Legal Secretary Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Legal Secretary jobs can qualify for H-1B visa or TN visa sponsorship when the role requires a bachelor's degree in a directly related field like legal studies or paralegal science. Employers file a Labor Condition Application with DOL before sponsoring, and a confirmed job offer is required before any petition moves forward.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
BakerHostetler is a National Firm with 18 offices and over 1000 attorneys. Established in 1916, our attorneys are award winning. Baker possesses a phenomenal culture with attorneys and staff that take extreme pride in their work. The business practice group has an excellent opportunity for a Legal Secretary in the Cleveland, OH office. This is a non-exempt position that reports to the Regional Human Resources Manager and has an in-person presence of four days per week in the Cleveland office, with one day remote.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We prefer 12-16 years of experience in a law firm environment as a legal secretary, preferably in the business practice group.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that should be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, documents, books, pen/pencil, paper, controls and manipulate a keyboard, and input data into a PC; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk.
- The employee is occasionally required to use hands to prepare correspondence and reports on a personal computer.
- The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms. And stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl.
- Ability to operate a variety of standard office equipment including a computer, copy and facsimile machines.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Benefits
Offering competitive pay and benefits, while providing a collegial and respectful work environment, is part of our commitment to fostering a workplace that values employees.
Our comprehensive and competitive benefit program includes:
- Competitive salaries and a performance bonus program
- Group health, dental, and vision insurance
- Multiple plan options and various benefit levels
- Same-sex domestic partner coverage
- Pre-tax premiums
- Coverage begins on date of hire
- Group term life/AD&D and voluntary supplemental group universal life insurance
- Voluntary accident insurance – self and family
- Long-term care insurance
- Short-term disability benefits
- Long-term disability benefits
- Pre-tax benefit programs – dependent care, health care reimbursement and transit/qualified parking (in most cities)
- Retirement program – voluntary 401(k) plan
COMPENSATION
Salary range for this position is 60-90K.
ABOUT THE FIRM
BakerHostetler is recognized as one of the leading law firms in the country. With over 1,000 attorneys across 18 offices coast to coast, BakerHostetler is a great place to work for those who seek professional and personal growth in a collaborative environment. We deliver the highest quality counsel to our clients, who include many of the nation’s largest and most well-known companies. BakerHostetler’s values have remained unchanged since our founding more than 100 years ago: dedication to the law, commitment to the highest standard of client service, continuous development of our people and active participation in the communities in which we work and live.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter in an application on our website.
Baker & Hostetler LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
INTRODUCTION
BakerHostetler is a National Firm with 18 offices and over 1000 attorneys. Established in 1916, our attorneys are award winning. Baker possesses a phenomenal culture with attorneys and staff that take extreme pride in their work. The business practice group has an excellent opportunity for a Legal Secretary in the Cleveland, OH office. This is a non-exempt position that reports to the Regional Human Resources Manager and has an in-person presence of four days per week in the Cleveland office, with one day remote.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We prefer 12-16 years of experience in a law firm environment as a legal secretary, preferably in the business practice group.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that should be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, documents, books, pen/pencil, paper, controls and manipulate a keyboard, and input data into a PC; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk.
- The employee is occasionally required to use hands to prepare correspondence and reports on a personal computer.
- The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms. And stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl.
- Ability to operate a variety of standard office equipment including a computer, copy and facsimile machines.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Benefits
Offering competitive pay and benefits, while providing a collegial and respectful work environment, is part of our commitment to fostering a workplace that values employees.
Our comprehensive and competitive benefit program includes:
- Competitive salaries and a performance bonus program
- Group health, dental, and vision insurance
- Multiple plan options and various benefit levels
- Same-sex domestic partner coverage
- Pre-tax premiums
- Coverage begins on date of hire
- Group term life/AD&D and voluntary supplemental group universal life insurance
- Voluntary accident insurance – self and family
- Long-term care insurance
- Short-term disability benefits
- Long-term disability benefits
- Pre-tax benefit programs – dependent care, health care reimbursement and transit/qualified parking (in most cities)
- Retirement program – voluntary 401(k) plan
COMPENSATION
Salary range for this position is 60-90K.
ABOUT THE FIRM
BakerHostetler is recognized as one of the leading law firms in the country. With over 1,000 attorneys across 18 offices coast to coast, BakerHostetler is a great place to work for those who seek professional and personal growth in a collaborative environment. We deliver the highest quality counsel to our clients, who include many of the nation’s largest and most well-known companies. BakerHostetler’s values have remained unchanged since our founding more than 100 years ago: dedication to the law, commitment to the highest standard of client service, continuous development of our people and active participation in the communities in which we work and live.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter in an application on our website.
Baker & Hostetler LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
See all 795+ Legal Secretary Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Legal Secretary Jobs
Frame your degree for specialty occupation
H-1B eligibility hinges on your degree being directly related to the Legal Secretary role. A paralegal studies, legal studies, or law degree strengthens this link. A general business degree often isn't enough to satisfy USCIS specialty occupation requirements.
Check TN eligibility if you're Canadian or Mexican
TN visas cover specific USMCA professions. Legal Secretary isn't explicitly listed, but roles structured as paralegal or legal assistant with the right credentials may qualify. Verify the exact profession category with your employer before pursuing this path.
Search employers with active LCA filing history
Many law firms and corporate legal departments sponsor visa holders but don't advertise it. Use Migrate Mate to find employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for legal roles, so you're targeting firms that have already committed to the filing process.
Confirm prevailing wage before accepting an offer
Your employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for Legal Secretary roles in the specific metro area where you'll work. Use the OFLC Wage Search to verify the wage level before you accept, so there are no surprises when the LCA is filed.
Ask law firms about PERM green card timelines early
Corporate and BigLaw employers sometimes sponsor Legal Secretaries for permanent residence via PERM. Raise this in later-stage interviews, not the first round. Firms with established immigration programs are more likely to have a clear answer than smaller practices.
Prepare a credentials packet before interviews
Bring certified translations of your degree, any paralegal certifications, and a written statement linking your coursework to the specific Legal Secretary duties in the job description. Employers need this to build a credible specialty occupation argument for USCIS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Legal Secretary role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It depends on how the role is defined. If the employer requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field like legal studies, paralegal science, or a related discipline as a minimum entry requirement, the role can qualify. Generic administrative Legal Secretary positions that accept any degree typically don't meet USCIS specialty occupation standards, so the job description wording matters significantly.
Which visa types realistically cover Legal Secretary jobs?
H-1B is the most common path for degree-holding candidates, provided the role meets specialty occupation requirements. TN visas are worth exploring for Canadian and Mexican nationals if the role can be structured under a qualifying USMCA profession. J-1 visa trainee status is another option for short-term placements at law firms through a designated sponsor organization, though it isn't employer-sponsored in the traditional sense.
Do I need a specific degree, or will any bachelor's degree work?
USCIS looks for a direct relationship between your degree field and the Legal Secretary duties listed in the job description. A degree in paralegal studies, legal studies, or law has the clearest connection. Degrees in business administration or communications can work if the employer can document how those fields directly prepare someone for the specific tasks involved, but this requires a stronger case in the LCA and I-129 filing.
How do I find law firms and legal departments that sponsor visas for this role?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for legal support roles, so you can browse firms that have already gone through the process. This saves time compared to applying broadly and asking about sponsorship mid-process, which often leads to rejections from firms that haven't considered it before.
Will my employer need to file a PERM labor certification to sponsor me permanently?
For most EB-2 and EB-3 green card categories, yes, PERM is required. The employer must run a recruitment process through DOL to show no qualified U.S. workers were available for the Legal Secretary role. PERM timelines vary but can run 12 to 18 months or longer. Some larger law firms with dedicated immigration programs are equipped to handle this, while smaller firms often aren't.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Legal Secretary 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.