OPT Support Lead Jobs
Support Lead roles are a strong fit for OPT authorization because most employers classify them as specialty occupations requiring a degree in business, communications, or a related field. Your 12-month OPT window (up to 36 months with a STEM extension if your degree qualifies) gives you time to prove yourself and pursue H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsWho we are: BAL is a team of brilliant people who change lives through elite immigration work and collaborative innovation. We pursue the exceptional in all that we do, but never at the expense of our values. There’s no denying our work is demanding, both in volume and pace, but we’re up for the challenge. We love the balance of hard work and fun – so, you’ll see us in jeans as we shatter glass ceilings and conventional stereotypes. BAL employees feel valued, rewarded, and respected. We seek opportunities to be of service to others and our communities. We are committed to your growth and development and want to set you up for success here at BAL and beyond.
Who you are: You are looking for work that has a purpose. You aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and get stuff done. You learn quickly. You move fast. You embrace challenge and detail as well as creative thinking. You believe you have something unique to contribute and you aren’t afraid to raise your hand. You understand that powering human achievement is ultimately about impacting a real person. You are looking for a place to grow and an environment where everyone has a spot and is genuinely welcome.
We’re better together: A bright, driven person like you and an industry-leading powerhouse like BAL? It’s a perfect combination! We truly want to see you succeed here and become an integral part of our mission to provide an experience that makes a positive difference in people’s lives. Come be a part of something special, where you can have an impact and be valued just for being you!
In addition to competitive pay, a discretionary annual bonus, and a supportive, team-oriented culture, we offer an outstanding benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, sick time, unlimited vacation, and 401(k) with company match.
Overview:
The Practice Support Lead serves to support the overall management of specified legal teams within a particular office.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Serve as dotted line supervisor for paralegals of 4-5 legal teams (aka “the squad”).
- Review productivity of paralegals on the squad.
- Review and ensure adherence to performance metrics for all paralegals on the squad.
- Train squad paralegals and answer questions.
- Serve as practice support point of contact for squad.
- Serve as Quality champion for the squad including deploying Quality initiatives to the squad.
- May serve as a product line specialist or be deployed to an operational support team.
- Provide ongoing training, guidance and information to squad.
- Maintain quality and consistency on squad.
- Reassign caseloads when attorneys or staff leave BAL, including the coordination with other legal staff/departments as necessary.
- Provide feedback for performance reviews of staff in squad.
- Conduct or assist with performance reviews, disciplinary actions, and hiring in conjunction with the squad.
- Assist with disciplinary actions.
- Serve as a liaison between staff and attorney.
- Motivate, develop, and direct squad staff.
- Work with team to identify and correct errors and problems.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- May coach, lead, and motivate the team to meet strict deadlines.
- May determine and adjust team and individual objectives.
- May monitor and analyze department work to develop more efficient use of resources while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
- May be responsible for establishing a positive work environment, providing career development opportunities, executing performance management, conducting feedback sessions, maintaining accountability and establishing goals for continuous improvement.
- Bring extraordinarily high personal energy to the task at hand and create an environment that fosters passion and teamwork.
- Understand and have experience in leading change.
- Provide training to new and existing staff as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 2 years’ experience as a Senior Paralegal II and demonstrated ability to perform the functions of the position.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
- Demonstrated mastery of Senior Paralegal II skills and abilities.
- Must have knowledge and experience in both NIV and IV.
- Proven ability to be the “Go To” person on a team.
- Ability and willingness to share knowledge in a helpful manner.
- Ability to ensure tasks are completed accurately and timely by others.
- Strong project management skills.
- Ability to communicate with diplomacy and tact.
- Demonstrates willingness to take on additional responsibilities and challenges.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Able to sit and work at a computer keyboard for extended periods of time.
- Able to stoop, kneel, bend at the waist and reach daily.
- Able to perform general office administrative activities: copying, filing, delivering and using the telephone.
- Able to lift and move up to 25 pounds occasionally.
- Regular and on-time attendance.
- Must be able to prioritize, schedule and complete testing required for multiple applications with overlapping schedules.
- A certain degree of creativity and flexibility is required.
- Hours may exceed 40 hours per week.
- Occasional travel by conventional means including aircraft, motor vehicle and the like within the region and to other locations as required.
Note: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with this job.
Berry Appleman & Leiden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of BAL to ensure an equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, alienage or citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law. BAL prohibits and will not tolerate any such discrimination or harassment.
BAL does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. BAL is under no obligation to pay any referral compensation or recruiter fee in the absence of a current executed Recruitment Services Agreement. In the event a recruiter or agency submits an unsolicited resume or candidate without an agreement, BAL reserves the right to pursue and hire said candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, shall be deemed the property of BAL. If your agency would like to be considered as a potential recruiting partner, please forward your contact information to Recruitment@BAL.com.
Who we are: BAL is a team of brilliant people who change lives through elite immigration work and collaborative innovation. We pursue the exceptional in all that we do, but never at the expense of our values. There’s no denying our work is demanding, both in volume and pace, but we’re up for the challenge. We love the balance of hard work and fun – so, you’ll see us in jeans as we shatter glass ceilings and conventional stereotypes. BAL employees feel valued, rewarded, and respected. We seek opportunities to be of service to others and our communities. We are committed to your growth and development and want to set you up for success here at BAL and beyond.
Who you are: You are looking for work that has a purpose. You aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and get stuff done. You learn quickly. You move fast. You embrace challenge and detail as well as creative thinking. You believe you have something unique to contribute and you aren’t afraid to raise your hand. You understand that powering human achievement is ultimately about impacting a real person. You are looking for a place to grow and an environment where everyone has a spot and is genuinely welcome.
We’re better together: A bright, driven person like you and an industry-leading powerhouse like BAL? It’s a perfect combination! We truly want to see you succeed here and become an integral part of our mission to provide an experience that makes a positive difference in people’s lives. Come be a part of something special, where you can have an impact and be valued just for being you!
In addition to competitive pay, a discretionary annual bonus, and a supportive, team-oriented culture, we offer an outstanding benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, sick time, unlimited vacation, and 401(k) with company match.
Overview:
The Practice Support Lead serves to support the overall management of specified legal teams within a particular office.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Serve as dotted line supervisor for paralegals of 4-5 legal teams (aka “the squad”).
- Review productivity of paralegals on the squad.
- Review and ensure adherence to performance metrics for all paralegals on the squad.
- Train squad paralegals and answer questions.
- Serve as practice support point of contact for squad.
- Serve as Quality champion for the squad including deploying Quality initiatives to the squad.
- May serve as a product line specialist or be deployed to an operational support team.
- Provide ongoing training, guidance and information to squad.
- Maintain quality and consistency on squad.
- Reassign caseloads when attorneys or staff leave BAL, including the coordination with other legal staff/departments as necessary.
- Provide feedback for performance reviews of staff in squad.
- Conduct or assist with performance reviews, disciplinary actions, and hiring in conjunction with the squad.
- Assist with disciplinary actions.
- Serve as a liaison between staff and attorney.
- Motivate, develop, and direct squad staff.
- Work with team to identify and correct errors and problems.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- May coach, lead, and motivate the team to meet strict deadlines.
- May determine and adjust team and individual objectives.
- May monitor and analyze department work to develop more efficient use of resources while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
- May be responsible for establishing a positive work environment, providing career development opportunities, executing performance management, conducting feedback sessions, maintaining accountability and establishing goals for continuous improvement.
- Bring extraordinarily high personal energy to the task at hand and create an environment that fosters passion and teamwork.
- Understand and have experience in leading change.
- Provide training to new and existing staff as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 2 years’ experience as a Senior Paralegal II and demonstrated ability to perform the functions of the position.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
- Demonstrated mastery of Senior Paralegal II skills and abilities.
- Must have knowledge and experience in both NIV and IV.
- Proven ability to be the “Go To” person on a team.
- Ability and willingness to share knowledge in a helpful manner.
- Ability to ensure tasks are completed accurately and timely by others.
- Strong project management skills.
- Ability to communicate with diplomacy and tact.
- Demonstrates willingness to take on additional responsibilities and challenges.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Able to sit and work at a computer keyboard for extended periods of time.
- Able to stoop, kneel, bend at the waist and reach daily.
- Able to perform general office administrative activities: copying, filing, delivering and using the telephone.
- Able to lift and move up to 25 pounds occasionally.
- Regular and on-time attendance.
- Must be able to prioritize, schedule and complete testing required for multiple applications with overlapping schedules.
- A certain degree of creativity and flexibility is required.
- Hours may exceed 40 hours per week.
- Occasional travel by conventional means including aircraft, motor vehicle and the like within the region and to other locations as required.
Note: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with this job.
Berry Appleman & Leiden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of BAL to ensure an equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, alienage or citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law. BAL prohibits and will not tolerate any such discrimination or harassment.
BAL does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. BAL is under no obligation to pay any referral compensation or recruiter fee in the absence of a current executed Recruitment Services Agreement. In the event a recruiter or agency submits an unsolicited resume or candidate without an agreement, BAL reserves the right to pursue and hire said candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, shall be deemed the property of BAL. If your agency would like to be considered as a potential recruiting partner, please forward your contact information to Recruitment@BAL.com.
See all 950+ OPT Support Lead Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Support Lead Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Support Lead
Target companies with an H-1B sponsorship history
Search OFLC disclosure data to confirm a company has filed H-1B visa petitions before. Employers who have sponsored support roles previously are far more likely to do it again than those encountering the process for the first time.
Frame your role as a specialty occupation from day one
Document that your Support Lead responsibilities require your specific degree. Generic support duties can undermine an H-1B petition, so keep a record of technical or specialized tasks that directly connect to your educational background.
Raise sponsorship before accepting an offer
Ask about H-1B sponsorship during the offer negotiation stage, not after you start. Employers are far more receptive when it is part of the initial conversation rather than a surprise request six months into employment.
Highlight cross-functional leadership in your resume
Support Lead roles that involve managing teams, owning escalation processes, or collaborating across departments are stronger H-1B candidates. Quantify your scope with metrics like team size, ticket volume, or customer satisfaction scores.
Understand your OPT end date and plan around H-1B timelines
H-1B cap-subject petitions are filed in April for an October 1 start. Map your OPT expiration against that calendar now so you and your employer have enough runway to file without gaps in your work authorization.
Use your STEM extension window strategically if eligible
If your degree is in a STEM field, the 24-month extension gives you two additional H-1B lottery cycles. Use that time to build your sponsorship case with a documented track record in the Support Lead role.
Support Lead OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can an F-1 OPT student work as a Support Lead?
Yes, as long as the role qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field. Most Support Lead positions that involve technical systems, cross-functional coordination, or structured escalation management meet that standard. Your employer does not need to file any USCIS petition during your OPT period, only once they pursue H-1B sponsorship.
Does a Support Lead role qualify for a STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If you graduated from a STEM-designated program, such as computer science, information systems, or engineering, you can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension regardless of your Support Lead title. The extension is tied to your CIP code, so check your program's designation on the DHS STEM list before assuming eligibility.
How do I find Support Lead jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Browse Migrate Mate, which surfaces roles from employers with a verified history of sponsoring international candidates. Filtering by OPT-friendly employers saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering visa limitations late in the process. Employers listed there understand work authorization requirements and are more likely to engage seriously with OPT applicants.
What happens to my OPT status if I get promoted from a Support Lead role to a different position?
A promotion or title change does not automatically affect your OPT authorization, but the new role must still be directly related to your degree field. If the new position is significantly different from what your OPT was approved for, notify your DSO. Staying in a related specialty occupation track protects your status and strengthens any future H-1B petition.
Will employers sponsor a Support Lead for an H-1B?
Many do, particularly at mid-size to large technology, SaaS, and enterprise companies where Support Lead roles are well-defined and degree requirements are documented. The key is demonstrating that the role requires a specific bachelor's degree, not just any degree. Employers who have sponsored support roles before are your strongest targets, and your DSO can help you frame the specialty occupation argument before you start applying.