OPT Legal Consultant Jobs
Legal Consultant jobs on OPT are available at law firms, corporate legal departments, and consulting firms. Most roles require a law degree or related field, and your 12-month OPT clock starts on your authorized start date. STEM OPT extension isn't available for J.D. programs, so timeline planning matters.
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Get Access To All JobsFull-time Faculty Positions
Full-time faculty positions will be posted on a per-opening basis. Postings are organized by college/school and department. Applicants will be evaluated at the college/school level for the position which they are submitting an application. Unless noted by a close date, positions will remain open until they are filled. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.
Part-time Faculty Positions
DePaul University invites expressions of interest for a pool of qualified Part Time Faculty to teach courses in a variety of disciplines across all 10 colleges and schools. Individuals may enter expressions of interest by submitting their credentials to any posting for which they are qualified to teach. Postings are organized by college/school and department. Screening of individuals in the pool is ongoing, depending on curricular need and funding. Individuals will be contacted by the department if they reach the finalist stage for teaching a particular course or set of courses. The pool will remain in place until the closing date specified in the posting details; those interested in remaining in the pool beyond that time must resubmit. All individuals in the pool will be notified by email when the posting is closed.
Below you will find the details for the posting including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening or submitting your interest in teaching.
Posting Details
Job ID: 186544
Rank: Instructor/Professional Lecturer
College/School: Chicago, IL - College of Law
Position Description:
The Jaharis Health Law Institute is accepting applications for a Faculty Fellow in Health Law and Intellectual Property/Information Technology expected to begin on August 1, 2027.
Established in 1984 and supported by the Mary and Michael Jaharis Health Law Institute (JHLI), DePaul’s health law program has consistently ranked among the top in the nation. JHLI offers students coursework that reflects the diversity of health law from community health to high-tech health care, making DePaul a leader in the education of future generations of health law partners, policy makers and critical thinkers. The fellowship is designed to encourage scholars interested in entering a career in legal academia in the fields of Health Law and IP/IT.
The Fellow will be expected to:
- Teach curricular offerings at the intersection of health & IP/IT;
- Write and present scholarly work in health & IP/IT;
- Supervise and advise JD, LLM and MLS students in these areas;
- Support the work of CIPLIT and JHLI.
The appointment will be for one academic year, with the possibility of extending for one additional year.
Qualifications
- JD degree or equivalent
- Excellent writing skills
- Either relevant job experience or relevant scholarly work at the intersection of health law and IP/IT
Application Instructions:
Interested candidates should apply online via DePaul's Faculty Jobs Portal. Required materials include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, list of three (3) contact references, research statement, and writing sample. Questions concerning the Jaharis Faculty Fellowship should be sent to Professor Valerie Koch, Chair of 2026-2027 Jaharis Faculty Fellow Hiring Committee (vkoch1@depaul.edu).
General Compensation/Benefits Statement
DePaul University has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the qualifications, education, experience, and training of the selected candidate, the scope and responsibilities of the position, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.
DePaul University offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, and tuition benefit. Further information regarding benefits can be found here: https://offices.depaul.edu/human-resources/benefits/Pages/default.aspx.
About DePaul University's Academic Calendar
Except for the College of Law, DePaul University operates on a quarter system. Classes in Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters are 11 weeks in length (including finals week) and Summer courses, in two sessions, are typically 5 weeks in length. The College of Law operates on the semester system. Classes in the Fall and Spring semesters are 16 weeks in length (including finals week) and it offers a Summer Session of 7 weeks (including final exams).
Salary Information: The salary range for this 10-month position is $60,000 - $64,927, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Applicant Documents
Cover Letter(1)
C.V.(1)
Contact Reference(1)
Research Statement(1)
Full-time Faculty Positions
Full-time faculty positions will be posted on a per-opening basis. Postings are organized by college/school and department. Applicants will be evaluated at the college/school level for the position which they are submitting an application. Unless noted by a close date, positions will remain open until they are filled. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.
Part-time Faculty Positions
DePaul University invites expressions of interest for a pool of qualified Part Time Faculty to teach courses in a variety of disciplines across all 10 colleges and schools. Individuals may enter expressions of interest by submitting their credentials to any posting for which they are qualified to teach. Postings are organized by college/school and department. Screening of individuals in the pool is ongoing, depending on curricular need and funding. Individuals will be contacted by the department if they reach the finalist stage for teaching a particular course or set of courses. The pool will remain in place until the closing date specified in the posting details; those interested in remaining in the pool beyond that time must resubmit. All individuals in the pool will be notified by email when the posting is closed.
Below you will find the details for the posting including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening or submitting your interest in teaching.
Posting Details
Job ID: 186544
Rank: Instructor/Professional Lecturer
College/School: Chicago, IL - College of Law
Position Description:
The Jaharis Health Law Institute is accepting applications for a Faculty Fellow in Health Law and Intellectual Property/Information Technology expected to begin on August 1, 2027.
Established in 1984 and supported by the Mary and Michael Jaharis Health Law Institute (JHLI), DePaul’s health law program has consistently ranked among the top in the nation. JHLI offers students coursework that reflects the diversity of health law from community health to high-tech health care, making DePaul a leader in the education of future generations of health law partners, policy makers and critical thinkers. The fellowship is designed to encourage scholars interested in entering a career in legal academia in the fields of Health Law and IP/IT.
The Fellow will be expected to:
- Teach curricular offerings at the intersection of health & IP/IT;
- Write and present scholarly work in health & IP/IT;
- Supervise and advise JD, LLM and MLS students in these areas;
- Support the work of CIPLIT and JHLI.
The appointment will be for one academic year, with the possibility of extending for one additional year.
Qualifications
- JD degree or equivalent
- Excellent writing skills
- Either relevant job experience or relevant scholarly work at the intersection of health law and IP/IT
Application Instructions:
Interested candidates should apply online via DePaul's Faculty Jobs Portal. Required materials include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, list of three (3) contact references, research statement, and writing sample. Questions concerning the Jaharis Faculty Fellowship should be sent to Professor Valerie Koch, Chair of 2026-2027 Jaharis Faculty Fellow Hiring Committee (vkoch1@depaul.edu).
General Compensation/Benefits Statement
DePaul University has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the qualifications, education, experience, and training of the selected candidate, the scope and responsibilities of the position, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.
DePaul University offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, and tuition benefit. Further information regarding benefits can be found here: https://offices.depaul.edu/human-resources/benefits/Pages/default.aspx.
About DePaul University's Academic Calendar
Except for the College of Law, DePaul University operates on a quarter system. Classes in Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters are 11 weeks in length (including finals week) and Summer courses, in two sessions, are typically 5 weeks in length. The College of Law operates on the semester system. Classes in the Fall and Spring semesters are 16 weeks in length (including finals week) and it offers a Summer Session of 7 weeks (including final exams).
Salary Information: The salary range for this 10-month position is $60,000 - $64,927, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Applicant Documents
Cover Letter(1)
C.V.(1)
Contact Reference(1)
Research Statement(1)
See all 321+ OPT Legal Consultant Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Legal Consultant
Target employers familiar with OPT authorization
Large law firms and Fortune 500 legal departments regularly hire OPT workers and understand the authorization process. Smaller boutique firms may need a brief explanation of what OPT work authorization means for them as an employer.
Clarify your degree field on every application
Legal Consultant roles require your degree to relate directly to the work. Clearly state your field of study on your resume and cover letter so hiring managers can immediately confirm your OPT authorization aligns with the position's requirements.
Address your OPT end date proactively
Most OPT periods last 12 months. If you're applying six months in, raise your timeline early in conversations. Employers who value your skills will want enough runway to evaluate sponsorship options before your authorization expires.
Understand which employers can sponsor after OPT
Law firms with 25 or more attorneys are most likely to sponsor H-1B visas for legal consultants. Corporate legal departments at large companies also sponsor regularly. Research employer sponsorship history before investing significant time in an application.
Highlight jurisdiction-specific knowledge strategically
If you passed a state bar exam or hold a foreign law license, make that visible on your resume. Employers filling compliance or regulatory advisory roles often prioritize candidates with demonstrated legal credentials over those with general consulting backgrounds.
Request a reporting employer early in onboarding
Your DSO must update SEVIS with your employer information within 10 days of starting work. Confirm your employer's full legal name, address, and start date before day one so your OPT authorization record stays current and compliant from the start.
Legal Consultant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Legal Consultant on OPT without passing the U.S. bar exam?
Yes. The bar exam is required to practice law independently in the U.S., but Legal Consultant roles typically involve advisory, research, compliance, or contract work that doesn't require a law license. Your employer's job description determines whether bar admission is needed. Many firms hire OPT students as legal consultants without requiring bar passage, especially in corporate, regulatory, or international law contexts.
Does a Legal Consultant role qualify as directly related to my field of study for OPT?
It depends on your degree. If you hold a J.D., LL.M., or a bachelor's in a related field such as political science, international relations, or business law, most Legal Consultant roles will qualify. Your DSO makes the final determination, but roles involving legal research, compliance advisory, or contract analysis are generally considered directly related to law and policy degrees.
Is a STEM OPT extension available for Legal Consultant jobs?
No. J.D. and LL.M. programs are not designated STEM fields, so graduates cannot apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. If your undergraduate degree is in a STEM field and your legal consulting role uses those technical skills, check with your DSO, but this situation is rare. Most legal consultants on OPT have a 12-month authorization window only.
How do I find Legal Consultant jobs where the employer is open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters jobs by sponsorship and OPT-friendliness, which saves significant time compared to applying broadly and hitting dead ends. Search Legal Consultant roles on Migrate Mate to find employers already familiar with OPT work authorization. Corporate legal departments at large companies and international law firms tend to be the most consistently OPT-receptive employers in this field.
What happens if my Legal Consultant job ends before my OPT period expires?
You enter a 60-day grace period after your employment ends, during which you can look for a new qualifying position. You cannot work during the grace period. If you secure a new Legal Consultant role, your DSO updates your SEVIS record to reflect the new employer. If you don't find work within 60 days, you must leave the U.S. or change to another valid immigration status.