Assistant Counsel Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship

Assistant Counsel positions regularly qualify for work visa sponsorship, particularly H-1B, O-1, 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.

See All Assistant Counsel Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs1,050+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type80% On-site
Salary Range$351K – $514K
Top LocationNew York, NY
Most JobsCity of New York

Showing 5 of 1,050+ assistant counsel jobs

Corning Incorporated
Assistant Counsel, IP
We won't show you this job again
Corning Incorporated
New 16h ago
Assistant Counsel, IP
Corning Incorporated
Corning, New York
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$156,339/yr - $214,967/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Doctorate

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Corning
Assistant Counsel, IP
We won't show you this job again
Corning
Added 1d ago
Assistant Counsel, IP
Corning
Corning, New York
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$156,339/yr - $214,967/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Doctorate
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
City of New York
Assistant Counsel
We won't show you this job again
City of New York
Added 2w ago
Assistant Counsel
City of New York
Manhattan, New York
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$83,000/yr - $95,450/yr
On-Site
1+ yr exp.
None

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Yale New Haven Health
Senior Assistant Counsel, Litigation
We won't show you this job again
Yale New Haven Health
Added 1mo ago
Senior Assistant Counsel, Litigation
Yale New Haven Health
New Haven, Connecticut
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
On-Site
8+ yrs exp.
Doctorate
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Excelsior University
Associate Counsel or Assistant Counsel
We won't show you this job again
Excelsior University
Added 1mo ago
Associate Counsel or Assistant Counsel
Excelsior University
Albany, New York
Compliance & Legal
Human Resources
Legal Counsel
$95,000/yr - $120,000/yr
Hybrid
1+ yr exp.
Doctorate

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)

See all 1,050+ Assistant Counsel jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Assistant Counsel roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Assistant Counsel

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.

Assistant Counsel jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.

Find Assistant Counsel Jobs

See all 1,050+ Assistant Counsel jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Assistant Counsel roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

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 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.

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.

See which Assistant Counsel employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.

Search Assistant Counsel Jobs