Managing Attorney Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship

Managing Attorney roles sit at the intersection of legal expertise and leadership, making them strong candidates for H-1B visa specialty occupation sponsorship. Employers in law firms, corporations, and nonprofits regularly file LCAs for this title. Your JD plus bar admission anchors the degree-field nexus USCIS requires.

Find Managing Attorney Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs8+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type50% On-site
Top LocationSan Francisco, CA
Most JobsState of New Mexico

Showing 5 of 8+ Managing Attorney jobs

Managing Attorney
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Added 5d ago
Managing Attorney
Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc.
Syracuse, New York
Compliance & Legal
Human Resources
Project & Program Management
Legal Counsel
Project Management
$106k - $129k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate

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Children's Court Managing Attorney
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Added 1w ago
Children's Court Managing Attorney
State of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
Paralegal & Legal Support
$46 - $74/hr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

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Managing Attorney
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Added 3w ago
Managing Attorney
State of Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$95k/yr
Hybrid
Doctorate

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Insurance Defense Managing Attorney
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Added 3w ago
Insurance Defense Managing Attorney
Zenith Insurance Company
Fresno, California
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$171k - $241k/yr
Hybrid
Doctorate
1,001-5,000

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Assistant Managing Attorney
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Added 1mo ago
Assistant Managing Attorney
Kirkland & Ellis
San Francisco, California
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$203k - $291k/yr
Hybrid
Doctorate
5,001-10,000

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Tips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Managing Attorney

Verify your bar admission satisfies USCIS

H-1B eligibility for Managing Attorney roles turns on specialty occupation status. Active bar admission in a U.S. jurisdiction, combined with your JD or foreign law degree equivalency, establishes the direct degree-field nexus USCIS scrutinizes most closely for attorney petitions.

Get a credential evaluation for foreign law degrees

If your law degree is from outside the U.S., a NACES-member evaluation translating it to a U.S. JD equivalent is non-negotiable before any employer files your I-129. Without it, USCIS will issue an RFE that delays your start date by months.

Target employers with active LCA filing history

Use Migrate Mate to identify law firms, in-house legal departments, and legal aid organizations that have filed LCAs for Managing Attorney or Senior Counsel roles, so you approach employers already familiar with the sponsorship process rather than educating them from scratch.

Distinguish law firm tiers by sponsorship willingness

Large AmLaw firms and corporate legal departments sponsor H-1B holders far more routinely than small regional practices. When targeting employers, prioritize organizations with dedicated HR or in-house immigration counsel, since they can move from offer to certified LCA without delays caused by unfamiliarity.

Negotiate who covers government filing fees upfront

Federal law prohibits employers from passing certain H-1B filing fees to you, but premium processing costs and legal fees are often negotiated during the offer stage. Confirm in writing which fees the employer absorbs before you sign an offer letter, since this varies by firm.

Understand PERM implications if you pursue a green card

Managing Attorney is classified under a professional occupation category, so EB-2 sponsorship via PERM labor certification is a realistic path. Confirm early whether your employer is willing to initiate PERM alongside H-1B, since the PERM process runs concurrently and can take over a year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Managing Attorney role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?

Yes. USCIS consistently recognizes attorney positions, including Managing Attorney roles, as specialty occupations because they require at minimum a JD or its equivalent in a specific field of law. The employer must document that the role normally requires this degree as an entry-level requirement, not merely as a preference, to satisfy the specialty occupation standard.

Can a foreign-trained lawyer get H-1B sponsorship as a Managing Attorney in the U.S.?

Yes, but you need a credential evaluation from a NACES-member organization confirming your foreign law degree is equivalent to a U.S. JD. You also need to pass a U.S. bar exam and hold active admission in at least one state. Without bar admission, USCIS will not approve the H-1B for a practicing attorney role, regardless of your overseas qualifications.

Which visa types realistically apply to Managing Attorney roles?

H-1B is the primary path for most foreign nationals, covering specialty occupation work with an initial period of up to three years, extendable to six. TN visa status is available to Canadian and Mexican nationals if the role fits the USMCA lawyer category. L-1A is an option if you're transferring from an affiliated foreign office in a managerial or executive capacity. EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship is also common for established attorneys at larger firms.

How do I find law firms and legal departments that sponsor visas for Managing Attorney roles?

Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for attorney and legal leadership roles, letting you search by location and practice area. This saves you from cold-outreach to firms that have never sponsored, which almost always stalls at HR before reaching a hiring decision.

Does the H-1B cap apply to Managing Attorney roles at nonprofit legal organizations?

It depends on the employer's status. Law firms and corporate legal departments are cap-subject, meaning your petition enters the annual H-1B lottery. However, Managing Attorney roles at qualifying nonprofit organizations, government entities, or institutions of higher education are cap-exempt. USCIS reviews the employer's tax-exempt status and mission to confirm cap-exempt eligibility, so the organization's classification matters as much as the job title.

What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Managing Attorney 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.