Legal OPT Jobs in New York

Legal F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in New York are concentrated in Manhattan, where global law firms like Skadden, Sullivan & Cromwell, and Cravath regularly hire international candidates in research, compliance, and paralegal roles. New York's dense concentration of BigLaw, financial regulatory bodies, and corporate legal departments makes it one of the strongest markets in the country for OPT-eligible legal professionals.

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Overview

Open Jobs302+
Work Type78% On-site
Median Salary$80K
Top LocationNew York, NY
Most JobsMorgan Stanley

Showing 5 of 302+ Legal OPT Jobs in New York

Morgan Stanley
Junior Trader
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Morgan Stanley
Added 2d ago
Junior Trader
Morgan Stanley
New York, New York
Finance
Accounting
Partnerships & Business Development
Sales
Investment Banking & Capital Markets
Business Development
$110,000/yr - $200,000/yr
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Knowledge & Innovation Assistant
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Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Added 2d ago
Knowledge & Innovation Assistant
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
New York, New York
Compliance & Legal
Project & Program Management
Legal Counsel
$59,000/yr - $60,000/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Center for Family Representation
Social Worker
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Center for Family Representation
Added 3d ago
Social Worker
Center for Family Representation
Staten Island, New York
Allied Health
Mental & Behavioral Health
$67,100/yr - $93,000/yr
On-Site
Master's
51-200

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Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC
Commercial Litigation Attorney
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Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC
Added 3d ago
Commercial Litigation Attorney
Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC
Buffalo, New York
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$105,000/yr - $135,000/yr
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Doctorate
51-200

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Sanctuary for Families
Counselor, Children and Family Services Program
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Sanctuary for Families
Added 3d ago
Counselor, Children and Family Services Program
Sanctuary for Families
New York, New York
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
$68,429/yr - $75,588/yr
Hybrid
1+ yr exp.
Master's
51-200

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See all 302+ Legal OPT Jobs in New York

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OPT Legal Job Roles in New York

Compliance & Legal117 jobs
Legal Counsel77 jobs
Accounting72 jobs
Finance72 jobs
Project & Program Management68 jobs
Partnerships & Business Development64 jobs
Business Analysis63 jobs
Project Management49 jobs
Administrative & Office Support42 jobs
Business Development36 jobs

See all 302+ Legal OPT Jobs in New York

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Legal OPT Sponsorship Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions

Which legal companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in New York?

Large law firms with New York headquarters, including Skadden Arps, Davis Polk, Sullivan & Cromwell, and Cleary Gottlieb, have established hiring pipelines for international candidates on OPT. Corporate legal departments at financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup also hire OPT-eligible candidates for compliance and regulatory roles. Sponsorship willingness varies by firm size, role type, and the candidate's field of study.

Which cities in New York have the most legal F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?

Manhattan accounts for the overwhelming majority of legal OPT sponsorship opportunities in New York, driven by its concentration of BigLaw firms, financial regulators, and multinational corporate headquarters. Albany has a smaller but distinct market centered on government affairs and regulatory work. Buffalo and Rochester have regional law firms and healthcare legal teams that occasionally hire OPT candidates, though volume is significantly lower than New York City.

What types of legal roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?

Roles that align directly with a law-related degree tend to qualify most cleanly under OPT authorization. Common positions include paralegal, legal research analyst, compliance analyst, contract specialist, and regulatory affairs associate. STEM OPT extensions are generally not available for standard J.D. or LL.B. programs unless the role connects to a qualifying STEM-designated field of study. Candidates with degrees in legal studies or international law should confirm their CIP code with their DSO before applying.

How do I find legal F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in New York?

Migrate Mate is built specifically for international candidates on OPT and other work visas, with filters for visa type, industry, and location. Searching for legal F-1 OPT jobs in New York on Migrate Mate surfaces employers who have actively hired visa-sponsored candidates in the legal sector, saving significant time compared to screening general job boards manually. Filtering by the Law & Legal Services industry category narrows results to relevant roles in compliance, paralegal work, and legal research.

Are there any New York-specific considerations for legal F-1 OPT sponsorship?

New York's bar admission rules are worth understanding early. Foreign-educated attorneys and J.D. holders working in paralegal or legal analyst roles on OPT are not practicing law, so bar admission is not required for most OPT-eligible positions. However, some in-house legal departments in New York distinguish between roles requiring New York bar admission and those that do not, which affects job eligibility. Candidates should also be aware that New York-based law firms often have formal structured associate programs that may accelerate H-1B visa sponsorship timelines after OPT.