Associate Legal Counsel Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Associate Legal Counsel roles qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B visa, requiring a law degree directly tied to the position. Many large employers sponsor through PERM for a green card pathway. With no lottery for E-3 visa (Australia) or H-1B1 visa (Chile, Singapore), those nationals have a faster route to offer acceptance.
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GENERAL DUTIES
Provides professional in-house legal advice, representation, and performs legal duties at a CUNY college.
- Provides legal counsel to senior campus administrators.
- Provides guidance on the implementation of and compliance with CUNY Board of Trustees Bylaws, CUNY and college policies, college governance plans, laws, regulations and other procedures and rules affecting the college.
- Prepares legal documents and contracts.
- Works with CUNY's Office of General Counsel in managing and supporting litigation and administrative cases involving students, faculty and staff.
- May serve as college Ethics Officer and/or Records Access Officer.
- Reviews and maintains up-to-date knowledge of State and Federal laws and maintains college/unit policies and procedures so that they are current and consistent with those laws.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
CONTRACT TITLE
Higher Education Officer
FLSA
Exempt
CAMPUS SPECIFIC INFORMATION
Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (CUNY) invites applications for the position of Associate Legal Counsel. The Associate Legal Counsel will provide professional in-house legal advice, representation, analysis, and support across the full range of legal matters affecting the College.
Working under the direction of the Executive Counsel and Labor Designee, the Associate Legal Counsel will independently manage an assigned portfolio of matters requiring substantial legal judgment and will work collaboratively with College leadership, faculty and administrators, CUNY's Office of the General Counsel and Office of Labor Relations, the Research Foundation, governmental entities, and external partners.
Initial areas of emphasis are expected to include transactional, research and programmatic legal matters and Freedom of Information Law/public-records compliance. The Associate Legal Counsel must, however, be prepared to provide legal advice and representation across the College's legal function as institutional needs arise.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Provide legal advice and representation across matters affecting the College, including contracts and transactions, research and sponsored programs, public records, labor and employment, investigations, litigation support, governance, student affairs, regulatory compliance, ethics, policy, and other areas of higher education law.
- Counsel faculty, administrators, academic departments, and College leadership regarding academic programs, partnerships, grants, sponsored initiatives, research activities, space use and rental arrangements, external collaborations, and other institutional projects.
- Advise College stakeholders during the development of new initiatives to identify appropriate legal and operational structures; assess applicable laws, regulations and CUNY requirements; determine financial and implementation responsibilities; identify conflicts and institutional risks; and develop legally and operationally workable solutions.
- Draft, review, negotiate, and revise memoranda of understanding, affiliation and partnership agreements, space-use and rental agreements, Research Foundation and sponsored-project agreements, grant-related agreements, licenses, data-use and information-sharing agreements, procurement-related documents, and other contracts and institutional agreements.
- Provide legal analysis relating to public procurement, commercial transactions, technology and information agreements, privacy and FERPA, intellectual property, copyright and fair use, licensing, conflicts of interest, research compliance, and other matters affecting College operations.
- Manage assigned Freedom of Information Law matters, including analysis of requests; coordination of records searches; review of potentially responsive records; responsiveness and exemption determinations; redaction; communications with requesters and record custodians; preparation of productions; and support relating to appeals and Article 78 proceedings.
- Interpret and advise regarding federal, state, and local laws and regulations, New York State Education Law, CUNY bylaws, policies and procedures, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, contractual obligations, and other authorities affecting College operations.
- Conduct legal research and prepare legal analyses, memoranda, correspondence, policies, procedures, guidance, agreements, and other legal documents.
- Provide legal support relating to employee and labor matters, including grievances, disciplinary matters, investigations, hearings, arbitration preparation, performance-management issues, and related counseling, as assigned.
- Support litigation and other contested matters through factual development, document review and discovery, witness preparation, legal research, litigation holds, subpoena responses, and coordination with OGC, the New York State Attorney General, the New York City Law Department, and outside counsel as appropriate.
- Advise on governance, student affairs, civil-rights and regulatory matters, public safety and related compliance issues, ethics, foundations and auxiliaries, advancement, gifts, and other areas within the core competencies expected of CUNY campus counsel.
- Develop templates, procedures, guidance, training, and preventive legal resources designed to strengthen compliance, reduce institutional risk, and improve the effective delivery of legal services.
- Participate in College and University meetings and collaborate across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Human Resources, Finance, Procurement, Research, Public Safety, Advancement, and other College functions.
- Maintain effective communication and collaboration with CUNY OGC, OLR, and other campus counsel, and relevant University Offices.
- Represent the College at internal and external meetings, negotiations, proceedings, and other activities as assigned.
- Perform other related legal duties as assigned by the Executive Counsel.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree and eight years’ related experience required. J.D. and five years' related experience required. Membership in New York State Bar required.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
Additional Required Qualifications
- J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
- Current New York State Bar membership in good standing, or eligibility for admission consistent with applicable University requirements.
- At least five years of relevant experience as a practicing attorney.
- Demonstrated ability to provide sophisticated legal analysis and practical client counseling in a complex organizational or regulatory environment.
- Excellent legal research, analytical, writing, drafting, negotiation, and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to independently manage substantial and varied legal matters involving competing priorities and deadlines.
- Sound judgment and demonstrated ability to identify, evaluate, and appropriately address legal and institutional risk.
- Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with senior leadership, administrators, faculty, staff, attorneys, governmental entities, and external partners.
- Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, diplomacy, integrity, and ability to manage confidential and sensitive matters.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in higher education, government, nonprofit, or another public-sector legal environment is strongly preferred. Relevant experience may include:
- transactional and commercial matters and contract negotiation;
- grants, sponsored programs, Research Foundation, or research-related matters;
- public procurement;
- academic, governmental, nonprofit, or public-private partnerships;
- FOIL or other public-records law;
- privacy, FERPA, intellectual property, copyright, licensing, and technology matters;
- research compliance and conflicts of interest;
- labor and employment law;
- investigations;
- litigation support;
- regulatory compliance and policy development; and
- other areas of higher education law.
Experience within CUNY or another institution of higher education is preferred.
COMPENSATION
$136,040 - $160,827; Salary commensurate with education and experience.
BENEFITS
CUNY offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees and eligible dependents based on job title and classification. Employees are also offered pension and Tax-Deferred Savings Plans. Part-time employees must meet a weekly or semester work hour criteria to be eligible for health benefits. Health benefits are also extended to retirees who meet the eligibility criteria.
HOW TO APPLY
From our job posting system, select "Apply Now", create or log in to a user account, and provide the requested information. If you are viewing this posting from outside our system, please visit https://cuny.jobs/campus/brooklyn-college/jobs/.
Applicants should provide a cover letter and resume in .docx or .pdf format.
CLOSING DATE
January 9, 2027
JOB SEARCH CATEGORY
CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.
Job ID: 33136
Location: Brooklyn College
Job Type: Full-Time
Associate Legal Counsel
GENERAL DUTIES
Provides professional in-house legal advice, representation, and performs legal duties at a CUNY college.
- Provides legal counsel to senior campus administrators.
- Provides guidance on the implementation of and compliance with CUNY Board of Trustees Bylaws, CUNY and college policies, college governance plans, laws, regulations and other procedures and rules affecting the college.
- Prepares legal documents and contracts.
- Works with CUNY's Office of General Counsel in managing and supporting litigation and administrative cases involving students, faculty and staff.
- May serve as college Ethics Officer and/or Records Access Officer.
- Reviews and maintains up-to-date knowledge of State and Federal laws and maintains college/unit policies and procedures so that they are current and consistent with those laws.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
CONTRACT TITLE
Higher Education Officer
FLSA
Exempt
CAMPUS SPECIFIC INFORMATION
Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (CUNY) invites applications for the position of Associate Legal Counsel. The Associate Legal Counsel will provide professional in-house legal advice, representation, analysis, and support across the full range of legal matters affecting the College.
Working under the direction of the Executive Counsel and Labor Designee, the Associate Legal Counsel will independently manage an assigned portfolio of matters requiring substantial legal judgment and will work collaboratively with College leadership, faculty and administrators, CUNY's Office of the General Counsel and Office of Labor Relations, the Research Foundation, governmental entities, and external partners.
Initial areas of emphasis are expected to include transactional, research and programmatic legal matters and Freedom of Information Law/public-records compliance. The Associate Legal Counsel must, however, be prepared to provide legal advice and representation across the College's legal function as institutional needs arise.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Provide legal advice and representation across matters affecting the College, including contracts and transactions, research and sponsored programs, public records, labor and employment, investigations, litigation support, governance, student affairs, regulatory compliance, ethics, policy, and other areas of higher education law.
- Counsel faculty, administrators, academic departments, and College leadership regarding academic programs, partnerships, grants, sponsored initiatives, research activities, space use and rental arrangements, external collaborations, and other institutional projects.
- Advise College stakeholders during the development of new initiatives to identify appropriate legal and operational structures; assess applicable laws, regulations and CUNY requirements; determine financial and implementation responsibilities; identify conflicts and institutional risks; and develop legally and operationally workable solutions.
- Draft, review, negotiate, and revise memoranda of understanding, affiliation and partnership agreements, space-use and rental agreements, Research Foundation and sponsored-project agreements, grant-related agreements, licenses, data-use and information-sharing agreements, procurement-related documents, and other contracts and institutional agreements.
- Provide legal analysis relating to public procurement, commercial transactions, technology and information agreements, privacy and FERPA, intellectual property, copyright and fair use, licensing, conflicts of interest, research compliance, and other matters affecting College operations.
- Manage assigned Freedom of Information Law matters, including analysis of requests; coordination of records searches; review of potentially responsive records; responsiveness and exemption determinations; redaction; communications with requesters and record custodians; preparation of productions; and support relating to appeals and Article 78 proceedings.
- Interpret and advise regarding federal, state, and local laws and regulations, New York State Education Law, CUNY bylaws, policies and procedures, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, contractual obligations, and other authorities affecting College operations.
- Conduct legal research and prepare legal analyses, memoranda, correspondence, policies, procedures, guidance, agreements, and other legal documents.
- Provide legal support relating to employee and labor matters, including grievances, disciplinary matters, investigations, hearings, arbitration preparation, performance-management issues, and related counseling, as assigned.
- Support litigation and other contested matters through factual development, document review and discovery, witness preparation, legal research, litigation holds, subpoena responses, and coordination with OGC, the New York State Attorney General, the New York City Law Department, and outside counsel as appropriate.
- Advise on governance, student affairs, civil-rights and regulatory matters, public safety and related compliance issues, ethics, foundations and auxiliaries, advancement, gifts, and other areas within the core competencies expected of CUNY campus counsel.
- Develop templates, procedures, guidance, training, and preventive legal resources designed to strengthen compliance, reduce institutional risk, and improve the effective delivery of legal services.
- Participate in College and University meetings and collaborate across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Human Resources, Finance, Procurement, Research, Public Safety, Advancement, and other College functions.
- Maintain effective communication and collaboration with CUNY OGC, OLR, and other campus counsel, and relevant University Offices.
- Represent the College at internal and external meetings, negotiations, proceedings, and other activities as assigned.
- Perform other related legal duties as assigned by the Executive Counsel.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree and eight years’ related experience required. J.D. and five years' related experience required. Membership in New York State Bar required.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
Additional Required Qualifications
- J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
- Current New York State Bar membership in good standing, or eligibility for admission consistent with applicable University requirements.
- At least five years of relevant experience as a practicing attorney.
- Demonstrated ability to provide sophisticated legal analysis and practical client counseling in a complex organizational or regulatory environment.
- Excellent legal research, analytical, writing, drafting, negotiation, and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to independently manage substantial and varied legal matters involving competing priorities and deadlines.
- Sound judgment and demonstrated ability to identify, evaluate, and appropriately address legal and institutional risk.
- Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with senior leadership, administrators, faculty, staff, attorneys, governmental entities, and external partners.
- Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, diplomacy, integrity, and ability to manage confidential and sensitive matters.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in higher education, government, nonprofit, or another public-sector legal environment is strongly preferred. Relevant experience may include:
- transactional and commercial matters and contract negotiation;
- grants, sponsored programs, Research Foundation, or research-related matters;
- public procurement;
- academic, governmental, nonprofit, or public-private partnerships;
- FOIL or other public-records law;
- privacy, FERPA, intellectual property, copyright, licensing, and technology matters;
- research compliance and conflicts of interest;
- labor and employment law;
- investigations;
- litigation support;
- regulatory compliance and policy development; and
- other areas of higher education law.
Experience within CUNY or another institution of higher education is preferred.
COMPENSATION
$136,040 - $160,827; Salary commensurate with education and experience.
BENEFITS
CUNY offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees and eligible dependents based on job title and classification. Employees are also offered pension and Tax-Deferred Savings Plans. Part-time employees must meet a weekly or semester work hour criteria to be eligible for health benefits. Health benefits are also extended to retirees who meet the eligibility criteria.
HOW TO APPLY
From our job posting system, select "Apply Now", create or log in to a user account, and provide the requested information. If you are viewing this posting from outside our system, please visit https://cuny.jobs/campus/brooklyn-college/jobs/.
Applicants should provide a cover letter and resume in .docx or .pdf format.
CLOSING DATE
January 9, 2027
JOB SEARCH CATEGORY
CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.
Job ID: 33136
Location: Brooklyn College
Job Type: Full-Time
See all Associate Legal Counsel Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Associate Legal Counsel roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Associate Legal Counsel Jobs
Verify your JD meets specialty occupation
An Associate Legal Counsel role requires a law degree in a field directly related to the position. A general bachelor's alone won't satisfy the H-1B specialty occupation requirement, so confirm your JD is the qualifying credential before applying.
Target employers with active PERM history
Law departments at Fortune 500 companies and large financial institutions regularly sponsor in-house counsel through PERM labor certification. Prioritize employers whose legal teams are large enough to absorb the multi-year green card timeline without restructuring your role.
Search verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with verified LCA filing history for legal counsel roles. Filtering by employers who have filed for in-house counsel positions tells you upfront which companies are already set up to sponsor rather than learning it mid-interview.
Ask HR about bar admission requirements early
Some employers require active bar admission in the state where you'll work before they'll initiate sponsorship. Clarify this before the offer stage, since getting licensed in a new state while on a visa can complicate your status timeline significantly.
Understand the LCA prevailing wage for your market
Your employer must file an LCA certifying your offered wage meets the DOL prevailing wage for the role and location. Run the OFLC Wage Search for your metro area before negotiations so you know the wage floor your employer is legally bound to meet.
Use Australian or Chilean nationality as a negotiation point
If you're Australian, the E-3 visa has a 10,500 annual cap that's never been exhausted and no lottery. For Chilean nationals, H-1B1 visa works similarly. Both give employers a faster, lower-risk sponsorship path than H-1B, which can accelerate offer conversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Associate Legal Counsel role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. Associate Legal Counsel consistently qualifies as a specialty occupation because the role requires a Juris Doctor degree in a directly related field of law. USCIS expects a clear connection between the degree and the specific legal practice area, so a generalist JD without supporting coursework in the relevant area can still draw a Request for Evidence if the employer's petition isn't drafted carefully.
Which visas can sponsors use to hire a foreign-national Associate Legal Counsel?
H-1B is the most common path for most nationalities. Australian nationals qualify for the E-3, which has no lottery and a cap that's never been exhausted. Chilean nationals can use the H-1B1 visa, and Singapore nationals have their own H-1B1 allocation. All three require an LCA filed with DOL before the application. Employers sponsoring for permanent residence typically use EB-2 or EB-3 through PERM.
Can I find Associate Legal Counsel roles where employers are already set up to sponsor?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA filing history for in-house legal roles, so you can identify companies that have already gone through the sponsorship process for similar positions rather than trying to convince an employer to start from scratch.
Does bar admission affect my visa sponsorship eligibility?
Bar admission isn't a federal visa requirement, but many employers treat it as a job prerequisite before they'll initiate an H-1B or LCA filing. If you're on OPT or a grace period, some firms will begin the sponsorship process before you're licensed, but you'll typically need to pass the bar before your start date or the offer may be contingent on passing.
How does PERM labor certification work for in-house counsel roles?
PERM requires the employer to conduct a supervised recruitment process through DOL, advertising the role at or above the prevailing wage and demonstrating no qualified U.S. workers are available. For Associate Legal Counsel, the job duties and minimum requirements must be documented precisely. The process typically takes several months before DOL certifies, after which the employer files an I-140 immigrant petition with USCIS to establish your green card priority date.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Associate Legal 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.