Legal Intern Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Legal intern positions offer limited visa sponsorship opportunities, as most firms prefer hiring permanent attorneys for H-1B visa petitions. However, some larger international law firms do sponsor legal interns, particularly for specialized practice areas like immigration, corporate, or international law where bilingual skills or foreign legal knowledge adds value. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
Find Legal Intern JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 1,668+ Legal Intern jobs
See all 1,668+ Legal Intern Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Legal Intern roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Office of the Ohio Attorney General is currently seeking a motivated and hard-working individual for a position as a Legal Secretary within our Employment Law section. This talented individual will provide secretarial support while working in a collaborative team environment. The successful candidate will perform a variety of clerical, administrative and legal support tasks for attorneys and other office staff. This position will work a hybrid in-person/remote schedule. There may be changes to this schedule based on training and operational needs. The headquarter location is our Columbus, Ohio office.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Performs highly confidential legal secretarial work for office attorneys;
- Physically and electronically files briefs, motions and other documents in state and federal court;
- Performs litigation support (e.g., preparation of exhibits, table of contents, table of authorities);
- From rough written or electronic instructions, produces typed copy of legal documents, confidential materials and correspondence (e.g., briefs, depositions, pleadings, letters, reports, tables, appendices, certificates of service) using Microsoft Office and other software applications;
- Proofreads and corrects all materials prior to review by attorneys;
- Composes or independently answers correspondence (i.e., correspondence of a routine nature which does not require interpretation of the policies or legal issues) to clients, staff or general public;
- Schedules meetings/appointments;
- Scans and processes mail for the section; and
- Answers main phone line within the section.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
6 months work experience performing legal secretary duties in a law firm or legal setting;
- Or completion of Associate's degree in secretarial/administrative professional science or closely related field from an accredited career school or community college;
- Or completion of Associate core coursework to qualify for a secretary/administrative assistant diploma/certificate or closely related field from an accredited career school or community college;
- Or completion of Bachelor's degree or higher in any related field;
- and 1 course or 1 month experience in public relations.
- Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above.
Job skills: administrative support/services, attention to detail, confidentiality, time management, verbal communication, and written communication.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The Attorney General’s Office is a dynamic organization that offers career opportunities across many different disciplines to people from all backgrounds and experiences. We do not discriminate in any way. All people are equal under the law, and it is so at the AGO. This is a workplace where talent gains you entry and performance determines your career path. Staff can join and lead employee resource groups and participate in online or in-person events to learn about the experiences of others.
Employees of the Attorney General's Office must have been in their current positions for at least 12 months in order to be eligible for consideration.
The Attorney General's Office may fill additional, similar positions as a result of this posting.
LOCATION
The headquarter location is our Columbus, Ohio office.
COMPENSATION
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.
BACKGROUND CHECK INFO:
Selected candidate(s) will be subject to the following background checks:
- Criminal history
- Driving record
- Taxes
- Drug Test
In addition, an Internet search may be conducted of publicly available and job-related information through social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) or through the use of search engines (Google, Bing, etc.).
ADA STATEMENT
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.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
INTRODUCTION
The Office of the Ohio Attorney General is currently seeking a motivated and hard-working individual for a position as a Legal Secretary within our Employment Law section. This talented individual will provide secretarial support while working in a collaborative team environment. The successful candidate will perform a variety of clerical, administrative and legal support tasks for attorneys and other office staff. This position will work a hybrid in-person/remote schedule. There may be changes to this schedule based on training and operational needs. The headquarter location is our Columbus, Ohio office.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Performs highly confidential legal secretarial work for office attorneys;
- Physically and electronically files briefs, motions and other documents in state and federal court;
- Performs litigation support (e.g., preparation of exhibits, table of contents, table of authorities);
- From rough written or electronic instructions, produces typed copy of legal documents, confidential materials and correspondence (e.g., briefs, depositions, pleadings, letters, reports, tables, appendices, certificates of service) using Microsoft Office and other software applications;
- Proofreads and corrects all materials prior to review by attorneys;
- Composes or independently answers correspondence (i.e., correspondence of a routine nature which does not require interpretation of the policies or legal issues) to clients, staff or general public;
- Schedules meetings/appointments;
- Scans and processes mail for the section; and
- Answers main phone line within the section.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
6 months work experience performing legal secretary duties in a law firm or legal setting;
- Or completion of Associate's degree in secretarial/administrative professional science or closely related field from an accredited career school or community college;
- Or completion of Associate core coursework to qualify for a secretary/administrative assistant diploma/certificate or closely related field from an accredited career school or community college;
- Or completion of Bachelor's degree or higher in any related field;
- and 1 course or 1 month experience in public relations.
- Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above.
Job skills: administrative support/services, attention to detail, confidentiality, time management, verbal communication, and written communication.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The Attorney General’s Office is a dynamic organization that offers career opportunities across many different disciplines to people from all backgrounds and experiences. We do not discriminate in any way. All people are equal under the law, and it is so at the AGO. This is a workplace where talent gains you entry and performance determines your career path. Staff can join and lead employee resource groups and participate in online or in-person events to learn about the experiences of others.
Employees of the Attorney General's Office must have been in their current positions for at least 12 months in order to be eligible for consideration.
The Attorney General's Office may fill additional, similar positions as a result of this posting.
LOCATION
The headquarter location is our Columbus, Ohio office.
COMPENSATION
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.
BACKGROUND CHECK INFO:
Selected candidate(s) will be subject to the following background checks:
- Criminal history
- Driving record
- Taxes
- Drug Test
In addition, an Internet search may be conducted of publicly available and job-related information through social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) or through the use of search engines (Google, Bing, etc.).
ADA STATEMENT
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.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
See all 1,668+ Legal Intern Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Legal Intern roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Legal Intern
Target international law firms with global practices
Large firms like Baker McKenzie, Clifford Chance, and DLA Piper regularly sponsor visas for legal roles. Their international client base creates demand for attorneys with foreign legal backgrounds and language skills.
Emphasize specialized legal knowledge from your home country
Highlight expertise in your country's legal system, especially for cross-border transactions, international arbitration, or comparative law matters that require specialized knowledge U.S. attorneys typically lack.
Consider immigration law firms as your best sponsorship option
Immigration-focused firms understand visa processes intimately and are more willing to sponsor qualified foreign legal professionals, particularly those with relevant language skills or regional expertise.
Pursue specialized practice areas requiring unique expertise
Focus on niche areas like international trade law, foreign investment regulations, or cross-border M&A where your background provides distinct value that justifies sponsorship costs.
Network through bar associations and legal organizations
Join American Bar Association international sections and local bar associations. Many sponsoring firms recruit through professional networks rather than traditional job postings for legal positions.
Consider corporate legal departments over traditional law firms
Multinational corporations often sponsor legal interns for their in-house teams, particularly for roles involving international compliance, regulatory affairs, or global business operations requiring specialized knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do most law firms sponsor H-1B visas for legal interns?
Most law firms do not sponsor H-1B visas for legal intern positions, as they typically prefer permanent attorney hires. However, larger international firms and immigration-focused practices are more likely to sponsor, particularly for candidates with specialized expertise in foreign legal systems, relevant language skills, or knowledge of international law that adds distinct value to their practice.
What degree requirements apply for legal intern visa sponsorship?
Legal intern H-1B sponsorship typically requires a J.D. or foreign law degree equivalent, though some firms may accept candidates currently pursuing their J.D. The degree must be in law or a closely related field. Foreign law degrees generally qualify, but employers may require credential evaluation to demonstrate equivalency to U.S. legal education standards.
Which visa types work best for legal intern positions?
H-1B is the primary option for legal interns, though some may qualify for O-1 visas if they have extraordinary legal achievements. J-1 visa exchange visitor programs exist for law students through organizations like AIESEC, but these are temporary. E-3 visa (Australians), TN visa (Canadians/Mexicans), and other nationality-specific visas may apply depending on citizenship.
How to find Legal Intern jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find Legal Intern positions with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international candidates with sponsoring employers. Focus your search on large law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies that commonly sponsor H-1B, F-1 OPT, or J-1 visas for legal interns. These organizations typically have established immigration processes and budgets for international talent acquisition.
How does bar admission affect visa sponsorship for legal interns?
U.S. bar admission is not required for H-1B sponsorship of legal intern positions, as the specialty occupation requirement is met through the law degree. However, some employers prefer candidates eligible to sit for the bar exam or those with foreign bar admission, as it demonstrates legal competency and career commitment.
What are approval rates for legal intern H-1B petitions?
Legal services generally see H-1B approval rates around 85-90%, but intern positions may face higher scrutiny due to temporary nature and entry-level status. USCIS examines whether the role truly requires specialized legal knowledge. Applications with clear specialty occupation justification and established firm sponsorship typically fare better than those from smaller practices.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Legal Intern 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.