Legal Counsel Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois
Illinois legal counsel roles draw international candidates to Chicago's financial district, Loop-area law firms, and major employers like United Airlines, Exelon, and Abbott Laboratories. Positions span corporate compliance, contracts, and regulatory work across healthcare, finance, and tech sectors. Competition is strong, but visa sponsorship opportunities exist across the state's diverse employer base.
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About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
This role of Corporate Counsel, Global Commercial Legal will support legal strategy for AbbVie’s Immunology medicines. Help shape the future of healthcare by delivering practical legal counsel in a global, fast-paced environment. As a Corporate Counsel at AbbVie, you'll support business integrity and innovation by applying foundational legal knowledge to real-world challenges. This role offers early exposure to high impact work and the opportunity to grow into a strategic legal advisor. A successful candidate will be motivated by the opportunity to address emerging issues with a strategic and creative business-oriented approach and provide expert counsel on decisions impacting our commercial strategies.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Provide legal counsel on compliance, regulatory, and business operational issues.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to assess legal risks and support ethical, compliant business decisions. Legal advice will be given on topics such as new product/indication launches, patient support models, marketing strategies, promotion, scientific exchange, regulatory submissions, and managed healthcare contracting strategies.
- Interpret evolving U.S laws and regulations in connection with providing practical and actionable guidance. These include FDA regulations, False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, OIG guidance, the PhRMA Code, the Sunshine Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and competition law.
- Communicate legal concepts in clear, business-relevant language to cross-functional partners, including Marketing, Sales, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, and others.
- Collaborate with senior attorneys on projects, contracts, and investigations that impact business strategy. This position reports to a Sr. Associate General Counsel, Global Commercial Legal.
Qualifications
Required
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
- Currently be admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state and meet the professional licensing requirements of the state in which you practice.
- Minimum of 2 years of relevant legal experience practicing in-house at a pharmaceutical company, practicing as a member of a nationally recognized law firm in a life sciences or healthcare practice, or practicing as an attorney for a government agency, or any combination of the above.
Preferred:
- Background in advising the biopharma, healthcare, or life sciences industry.
- Exposure to pharmaceutical laws and regulations impacting drug registration and promotion to help business clients assess issues in a highly regulated landscape.
- Business acumen and ability to balance legal risk with enterprise outcomes.
- Strong legal writing, research, and communication skills.
- Interest in growing a legal career in a complex, global organization.
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
This role of Corporate Counsel, Global Commercial Legal will support legal strategy for AbbVie’s Immunology medicines. Help shape the future of healthcare by delivering practical legal counsel in a global, fast-paced environment. As a Corporate Counsel at AbbVie, you'll support business integrity and innovation by applying foundational legal knowledge to real-world challenges. This role offers early exposure to high impact work and the opportunity to grow into a strategic legal advisor. A successful candidate will be motivated by the opportunity to address emerging issues with a strategic and creative business-oriented approach and provide expert counsel on decisions impacting our commercial strategies.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Provide legal counsel on compliance, regulatory, and business operational issues.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to assess legal risks and support ethical, compliant business decisions. Legal advice will be given on topics such as new product/indication launches, patient support models, marketing strategies, promotion, scientific exchange, regulatory submissions, and managed healthcare contracting strategies.
- Interpret evolving U.S laws and regulations in connection with providing practical and actionable guidance. These include FDA regulations, False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, OIG guidance, the PhRMA Code, the Sunshine Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and competition law.
- Communicate legal concepts in clear, business-relevant language to cross-functional partners, including Marketing, Sales, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, and others.
- Collaborate with senior attorneys on projects, contracts, and investigations that impact business strategy. This position reports to a Sr. Associate General Counsel, Global Commercial Legal.
Qualifications
Required
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
- Currently be admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state and meet the professional licensing requirements of the state in which you practice.
- Minimum of 2 years of relevant legal experience practicing in-house at a pharmaceutical company, practicing as a member of a nationally recognized law firm in a life sciences or healthcare practice, or practicing as an attorney for a government agency, or any combination of the above.
Preferred:
- Background in advising the biopharma, healthcare, or life sciences industry.
- Exposure to pharmaceutical laws and regulations impacting drug registration and promotion to help business clients assess issues in a highly regulated landscape.
- Business acumen and ability to balance legal risk with enterprise outcomes.
- Strong legal writing, research, and communication skills.
- Interest in growing a legal career in a complex, global organization.
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
Legal Counsel Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Legal Counsel Jobs in IllinoisLegal Counsel Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for legal counsels in Illinois?
Large Illinois-headquartered corporations are the most consistent sponsors for legal counsel roles. Companies like Abbott Laboratories, Baxter International, United Airlines, Exelon, and Hyatt Hotels have sponsored work visas for in-house counsel positions. Major financial institutions with Chicago offices, including financial services firms and insurance companies, also sponsor legal counsel roles with some regularity. Sponsorship is more common for in-house positions than for law firm associate roles.
Which visa types are most common for legal counsel roles in Illinois?
The H-1B visa is the most common visa for legal counsel positions in Illinois. The role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation because it requires at least a Juris Doctor degree and state bar admission. Candidates from Australia may qualify for the E-3 visa, and Canadian and Mexican nationals may be eligible under the TN visa category for lawyers. L-1A and L-1B visas apply when transferring within a multinational company's legal department.
Which cities in Illinois have the most legal counsel sponsorship jobs?
Chicago accounts for the overwhelming majority of legal counsel visa sponsorship opportunities in Illinois. The Loop, River North, and Fulton Market neighborhoods concentrate corporate headquarters and major law offices with in-house legal teams. Outside Chicago, Deerfield, Northbrook, and Lake County host pharmaceutical and manufacturing company headquarters, including Abbott Laboratories and Baxter, which maintain their own legal departments and have sponsored international legal counsel.
How to find legal counsel visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate filters legal counsel jobs specifically by visa sponsorship, so you see Illinois-based roles where employers have a documented history of sponsoring international candidates. Search for legal counsel positions and filter to Illinois to find in-house roles at corporations and institutions actively hiring. Because many sponsoring employers are large Chicago-headquartered companies, targeting corporate counsel and compliance-focused listings on Migrate Mate gives the most relevant results for internationally sponsored positions.
Are there state-specific considerations for legal counsel visa sponsorship in Illinois?
Illinois requires legal counsel to be admitted to the Illinois State Bar to practice law independently, which affects visa petitions. Employers must demonstrate the role requires a law degree as a minimum requirement, which is straightforward for licensed attorney positions but more nuanced for compliance or contract roles that may not require bar admission. Chicago's dense corporate headquarter presence means prevailing wage determinations reflect a competitive legal market, which employers must meet for H-1B sponsorship.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored legal counsel jobs in Illinois?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.