Legal Counsel Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Michigan
Michigan's legal counsel roles span automotive giants like Ford, GM, and Stellantis, financial institutions in Detroit, and major healthcare systems across Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. International attorneys with expertise in corporate, regulatory, or intellectual property law will find consistent demand from multinationals headquartered here that have established visa sponsorship track records.
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A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. Please also provide a writing sample that demonstrates your motion/brief writing skills.
Who We Are
About the MDefenders Center for Public Defense
The MDefenders Center for Public Defense is a national hub at Michigan Law dedicated to strengthening public defense through education, training, research, and engagement with the defender community. Building on Michigan Law's longstanding commitment to public defense, the Center trains and supports the next generation of client-centered public defenders, develops innovative and practical training resources for defenders nationwide, expands initiatives such as Data for Defenders, and brings together students, alumni, practitioners, scholars, and policymakers to address some of the most pressing challenges facing public defense systems. The Center's work is grounded in the belief that strong public defense is essential not only to protecting individual rights but also to ensuring the fairness, legitimacy, and effective functioning of the criminal legal system.
About Michigan Law
Founded in 1859, Michigan Law is one of the world's leading institutions of legal education. The Law School is known for academic excellence, intellectual rigor, outstanding faculty scholarship, and a collegial and supportive community. Its graduates serve across the private, public, nonprofit, government, and academic sectors in the United States and around the world. The University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Law has more than 22,000 alumni, over 1,000 J.D. candidates, and 107 full-time faculty members, including 55 tenured and tenure-track, 27 clinical and legal practice, and 57 part-time faculty members. For the graduating class of 2024, 98 percent were employed. Contributing to the close-knit law-school community, law students have a choice of 9 student-edited journals and more than 70 student organizations in which to participate.
Job Summary
The University of Michigan Law School invites applications for a full-time Clinical Assistant Professor of Law and Associate Director of the MDefenders Center for Public Defense. This unique position combines experiential teaching, strategic litigation, program leadership, and the development of practical resources for public defenders. As a Clinical Assistant Professor, this person will teach simulation-based courses for students pursuing careers in public defense and spearhead the development of a new strategic litigation initiative that will partner with public defender offices seeking to address systemic legal issues affecting their clients and communities. As the Associate Director for the Center, this person will help lead the Center's programs, create innovative training materials for defenders nationwide, and direct the expansion of Data for Defenders, which connects defenders with cutting-edge research and resources to support litigation and systemic advocacy. This person will also advise and mentor law students interested in public defense careers.
The appointment will be for three years with the possibility of renewal based on satisfactory performance and the availability of funding. The salary will be comparable to that of other entry-level experiential education professors, taking into account the applicant's background and experience.
Responsibilities
Experiential Teaching and Strategic Litigation
- Teach simulation-based courses focused on public defense practice, advocacy, and professional development.
- Spearhead the design and development of a strategic litigation initiative that partners with public defender offices seeking to address systemic legal issues affecting their clients and communities.
- Supervise and mentor students involved in the strategic litigation initiative.
- Develop course materials, simulations, litigation resources, and other teaching tools that can inform the Center's broader training work.
Associate Director and Center Leadership
- Work closely with the Center's Faculty Director and other Center staff to develop and implement the Center's strategic priorities and programs.
- Help create and deliver practical training materials, curricula, and programming for public defenders, law students, alumni, and public defense organizations.
- Spearhead the growth of Data for Defenders, including developing and editing content, supervising students who draft pleadings for the database, expanding partnerships, and increasing the project's reach and usefulness to defenders nationwide.
- Build and maintain relationships with public defender offices, defender organizations, alumni, faculty, researchers, and other partners whose work can advance the Center's mission.
- Contribute to conferences, trainings, convenings, and other Center initiatives designed to connect research, education, and public defense practice.
- Help identify opportunities for new projects and collaborations that strengthen public defense systems and expand the Center's national impact.
Student and Alumni Engagement
- Advise and mentor Michigan Law students interested in public defense careers.
- Support programming that connects students with Michigan Law alumni and other public defense practitioners.
- Help strengthen the Center's network of public defense alumni and create opportunities for alumni to participate in mentoring, training, and other Center initiatives.
Required Qualifications
Required qualifications include:
- A J.D. degree and admission to a state bar
- Minimum of three years of experience working in indigent defense
- Demonstrated commitment to client-centered public defense and to improving the quality and effectiveness of public defense systems
- Excellent legal research, writing, litigation, communication, and organizational skills
- Ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, practitioners, and institutional partners
- Experience teaching, training, or mentoring lawyers and/or law students
Desired Qualifications
Desired qualifications include:
- Clinical, simulation-based, or other experiential teaching experience
- Impact, appellate, or strategic litigation experience involving systemic legal issues
- Experience developing practice resources, litigation materials, research tools, or online legal resources
- Experience with program development, project management, or leadership within a public defense, legal services, nonprofit, academic, or similar organization
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Job Opening ID
283515
Working Title
Clinical Assistant Professor of Law and Associate Director MDefenders Center for Public Defense
Job Title
CLINICAL ASST PROF
Work Location
Ann Arbor Campus
Ann Arbor, MI
Modes of Work
Onsite
Full/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regular
FLSA Status
Exempt
Organizational Group
Law School
Department
Law School
Posting Begin/End Date
9/25/2026 - 10/09/2026
Career Interest
Instructional - Regular Clinical
How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. Please also provide a writing sample that demonstrates your motion/brief writing skills.
Who We Are
About the MDefenders Center for Public Defense
The MDefenders Center for Public Defense is a national hub at Michigan Law dedicated to strengthening public defense through education, training, research, and engagement with the defender community. Building on Michigan Law's longstanding commitment to public defense, the Center trains and supports the next generation of client-centered public defenders, develops innovative and practical training resources for defenders nationwide, expands initiatives such as Data for Defenders, and brings together students, alumni, practitioners, scholars, and policymakers to address some of the most pressing challenges facing public defense systems. The Center's work is grounded in the belief that strong public defense is essential not only to protecting individual rights but also to ensuring the fairness, legitimacy, and effective functioning of the criminal legal system.
About Michigan Law
Founded in 1859, Michigan Law is one of the world's leading institutions of legal education. The Law School is known for academic excellence, intellectual rigor, outstanding faculty scholarship, and a collegial and supportive community. Its graduates serve across the private, public, nonprofit, government, and academic sectors in the United States and around the world. The University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Law has more than 22,000 alumni, over 1,000 J.D. candidates, and 107 full-time faculty members, including 55 tenured and tenure-track, 27 clinical and legal practice, and 57 part-time faculty members. For the graduating class of 2024, 98 percent were employed. Contributing to the close-knit law-school community, law students have a choice of 9 student-edited journals and more than 70 student organizations in which to participate.
Job Summary
The University of Michigan Law School invites applications for a full-time Clinical Assistant Professor of Law and Associate Director of the MDefenders Center for Public Defense. This unique position combines experiential teaching, strategic litigation, program leadership, and the development of practical resources for public defenders. As a Clinical Assistant Professor, this person will teach simulation-based courses for students pursuing careers in public defense and spearhead the development of a new strategic litigation initiative that will partner with public defender offices seeking to address systemic legal issues affecting their clients and communities. As the Associate Director for the Center, this person will help lead the Center's programs, create innovative training materials for defenders nationwide, and direct the expansion of Data for Defenders, which connects defenders with cutting-edge research and resources to support litigation and systemic advocacy. This person will also advise and mentor law students interested in public defense careers.
The appointment will be for three years with the possibility of renewal based on satisfactory performance and the availability of funding. The salary will be comparable to that of other entry-level experiential education professors, taking into account the applicant's background and experience.
Responsibilities
Experiential Teaching and Strategic Litigation
- Teach simulation-based courses focused on public defense practice, advocacy, and professional development.
- Spearhead the design and development of a strategic litigation initiative that partners with public defender offices seeking to address systemic legal issues affecting their clients and communities.
- Supervise and mentor students involved in the strategic litigation initiative.
- Develop course materials, simulations, litigation resources, and other teaching tools that can inform the Center's broader training work.
Associate Director and Center Leadership
- Work closely with the Center's Faculty Director and other Center staff to develop and implement the Center's strategic priorities and programs.
- Help create and deliver practical training materials, curricula, and programming for public defenders, law students, alumni, and public defense organizations.
- Spearhead the growth of Data for Defenders, including developing and editing content, supervising students who draft pleadings for the database, expanding partnerships, and increasing the project's reach and usefulness to defenders nationwide.
- Build and maintain relationships with public defender offices, defender organizations, alumni, faculty, researchers, and other partners whose work can advance the Center's mission.
- Contribute to conferences, trainings, convenings, and other Center initiatives designed to connect research, education, and public defense practice.
- Help identify opportunities for new projects and collaborations that strengthen public defense systems and expand the Center's national impact.
Student and Alumni Engagement
- Advise and mentor Michigan Law students interested in public defense careers.
- Support programming that connects students with Michigan Law alumni and other public defense practitioners.
- Help strengthen the Center's network of public defense alumni and create opportunities for alumni to participate in mentoring, training, and other Center initiatives.
Required Qualifications
Required qualifications include:
- A J.D. degree and admission to a state bar
- Minimum of three years of experience working in indigent defense
- Demonstrated commitment to client-centered public defense and to improving the quality and effectiveness of public defense systems
- Excellent legal research, writing, litigation, communication, and organizational skills
- Ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, practitioners, and institutional partners
- Experience teaching, training, or mentoring lawyers and/or law students
Desired Qualifications
Desired qualifications include:
- Clinical, simulation-based, or other experiential teaching experience
- Impact, appellate, or strategic litigation experience involving systemic legal issues
- Experience developing practice resources, litigation materials, research tools, or online legal resources
- Experience with program development, project management, or leadership within a public defense, legal services, nonprofit, academic, or similar organization
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Job Opening ID
283515
Working Title
Clinical Assistant Professor of Law and Associate Director MDefenders Center for Public Defense
Job Title
CLINICAL ASST PROF
Work Location
Ann Arbor Campus
Ann Arbor, MI
Modes of Work
Onsite
Full/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regular
FLSA Status
Exempt
Organizational Group
Law School
Department
Law School
Posting Begin/End Date
9/25/2026 - 10/09/2026
Career Interest
Instructional - Regular Clinical
Legal Counsel Job Roles in Michigan
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Search Legal Counsel Jobs in MichiganLegal Counsel Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for legal counsels in Michigan?
Michigan's largest visa sponsors for legal counsel roles include Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Stellantis, and Dow Inc., along with healthcare systems like Beaumont Health and University of Michigan Health. These organizations regularly file H-1B visa petitions for attorneys in corporate, compliance, and intellectual property roles. Large law firms with Detroit or Grand Rapids offices also sponsor for in-house secondments and associate positions.
Which visa types are most common for legal counsel roles in Michigan?
The H-1B is the most common visa for legal counsel positions in Michigan, as the role typically requires a Juris Doctor or equivalent foreign law degree and qualifies as a specialty occupation. Attorneys from Australia may pursue the E-3 visa. Canadian and Mexican nationals sometimes qualify under TN visa status in the 'Lawyer' category. The O-1A is an option for attorneys with demonstrated exceptional ability or recognition in their field.
Which cities in Michigan have the most legal counsel sponsorship jobs?
Detroit and its surrounding suburbs, particularly Troy, Dearborn, and Southfield, account for the largest share of legal counsel sponsorship activity given the concentration of automotive and financial corporate headquarters. Ann Arbor sees demand from University of Michigan and its affiliated research and health entities. Grand Rapids is a secondary market with growing activity from West Michigan's manufacturing and healthcare employers.
How to find legal counsel visa sponsorship jobs in Michigan?
Migrate Mate is the most direct way to find legal counsel roles in Michigan where employers have indicated willingness to sponsor visas. You can filter specifically by state and role type to see active openings from automotive, healthcare, and financial sector employers. Because sponsorship eligibility varies by employer and petition type, Migrate Mate surfaces roles from companies with documented sponsorship histories, saving significant research time.
Are there state-specific factors that affect legal counsel visa sponsorship in Michigan?
Michigan's economy is heavily weighted toward automotive, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare, so legal counsel roles here often require subject-matter knowledge in areas like product liability, regulatory compliance, or ERISA. Sponsors must meet Department of Labor prevailing wage requirements for the relevant metropolitan area, which differ between Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor. The University of Michigan and Wayne State University law schools also create a local talent pipeline that influences how competitive sponsorship-track positions are.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored legal counsel jobs in Michigan?
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.