordinating meetings, and maintaining organized project and case files
- Assisting Legal Counsel in reviewing and making necessary data entry updates to Sharepoint contracts database
- Performing records research, legal research, checking legal forms for accuracy, preparing legal documents, preparing drafts of contracts, preparing contract amendments
- Performing other tasks as needed and assigned
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Two (2) or four (4) year relevant educational degree (such as a Paralegal degree or certificate) - Required - 2 Years
- or minimum of 2 years exp in a law firm, government legal dept, corporate legal dept or equivalent setting w/exposure to legal terms and/or procedures - Required - 2 Years
- Minimum 2 years experience in the same position/employers - Required - 2 Years
- Demonstrated independent judgment and critical thinking skills - Required
- Exceptional organizational skills - Required
- Willingness and ability to take on a wide variety of tasks and new tasks as requested - Required
- Ability to work with sensitive documents and information w/o divulging information to internal or external parties - Required
- Interested in the mission of the client and taking part in work that furthers that mission - Required
- Demonstrated effective verbal and superior written communication skills - Required
- Demonstrated customer service orientation - Required
- Able to think logically and analytically - Required
- Proactive in anticipating and alerting others to problems with projects or processes - Required
- Exceedingly high detail orientation and accuracy - Required
- Takes initiative and needs little supervision - Required
- Able to prioritize, organize tasks and time, and follow up without being prompted - Required
- Able to perform responsibilities efficiently, accurately and timely - Required
- Able to work well in a team environment and as part of a team - Required
- Possess a high level of expertise in Microsoft Word and proficient in basics of Microsoft Excel - Required
LOCATION
Onsite
VIVA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants have an equal opportunity for placement, and all employees have an equal opportunity to develop on the job. This means that VIVA will not discriminate against any employee or qualified applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
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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.