OPT Legal Operations Manager Jobs
Legal Operations Manager roles sit at the intersection of law and business process, making them strong OPT fits for students with JD, business, or technology degrees. Most employers classify this as a specialty occupation, supporting H-1B visa sponsorship after OPT. Your 12-month standard period (or 24-month STEM extension if eligible) gives you real runway to prove value before transition.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At Goodyear, we are committed to fostering innovation and excellence. As the Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property & Technology, you will have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies with key technology teams while making a significant impact on our business. The Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property & Technology will be responsible for advising and partnering with these teams to ensure the protection and leveraging of Goodyear’s intellectual property assets. This role involves a mix of patent strategy development and implementation, counseling, agreements, and legal opinions. Being based at Goodyear’s Global Headquarters in Akron, Ohio, you will be a member of the global Intellectual Property and Technology legal team.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Job Duties / Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Collaborate with senior technology leaders to develop and execute comprehensive patent strategies
- Manage and directly handle utility patent preparation and prosecution activities, including drafting and filing patent applications, responding to office actions, and coordinating with external patent counsel
- Serve as primary intellectual property (IP) point-of-contact for designated technology/business units
- Develop and advise on IP strategies and risk mitigation
- Provide day-to-day IP advice and support, including counseling of internal clients on various IP and technology topics
- Train clients and staff on IP-related matters
- Manage intellectual property disputes as they arise
- Draft, review, and negotiate IP-related agreements, including, but not limited to, non-disclosure agreements, development agreements, collaboration agreements, and technology licensing agreements
- Conduct IP due diligence for business transactions
- Conduct thorough legal research and draft legal opinions on risk assessment or freedom to operate, patentability, and invalidity as needed
- Stay current with changes in IP law and regulations and ensure compliance with relevant legal standards
- Provide support for IP disputes
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
- Admission to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and a state bar
- Electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or chemical engineering/chemistry background preferred, although other technical backgrounds will be considered
- Minimum of 4 years of experience in intellectual property law, with a focus on patent strategies and client counseling
- Strong background in patent prosecution, portfolio management, and strategic IP planning
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong negotiation skills and experience in preparation of agreements
- Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills
- Proven ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
- Expertise in use and/or counseling for artificial intelligence (AI) tools a plus
Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 63,000 people and manufactures its products in 49 facilities in 19 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.
If you need reasonable accommodation to complete the online application, or any other part of the employment process, please contact the Goodyear Candidate Care Line at 330.796.4500.
Goodyear is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.
INTRODUCTION
At Goodyear, we are committed to fostering innovation and excellence. As the Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property & Technology, you will have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies with key technology teams while making a significant impact on our business. The Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property & Technology will be responsible for advising and partnering with these teams to ensure the protection and leveraging of Goodyear’s intellectual property assets. This role involves a mix of patent strategy development and implementation, counseling, agreements, and legal opinions. Being based at Goodyear’s Global Headquarters in Akron, Ohio, you will be a member of the global Intellectual Property and Technology legal team.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Job Duties / Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Collaborate with senior technology leaders to develop and execute comprehensive patent strategies
- Manage and directly handle utility patent preparation and prosecution activities, including drafting and filing patent applications, responding to office actions, and coordinating with external patent counsel
- Serve as primary intellectual property (IP) point-of-contact for designated technology/business units
- Develop and advise on IP strategies and risk mitigation
- Provide day-to-day IP advice and support, including counseling of internal clients on various IP and technology topics
- Train clients and staff on IP-related matters
- Manage intellectual property disputes as they arise
- Draft, review, and negotiate IP-related agreements, including, but not limited to, non-disclosure agreements, development agreements, collaboration agreements, and technology licensing agreements
- Conduct IP due diligence for business transactions
- Conduct thorough legal research and draft legal opinions on risk assessment or freedom to operate, patentability, and invalidity as needed
- Stay current with changes in IP law and regulations and ensure compliance with relevant legal standards
- Provide support for IP disputes
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
- Admission to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and a state bar
- Electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or chemical engineering/chemistry background preferred, although other technical backgrounds will be considered
- Minimum of 4 years of experience in intellectual property law, with a focus on patent strategies and client counseling
- Strong background in patent prosecution, portfolio management, and strategic IP planning
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong negotiation skills and experience in preparation of agreements
- Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills
- Proven ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
- Expertise in use and/or counseling for artificial intelligence (AI) tools a plus
Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 63,000 people and manufactures its products in 49 facilities in 19 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.
If you need reasonable accommodation to complete the online application, or any other part of the employment process, please contact the Goodyear Candidate Care Line at 330.796.4500.
Goodyear is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Legal Operations Manager
Target in-house legal departments at large companies
Large corporations with established legal teams are far more likely to have HR infrastructure for visa sponsorship. Focus on Fortune 500 companies and high-growth tech firms where legal operations is a dedicated function, not an afterthought assigned to paralegals.
Frame your degree as a specialty occupation match
Legal Operations Manager roles require a specific educational background, typically in law, business, or information systems. In interviews, connect your degree directly to the role's core functions, contract lifecycle management, legal tech implementation, or compliance process design.
Get your CLOC or IILOM certifications early
The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium and similar professional bodies signal you're serious about the field. Certifications strengthen your H-1B visa specialty occupation argument later by demonstrating the role requires specialized knowledge beyond a general business degree.
Track your OPT end date against H-1B lottery timelines
H-1B registration opens in March for October 1 start. If your OPT expires before October, ask your employer about a cap-gap extension. Starting this conversation six months before your OPT end date gives your employer enough time to prepare the petition.
Emphasize legal technology skills in your application
Proficiency in platforms like Ironclad, Clio, or Relativity signals you can add value from day one. Legal ops is increasingly tech-driven, and candidates who reduce the employer's onboarding burden are easier to justify sponsoring through an often costly visa process.
Ask about sponsorship policy before accepting an offer
Some employers sponsor after a probationary period; others require you to be employed before they'll file. Clarifying this during the offer stage, not after you've started, protects your timeline and prevents surprises when your OPT window is closing.
Legal Operations Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Legal Operations Manager role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Generally yes, provided the employer can document that the position requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as law, business administration, or information systems. The key is demonstrating the job is complex enough that a general degree in any field won't satisfy it. Roles focused on legal technology implementation, contract management systems, or compliance analytics tend to have the strongest specialty occupation arguments.
Can I work as a Legal Operations Manager on OPT without a law degree?
Yes. Legal operations is distinct from the practice of law, so a JD is not required. Employers routinely hire candidates with degrees in business, information systems, or even computer science for these roles, particularly when the position emphasizes legal technology or process improvement. What matters is that your degree field relates meaningfully to the core job duties your employer will describe in an H-1B petition later.
Where can I find Legal Operations Manager jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters opportunities by sponsorship willingness, so you're not wasting applications on employers who won't consider work authorization. Legal operations roles on Migrate Mate tend to come from in-house legal departments at technology companies, financial institutions, and healthcare organizations, which are among the most active H-1B sponsors in this function.
Does a STEM OPT extension apply to Legal Operations Manager roles?
It depends on your underlying degree. If you graduated from a program classified under a STEM-designated CIP code, such as management information systems or data analytics, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM extension even in a legal operations role. A degree in political science or traditional business administration typically does not qualify. Check the Department of Homeland Security's STEM Designated Degree Program List and confirm with your DSO before assuming you're eligible.
How early should I start the H-1B sponsorship conversation with a Legal Operations Manager employer?
Start no later than nine months before your OPT authorization expires. H-1B registration opens each March for an October 1 start date, and your employer needs time to engage immigration counsel, complete prevailing wage determinations, and prepare the petition. If your OPT ends between April and September, your employer will also need to understand the cap-gap extension rules, which allow you to keep working while the petition is pending.