Assistant Counsel Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship

Assistant Counsel positions regularly qualify for work visa sponsorship, particularly H-1B visa, O-1 visa, and TN visas. Law firms and corporate legal departments sponsor these roles when they require specialized legal knowledge and a JD from an ABA-accredited law school. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.

Find Assistant Counsel Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs2,563+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type65% On-site
Top LocationNew York, NY
Most JobsJobot

Showing 5 of 2,563+ Assistant Counsel jobs

ExxonMobil
Mergers and Acquisitions Counsel
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ExxonMobil
New 5m ago
Mergers and Acquisitions Counsel
ExxonMobil
Spring, Texas
Compliance & Legal
Strategy & Corporate Development
Legal Counsel
Corporate Development & M&A
On-Site
None
10,000+

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Thermo Fisher Scientific
Corporate Counsel, Director Drug Product
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Thermo Fisher Scientific
New 26m ago
Corporate Counsel, Director Drug Product
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Morrisville, North Carolina
Compliance & Legal
Strategy & Corporate Development
Legal Counsel
Corporate Development & M&A
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Moody's
General Counsel
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Moody's
New 36m ago
General Counsel
Moody's
New York, New York
Compliance & Legal
Strategy & Corporate Development
Legal Counsel
Corporate Development & M&A
$281k - $407k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate

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Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
Assistant General Counsel
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Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
New 1h ago
Assistant General Counsel
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
Nashville, Tennessee
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$275k - $375k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate
1,001-5,000

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Daikin Applied
Corporate Counsel - Compliance
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Daikin Applied
New 2h ago
Corporate Counsel - Compliance
Daikin Applied
Plymouth, Minnesota
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$114k - $194k/yr
Hybrid
Doctorate
10,000+

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Tips for Finding Assistant Counsel Jobs

Emphasize specialized legal expertise over general practice

Focus your application on niche areas like immigration law, securities regulation, or intellectual property rather than general corporate law to strengthen your specialty occupation case.

Target large firms with established sponsorship programs

AmLaw 100 firms and Fortune 500 legal departments have dedicated immigration teams and routinely sponsor international attorneys for H-1B and O-1 visas.

Leverage your foreign legal credentials strategically

If you're qualified to practice law in another country, highlight this as evidence of specialized knowledge that benefits U.S. legal operations.

Consider TN status if you're Canadian or Mexican

Assistant Counsel roles qualify for TN visas under the "Lawyer" category, providing a faster path than H-1B with no cap limitations.

Document your bar admission timing carefully

You can start on a sponsored visa before bar admission, but employers prefer candidates who can sit for the bar exam immediately upon hiring.

Network through legal associations and bar organizations

American Bar Association sections and local bar associations often host events where international lawyers can connect with sponsoring employers directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be bar-admitted before getting sponsored for an Assistant Counsel role?

No, but most employers prefer candidates who can take the bar exam immediately after starting. You can work on a sponsored visa while preparing for the bar, though some firms may make continued employment contingent on passing within a specific timeframe, typically 12-18 months.

Will my foreign law degree qualify for H-1B sponsorship as Assistant Counsel?

Yes, if your foreign law degree is equivalent to a U.S. JD from an ABA-accredited school. You'll typically need a credential evaluation from organizations like WES or ECE to establish equivalency. Some employers may also accept an LLM from a U.S. law school as qualifying education.

What's the typical approval rate for Assistant Counsel visa applications?

H-1B visa approval rates for legal positions are generally high, around 85-90%, because the specialty occupation requirement is clearly met with a JD requirement. O-1 approvals for attorneys vary more widely depending on your track record of extraordinary ability in legal practice or academia.

Can I get sponsored for Assistant Counsel without litigation experience?

Absolutely. Many Assistant Counsel roles focus on transactional work, regulatory compliance, contract drafting, or corporate governance rather than litigation. Emphasize your relevant experience in securities, mergers and acquisitions, employment law, or other specialized areas that match the employer's needs.

How long does visa processing typically take for legal positions?

H-1B processing takes 3-6 months through regular processing, or 15 business days with premium processing. TN visas for Canadian and Mexican lawyers can be processed at the border immediately, while O-1 applications typically take 2-4 months depending on the complexity of your extraordinary ability evidence.

How to find Assistant Counsel jobs with visa sponsorship?

To find Assistant Counsel positions with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international legal professionals with sponsoring employers. Focus on large law firms, multinational corporations, and financial institutions that frequently hire foreign legal talent for H-1B and other work visas. These organizations often need Assistant Counsel for regulatory compliance, contract law, and international business matters.

What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Assistant Counsel jobs?

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.