OPT Public Relations Jobs
Public Relations roles qualify for F-1 OPT work authorization when the position requires a degree in communications, PR, journalism, or a related field. Most PR jobs fall under specialty occupation criteria, making them strong candidates for H-1B visa sponsorship after OPT. Your 12-month standard OPT period can extend to 36 months with a STEM-adjacent degree in certain cases.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary
The Litigation PR Specialist will play a key role in executing public relations and other external/internal communications activities across all litigation practice areas. This position partners closely with lawyers and business development professionals to develop and execute strategic communications that support practice objectives.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities include:
- Helping to direct the litigation media strategy for the firm’s litigation practice groups and lawyers, working closely with practice group leaders to develop effective public relations plans.
- Supporting day-to-day media relations relating to litigation, including responding to press inquiries, coordinating statements and monitoring coverage.
- Developing and maintaining relationships with key business, legal and trade journalists, particularly those covering litigation, regulation and enforcement.
- Providing counsel to lawyers on messaging and interview preparation.
- Collaborating with business development and partners to highlight significant litigation victories.
- Assisting with submissions for litigation-related awards and industry recognition.
- Drafting press releases and other external announcements and developing targeted media lists for distribution.
- Researching opportunities for and facilitating placement of bylined articles.
- Drafting wide-ranging content for the firm’s external website and other communications vehicles.
- Assisting with various reports to management and research projects.
Qualifications/Position Requirements
- Exceptional written communication skills, including ability to draft creative and compelling copy capable of achieving the necessary tone and voice for multiple audiences and publications.
- Excellent organizational skills and very strong attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple, often time-sensitive, projects simultaneously and prioritize competing deadlines.
- Proactive approach with ability to initiate and manage projects.
- Exceptional judgment and discretion.
- Highly collaborative, with the ability to form effective working relationships with individuals at all levels.
- Strong press contacts.
Education and/or Experience
- 3-5 years of experience in public relations (law or professional services firm background preferred) with a focus on litigation.
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
Compensation
The expected base salary for this position ranges from $100,000 - $125,000. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including relevant skills, training, experience, education, and, where applicable, licensure or certifications obtained. Market and organizational factors are also considered. Davis Polk offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
Position Summary
The Litigation PR Specialist will play a key role in executing public relations and other external/internal communications activities across all litigation practice areas. This position partners closely with lawyers and business development professionals to develop and execute strategic communications that support practice objectives.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities include:
- Helping to direct the litigation media strategy for the firm’s litigation practice groups and lawyers, working closely with practice group leaders to develop effective public relations plans.
- Supporting day-to-day media relations relating to litigation, including responding to press inquiries, coordinating statements and monitoring coverage.
- Developing and maintaining relationships with key business, legal and trade journalists, particularly those covering litigation, regulation and enforcement.
- Providing counsel to lawyers on messaging and interview preparation.
- Collaborating with business development and partners to highlight significant litigation victories.
- Assisting with submissions for litigation-related awards and industry recognition.
- Drafting press releases and other external announcements and developing targeted media lists for distribution.
- Researching opportunities for and facilitating placement of bylined articles.
- Drafting wide-ranging content for the firm’s external website and other communications vehicles.
- Assisting with various reports to management and research projects.
Qualifications/Position Requirements
- Exceptional written communication skills, including ability to draft creative and compelling copy capable of achieving the necessary tone and voice for multiple audiences and publications.
- Excellent organizational skills and very strong attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple, often time-sensitive, projects simultaneously and prioritize competing deadlines.
- Proactive approach with ability to initiate and manage projects.
- Exceptional judgment and discretion.
- Highly collaborative, with the ability to form effective working relationships with individuals at all levels.
- Strong press contacts.
Education and/or Experience
- 3-5 years of experience in public relations (law or professional services firm background preferred) with a focus on litigation.
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
Compensation
The expected base salary for this position ranges from $100,000 - $125,000. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including relevant skills, training, experience, education, and, where applicable, licensure or certifications obtained. Market and organizational factors are also considered. Davis Polk offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Public Relations
Target agencies with established immigration programs
Large PR agencies like Edelman, Weber Shandwick, and Ketchum have HR infrastructure to support visa sponsorship. Smaller boutique agencies rarely have legal resources to sponsor, so prioritize firms with 200-plus employees.
Frame your international background as a PR asset
Bilingual skills and cross-cultural fluency are genuinely valuable in PR, especially for clients targeting international markets. Lead with this in your cover letter and interviews rather than treating your visa status as a liability to explain.
Understand your OPT authorization timeline before applying
Your OPT EAD card must be valid before you start work. Apply at least 90 days before your program end date. PR hiring timelines can be fast, so knowing your exact authorization window prevents offers from expiring.
Build a portfolio that demonstrates measurable outcomes
PR employers sponsoring OPT students want to see impact, not just tasks. Quantify results where possible: media placements secured, impressions earned, campaign reach. Concrete outcomes make sponsorship conversations easier to justify internally.
Ask about sponsorship directly but strategically
Raise the sponsorship question after receiving a verbal offer, not during initial screening. Phrase it as a process question: ask whether the company has sponsored H-1B visas before, which signals you know the system and are not a risky unknown.
Use Migrate Mate to find PR roles open to OPT candidates
Searching general job boards surfaces many roles that will not consider OPT students. Migrate Mate filters specifically for positions where employers are open to sponsorship, saving you from applying to roles that will not move forward.
Public Relations OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Public Relations jobs qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B sponsorship?
Most PR roles qualify as specialty occupations because they typically require at minimum a bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or marketing. USCIS has approved H-1B petitions for PR specialists, account managers, and communications coordinators at agencies and in-house teams. Roles that accept any degree regardless of field are harder to support, so job titles with clear educational requirements strengthen the case.
Can I work in Public Relations on OPT if my degree is in a related field like marketing or journalism?
Yes. OPT authorizes you to work in a role directly related to your degree field, and PR has recognized overlap with communications, journalism, marketing, and even political science. Your OPT authorization documents your specific degree, so as long as the PR role connects to that field, you're in compliance. If you're unsure whether a role qualifies, confirm with your DSO before accepting an offer.
How do I find PR employers who are open to sponsoring OPT students?
The most efficient approach is to search Migrate Mate, which surfaces PR roles from employers who are open to OPT and visa sponsorship rather than filtering you out at the application stage. Beyond that, DOL LCA disclosure data shows which companies have filed H-1B petitions for PR roles in the past, giving you a concrete list of historically sponsoring employers to prioritize.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I'm laid off from a PR job?
F-1 OPT includes a 60-day unemployment grace period. If your PR role ends unexpectedly, you have 60 days to find new employment in a qualifying role before your OPT status is jeopardized. During this period, report any job change to your DSO immediately. If you don't secure a new position within the grace period, you'll need to depart the U.S. or explore a change of status.
Does freelance or contract PR work count toward my OPT employment requirement?
Yes, self-employment and contract work count toward OPT as long as the work is directly related to your degree field and you can document it. For PR, this means freelance media relations, content strategy, or communications consulting work qualifies. You'll need to maintain records showing the nature of the work, hours, and how it connects to your degree, since your DSO may ask for documentation.