In House Counsel Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
In-house counsel roles qualify for H-1B visa, O-1 visa, and EB-1 or EB-2 green card sponsorship. Law firms and corporations regularly sponsor attorneys, but your J.D. and active bar admission are non-negotiable requirements for specialty occupation classification. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsWho Are We?
Taking care of our customers, our communities and each other. That’s the Travelers Promise. By honoring this commitment, we have maintained our reputation as one of the best property casualty insurers in the industry for over 170 years. Join us to discover a culture that is rooted in innovation and thrives on collaboration. Imagine loving what you do and where you do it.
Compensation Overview
The annual base salary range provided for this position is a nationwide market range and represents a broad range of salaries for this role across the country. The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. As part of our comprehensive compensation and benefits program, employees are also eligible for performance-based cash incentive awards.
Salary Range
$126,500.00 - $208,700.00
Target Openings
1
What Is the Opportunity?
This position provides a broad range of cost-effective, high quality legal services while representing Travelers. Legal services may include: general legal counseling, drafting and negotiating settlement agreements, handling of litigation, resolution of disputes with the Company's insureds, and recognition, analysis and response to emerging issues and trends. This position handles moderately complex to complex coverage matters, requiring a solid degree of knowledge and expertise. This role will involve the representation of Travelers in state and federal court in the litigation and resolution of Commercial and Personal lines insurance coverage disputes.
What Will You Do?
- Appears on behalf of the Company in both federal and state courts to argue motions and handle trials, status conferences, and other substantive and procedural matters in the litigation of insurance coverage disputes.
- Determines appropriate legal strategies and positions, as well as action on litigation; provide advice on possible outcomes, awards and settlements.
- Drafts motions, briefs, pleadings, written discovery, other legal documents, correspondence, and memoranda to identify and protect legal interests of the company.
- Proposes, prepares and responds to and evaluates oral and written discovery.
- Prepares and/or reviews annual legal fees budget for assigned cases.
- Has frequent, independent contact with clients, witnesses, experts and adversaries through counsel.
- Provides recommendations and case analysis to all business partners on appropriate file handling strategy.
- Completes all required administrative tasks including time reporting, closed cases reports and other materials appropriate to performance of job duties.
- Adheres to all standards of excellence in file management.
- Provides high quality, cost effective legal advice and recommendations for action to business clients regarding moderately complex to complex matters which have or may have a dollar impact on business activities and operations.
- Research legal principles and precedents within area of specialization or expertise.
- Identifies unique issues in assigned matters and recommends appropriate responses to those issues.
- Proactively identifies and communicates risk to internal and/or external customers and provides recommendations on how to mitigate that risk.
- Advises senior business clients on financially significant and complex matters.
- Maintains awareness of judicial climate and legal developments through the review of legal publications, online documentation and attendance at seminars and conferences.
- Builds and maintains strong client relationships.
- Makes effective use of technology and automation in the practice of law.
- Ensures timely submission of work product as required.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
What Will Our Ideal Candidate Have?
- Admitted to the Bar in good standing in NY/NJ with additional admission to or willingness to gain admission to the Bar in other location preferred.
- At least three years of prior experience in the litigation of complex insurance coverage disputes.
- Understanding and awareness of principles of Auto, General Liability and/or Property insurance coverage.
- Experience independently handling cases from inception through trial/hearing & appeal.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to present information on litigated matters to diverse audiences.
- Skilled in fostering collaborative relationships with colleagues, clients, and business partners to deliver exceptional client service.
- Demonstrated strong and persuasive legal writing skills and oral advocacy skills.
- Strong legal research skills & ability to utilize technology.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities with an attention to detail and sense of urgency & responsiveness.
- Exercises sound decision making and possesses strong negotiation skills.
- Possesses a flexible and agile mindset with a willingness to take on new challenges as needs evolve.
What is a Must Have?
- Juris Doctorate or equivalent International legal degree; graduate of an accredited law school.
- 3 years experience as a practicing attorney.
- Active license in good standing to practice law in the state(s) in which representation is required.
- Regularly handles hearings, trials, dispositive motion arguments, depositions or other court proceedings and has the ability to transport to those meetings. Valid driver's license required depending on the location.
What Is in It for You?
- Health Insurance: Employees and their eligible family members – including spouses, domestic partners, and children – are eligible for coverage from the first day of employment.
- Retirement: Travelers matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to your first 5% of eligible pay, subject to an annual maximum. If you have student loan debt, you can enroll in the Paying it Forward Savings Program. When you make a payment toward your student loan, Travelers will make an annual contribution into your 401(k) account. You are also eligible for a Pension Plan that is 100% funded by Travelers.
- Paid Time Off: Start your career at Travelers with a minimum of 20 days Paid Time Off annually, plus nine paid company Holidays.
- Wellness Program: The Travelers wellness program is comprised of tools, discounts and resources that empower you to achieve your wellness goals and caregiving needs. In addition, our mental health program provides access to free professional counseling services, health coaching and other resources to support your daily life needs.
- Volunteer Encouragement: We have a deep commitment to the communities we serve and encourage our employees to get involved. Travelers has a Matching Gift and Volunteer Rewards program that enables you to give back to the charity of your choice.
Employment Practices
Travelers is an equal opportunity employer. We value the unique abilities and talents each individual brings to our organization and recognize that we benefit in numerous ways from our differences.
In accordance with local law, candidates seeking employment in Colorado are not required to disclose dates of attendance at or graduation from educational institutions.
If you are a candidate and have specific questions regarding the physical requirements of this role, please send us an email so we may assist you.
Travelers reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.
Who Are We?
Taking care of our customers, our communities and each other. That’s the Travelers Promise. By honoring this commitment, we have maintained our reputation as one of the best property casualty insurers in the industry for over 170 years. Join us to discover a culture that is rooted in innovation and thrives on collaboration. Imagine loving what you do and where you do it.
Compensation Overview
The annual base salary range provided for this position is a nationwide market range and represents a broad range of salaries for this role across the country. The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. As part of our comprehensive compensation and benefits program, employees are also eligible for performance-based cash incentive awards.
Salary Range
$126,500.00 - $208,700.00
Target Openings
1
What Is the Opportunity?
This position provides a broad range of cost-effective, high quality legal services while representing Travelers. Legal services may include: general legal counseling, drafting and negotiating settlement agreements, handling of litigation, resolution of disputes with the Company's insureds, and recognition, analysis and response to emerging issues and trends. This position handles moderately complex to complex coverage matters, requiring a solid degree of knowledge and expertise. This role will involve the representation of Travelers in state and federal court in the litigation and resolution of Commercial and Personal lines insurance coverage disputes.
What Will You Do?
- Appears on behalf of the Company in both federal and state courts to argue motions and handle trials, status conferences, and other substantive and procedural matters in the litigation of insurance coverage disputes.
- Determines appropriate legal strategies and positions, as well as action on litigation; provide advice on possible outcomes, awards and settlements.
- Drafts motions, briefs, pleadings, written discovery, other legal documents, correspondence, and memoranda to identify and protect legal interests of the company.
- Proposes, prepares and responds to and evaluates oral and written discovery.
- Prepares and/or reviews annual legal fees budget for assigned cases.
- Has frequent, independent contact with clients, witnesses, experts and adversaries through counsel.
- Provides recommendations and case analysis to all business partners on appropriate file handling strategy.
- Completes all required administrative tasks including time reporting, closed cases reports and other materials appropriate to performance of job duties.
- Adheres to all standards of excellence in file management.
- Provides high quality, cost effective legal advice and recommendations for action to business clients regarding moderately complex to complex matters which have or may have a dollar impact on business activities and operations.
- Research legal principles and precedents within area of specialization or expertise.
- Identifies unique issues in assigned matters and recommends appropriate responses to those issues.
- Proactively identifies and communicates risk to internal and/or external customers and provides recommendations on how to mitigate that risk.
- Advises senior business clients on financially significant and complex matters.
- Maintains awareness of judicial climate and legal developments through the review of legal publications, online documentation and attendance at seminars and conferences.
- Builds and maintains strong client relationships.
- Makes effective use of technology and automation in the practice of law.
- Ensures timely submission of work product as required.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
What Will Our Ideal Candidate Have?
- Admitted to the Bar in good standing in NY/NJ with additional admission to or willingness to gain admission to the Bar in other location preferred.
- At least three years of prior experience in the litigation of complex insurance coverage disputes.
- Understanding and awareness of principles of Auto, General Liability and/or Property insurance coverage.
- Experience independently handling cases from inception through trial/hearing & appeal.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to present information on litigated matters to diverse audiences.
- Skilled in fostering collaborative relationships with colleagues, clients, and business partners to deliver exceptional client service.
- Demonstrated strong and persuasive legal writing skills and oral advocacy skills.
- Strong legal research skills & ability to utilize technology.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities with an attention to detail and sense of urgency & responsiveness.
- Exercises sound decision making and possesses strong negotiation skills.
- Possesses a flexible and agile mindset with a willingness to take on new challenges as needs evolve.
What is a Must Have?
- Juris Doctorate or equivalent International legal degree; graduate of an accredited law school.
- 3 years experience as a practicing attorney.
- Active license in good standing to practice law in the state(s) in which representation is required.
- Regularly handles hearings, trials, dispositive motion arguments, depositions or other court proceedings and has the ability to transport to those meetings. Valid driver's license required depending on the location.
What Is in It for You?
- Health Insurance: Employees and their eligible family members – including spouses, domestic partners, and children – are eligible for coverage from the first day of employment.
- Retirement: Travelers matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to your first 5% of eligible pay, subject to an annual maximum. If you have student loan debt, you can enroll in the Paying it Forward Savings Program. When you make a payment toward your student loan, Travelers will make an annual contribution into your 401(k) account. You are also eligible for a Pension Plan that is 100% funded by Travelers.
- Paid Time Off: Start your career at Travelers with a minimum of 20 days Paid Time Off annually, plus nine paid company Holidays.
- Wellness Program: The Travelers wellness program is comprised of tools, discounts and resources that empower you to achieve your wellness goals and caregiving needs. In addition, our mental health program provides access to free professional counseling services, health coaching and other resources to support your daily life needs.
- Volunteer Encouragement: We have a deep commitment to the communities we serve and encourage our employees to get involved. Travelers has a Matching Gift and Volunteer Rewards program that enables you to give back to the charity of your choice.
Employment Practices
Travelers is an equal opportunity employer. We value the unique abilities and talents each individual brings to our organization and recognize that we benefit in numerous ways from our differences.
In accordance with local law, candidates seeking employment in Colorado are not required to disclose dates of attendance at or graduation from educational institutions.
If you are a candidate and have specific questions regarding the physical requirements of this role, please send us an email so we may assist you.
Travelers reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.
See all 2,199+ In House Counsel Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new In House Counsel roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding In House Counsel Jobs
Confirm your bar admission is in a U.S. jurisdiction
USCIS requires active U.S. bar membership to classify in-house counsel as a specialty occupation. Foreign-licensed attorneys need to pass a U.S. bar exam before most employers will initiate H-1B sponsorship for a legal role.
Target companies with established legal departments
Large corporations, financial institutions, and tech companies with dedicated legal teams sponsor in-house counsel far more consistently than small businesses. They have HR infrastructure, immigration counsel relationships, and budget to manage H-1B petitions and PERM labor certification.
Understand your practice area affects sponsorship willingness
Corporate, securities, IP, and compliance counsel roles attract more sponsorship offers than generalist positions. Employers filling specialized legal gaps are more motivated to sponsor because qualified candidates with the right combination of expertise and U.S. bar admission are genuinely scarce.
Factor in the H-1B lottery if you're not cap-exempt
Most in-house roles are cap-subject, meaning you need to win the H-1B lottery in April. Nonprofit and government legal departments are cap-exempt. If lottery odds concern you, explore O-1A eligibility based on published legal work, awards, or high-profile matters.
Ask about PERM sponsorship timing early in negotiations
Employers who sponsor in-house counsel for green cards typically begin PERM labor certification after one to two years. Clarifying this timeline during offer negotiations sets expectations and helps you plan around India or China priority date backlogs if applicable.
Highlight your area of law and specific deal or case experience
Generic legal resumes don't move sponsorship conversations forward. Employers need to justify specialty occupation to USCIS with a specific role description. Quantify transactions closed, regulatory matters handled, or compliance programs built to make the business case concrete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an in-house counsel role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, in-house counsel consistently qualifies as a specialty occupation because the role theoretically and practically requires a J.D. and U.S. bar admission. USCIS has approved thousands of H-1B visa petitions for corporate attorneys. The key is that the job description must make clear the position requires legal expertise in a specific practice area, not just general business judgment.
Do I need a U.S. law degree to get sponsored as in-house counsel?
Not necessarily a U.S. J.D., but you do need active admission to a U.S. state bar. Foreign-educated attorneys can satisfy this by passing the bar in jurisdictions that permit foreign law graduates to sit for the exam, such as New York or California. Your underlying law degree must still meet USCIS equivalency standards for the specialty occupation determination.
Which types of employers sponsor in-house counsel most frequently?
Fortune 500 companies, major financial institutions, large technology firms, and pharmaceutical companies are the most consistent sponsors. These employers have recurring legal hiring needs, dedicated immigration budgets, and outside counsel relationships that make H-1B petitions routine. Smaller companies can and do sponsor, but the process is less established and approval timelines can be harder to predict. Browse in-house counsel roles with sponsorship on Migrate Mate to see which employers are actively hiring.
Can I switch employers on an H-1B as in-house counsel?
Yes. H-1B portability allows you to start working for a new employer as soon as the new H-1B petition is filed, without waiting for approval, as long as your previous H-1B was approved and your status has been maintained. Your new employer must file a new H-1B petition with the same specialty occupation documentation. Each employer sponsorship is independent, so PERM and green card progress does not transfer.
What green card path do most in-house counsel use?
Most in-house counsel pursue EB-2 through PERM labor certification, which requires the employer to conduct a supervised recruitment process proving no qualified U.S. worker is available. Attorneys with significant published legal scholarship, high-profile representations, or leadership in bar associations may qualify for EB-1A extraordinary ability or EB-1B outstanding researcher, which skip PERM entirely and move faster for applicants from backlogged countries.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored In House 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.