Legal OPT Jobs in Ohio
F-1 OPT legal jobs in Ohio are concentrated in Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, where large law firms like Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, Benesch, and Thompson Hine have hired international graduates into paralegal, legal research, and compliance roles. Corporate legal departments at Ohio-based companies also represent a meaningful source of OPT-eligible positions for law and pre-law graduates.
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Where We Need You:
Ohio EPA wants you to serve in this role within the Division of Environmental Response and Revitalization (DERR) at our Central Office in downtown Columbus, Ohio.
Why We Need You:
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented individual to coordinate and support field operations for investigations at state and U.S. EPA Site Assessment locations, ensuring that sites are properly assessed, monitored, and documented.
You’ll work closely with Superfund program personnel and DERR staff to implement and complete investigation activities including field sampling, contracting, reporting, and correspondence. You’ll directly assist with air quality sampling and monitoring at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Portsmouth facility.
You’ll serve as a project coordinator and health and safety officer for field activities as needed and participate in field sampling audits to ensure compliance with Superfund quality action plans, standard field ops, and related federal/state processes.
To keep projects on track, you’ll help prepare Level-of-Effort (LOE) contractor proposals, ensure adequate inventory of the division’s sampling supplies and equipment, and assist with SCRIBE and CLPSS review/submittals for U.S. EPA investigations.
As you gain experience, you’ll contribute to staff training on quality assurance and sampling procedures and provide technical assistance to internal and external partners.
Key Responsibilities:
- Coordinate and support field sampling and investigations of state and U.S. EPA cooperative agreement and Superfund sites.
- Assist with air monitoring at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Portsmouth facility.
- Audit and update DERR processes and procedures to ensure adherence to Superfund QAPP, operation standards, and related federal/state rules.
- Ensure adequate inventory of sampling supplies and equipment.
- Provide staff support and training, and technical assistance to internal and external partners.
If you’re looking for a role where field skills and commitment to environmental protection make a real impact, apply today to join our team!
Why Work for the State of Ohio:
At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:
- Medical Coverage
- Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
- Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
- Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
- Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
- Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)
Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.
Qualifications
- 12 mos. exp. as Environmental Specialist 1, 85861.
- OR 4 yrs. trg. or 4 yrs. exp. in position involving engineering or chemistry, physics, biology, environmental science, geology or hydrogeology &/or other comparable physical or health science field &/or mathematics which included responsibility for conducting compliance monitoring surveys &/or inspections/reviews or investigations, or review of permit applications relative to oil & gas well operations or injection, annular disposal & saltwater injection wells & enhanced recovery projects or coal mining, or solid/hazardous waste sites or industrial & municipal wastewater dischargers, or collecting, compiling & preparing various environmental assessments, evaluations, reports & related documents. Training & experience must be commensurate with duties to be assigned.
- OR baccalaureate degree in engineering, chemistry, physics, biology, environmental science, earth science &/or urban & regional planning, geology or other comparable physical or health science fields, with training to be commensurate with duties to be assigned.
Job Skills:
Environmental Services, Public Relations, Law, Facilities Maintenance & Inspection, Auditing, Technical Writing, Equipment Operations, Written Communication, Verbal Communication, Customer Focus
NOTE: THIS POSITION REQUIRES THE EMPLOYEE TO WEAR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND MAY REQUIRE PARTICIPATION IN OHIO EPA MEDICAL MONITORING PROGRAM.
Supplemental Information:
All answers to supplemental questions must be supported by the work experience/education provided on your application. Attachments will not be accepted for this posting. Official educational transcripts are required for post-high school educational accomplishments, coursework or degrees claimed on the application. Applicants will be required to submit an official transcript if they are selected for the position. Current Ohio EPA employees may be required to provide official educational transcripts.
Location: 4675 Homer Ohio Lane, Groveport, Ohio 43125
Division: Environmental Response and Revitalization
Background Check: The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.
EEO Statement: The Ohio Environmental Protections Agency is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender/sex, gender identity or expression, national origin (ancestry), military status, disability, age (40 years of age or older), genetic information, sexual orientation, status as a parent during pregnancy and immediately after the birth of a child, status as a parent of a young child, or status as a foster parent as those are defined in applicable Ohio law, federal law, and any Executive Order, in admission or access to the operation of its programs, services, activities or its own employment practices. Employment practices are any employment related decisions including, but not limited to hiring, layoff, transfer, termination, promotion, demotion, discipline, rate of compensation, eligibility for in-service training programs, or terms and conditions of employment.
ADA Statement: The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is committed to providing access, equal employment opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact the Office of Human Resources at 614-644-2100 prior to testing or interviewing.
Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.
Drug-Free Workplace: The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.
OPT Legal Job Roles in Ohio
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Search Legal Jobs in OhioLegal OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Ohio: Frequently Asked Questions
Which legal companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Ohio?
Several Ohio-based law firms and corporate legal departments have histories of employing F-1 OPT workers, including Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, Benesch, Frost Brown Todd, and Thompson Hine. Large corporations headquartered in Ohio, such as Nationwide, Progressive, and Fifth Third Bank, also maintain in-house legal teams that have hired international graduates on OPT. Sponsorship availability varies by role, year, and hiring cycle.
Which cities in Ohio have the most legal F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Columbus is Ohio's primary hub for legal employment, hosting major law firms, state government legal offices, and corporate headquarters with in-house counsel teams. Cleveland follows closely, with a long-established legal community and regional offices of national firms. Cincinnati is also a strong market, particularly for corporate and compliance-oriented roles tied to its financial services and consumer goods sectors.
What types of legal roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Ohio?
Roles that commonly align with F-1 OPT eligibility include paralegal positions, legal research analyst roles, compliance analyst positions, and contract administrator roles within corporate legal departments. Law graduates and those with degrees in political science, pre-law, or related fields often pursue these tracks. The role must be directly related to the graduate's field of study for OPT authorization to apply.
How do I find legal F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Ohio?
Migrate Mate is specifically built for international students searching for OPT-eligible roles, including legal positions in Ohio. You can filter by state and industry to surface employers in Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati who have sponsored F-1 workers in legal and compliance functions. Migrate Mate focuses exclusively on visa-friendly employers, which saves significant time compared to sifting through general job listings.
Are there any Ohio-specific considerations for F-1 OPT in the legal industry?
Ohio has no state-level restrictions on F-1 OPT employment in legal roles, but the standard federal requirement applies: your position must be directly related to your degree field. For graduates of Ohio's law schools, including Ohio State, Case Western Reserve, and University of Cincinnati, employer familiarity with OPT can vary. Larger firms and corporate legal departments tend to have established HR processes for international hires compared to smaller boutique practices.