OPT Legal Support Specialist Jobs
Legal Support Specialist roles on OPT are common at law firms, corporate legal departments, and government contractors. Most positions qualify as specialty occupations under F-1 OPT, and paralegal or legal studies backgrounds align well. Your 12-month OPT window (29 months with STEM extension) is enough time to build a sponsorship track record.
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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 324+ OPT Legal Support Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Legal Support Specialist
Target employers with H-1B sponsorship history
Large law firms and corporate legal departments file H-1B visa petitions regularly. Search USCIS H-1B visa disclosure data to confirm a firm has sponsored legal staff before approaching them. Past behavior is the strongest predictor of future willingness.
Frame your degree as a specialty occupation match
Legal Support Specialist roles require a specific educational background to qualify as a specialty occupation. Make clear in your resume that your legal studies, paralegal certificate, or relevant degree directly supports the work you'll be doing.
Raise sponsorship after demonstrating value
Bring up H-1B sponsorship after your first 90 days, not in the initial interview. Firms are far more likely to invest in the visa process for someone who has already proven their reliability and output on the job.
Understand your OPT reporting obligations
You must report any change in employer, role, or work address to your DSO within 10 days. Legal support roles often involve multiple office locations or secondments, so stay current with SEVIS reporting to avoid jeopardizing your status.
Highlight bar admission support experience
Firms sponsoring foreign legal staff often prioritize those who understand U.S. legal procedures. Experience with court filings, docket management, or discovery support signals you are productive immediately, which strengthens the business case for sponsorship.
Ask about STEM OPT eligibility for your degree
If your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as information systems used in legal tech, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before accepting a role to maximize your authorization window.
Legal Support Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Legal Support Specialist on F-1 OPT?
Yes, Legal Support Specialist roles qualify for F-1 OPT as long as the work is directly related to your degree field. If your degree is in legal studies, paralegal studies, or a closely related field, the role satisfies the USCIS requirement that OPT employment be in a job that requires or is related to your major area of study.
Do law firms typically sponsor OPT students for H-1B visas?
Large law firms and corporate legal departments do sponsor H-1B petitions for legal support staff, though it is less automatic than in tech or engineering. Your strongest leverage is demonstrating that your role meets the specialty occupation standard, meaning it requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Firms that have filed H-1B petitions for legal roles before are the most realistic targets. Migrate Mate filters for employers with verified sponsorship history, which makes identifying those firms faster.
What happens if I lose my Legal Support Specialist job while on OPT?
You have a 90-day unemployment allowance during standard OPT, and an additional 60 days if you are on a STEM OPT extension, for a combined maximum of 150 unemployed days across your full OPT period. Report the job loss to your DSO immediately and begin your search right away. Unemployment days accumulate from day one of OPT, not just from when you lose a job, so every day counts.
Does Legal Support Specialist work qualify for a STEM OPT extension?
Not automatically. STEM OPT eligibility depends on your degree's CIP code, not your job title. If your underlying degree is in a STEM-designated field, such as computer and information sciences applied to legal technology, you may qualify. Most traditional legal studies or paralegal degrees are not STEM-designated. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before relying on this extension as part of your visa planning.
How do I find Legal Support Specialist jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
The practical challenge is that most job postings do not explicitly state whether they welcome OPT applicants. Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and surfaces Legal Support Specialist roles at employers who have demonstrated willingness to hire and sponsor international candidates. Filtering by visa sponsorship history before applying saves significant time and avoids wasted applications to firms with no track record of supporting work authorization.