Associate Attorney

Meltzer Hellrung; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PPO health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Parental leave (12 weeks)

Job summary

Meltzer Hellrung in Chicago seeks an Associate Attorney to support senior attorneys on corporate immigration matters. You will review case files, assist with visa applications, and help draft supporting letters and LOS. The role requires an active bar license or license pending within 9 months and 1–3 years of immigration experience.

The position is full-time, hybrid in Chicago, with immediate availability. It offers a comprehensive benefits package and growth opportunities in a fast-moving team.

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school required.
• Active bar license or results pending with license expected within 9 months.
• Presence in Chicago, IL.
• 1–3 years corporate immigration experience as attorney, law clerk, extern, or paralegal.
• Firm provides comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage.
• 401(k) with employer match and Vanguard options.
• Pre-tax benefits: FSA and transit allowance.
• Parental leave and referral bonus program.
• Laptop provided.

Responsibilities

• Support senior attorneys and paralegal account managers in visa application prep.
• Review case files and client documentation for accuracy in Voyager.
• Identify gaps in documents and escalate to a senior attorney.
• Provide initial feedback on H-1B and LCA forms prepared by paralegals.
• Assist with LOS drafting and review using firm templates.
• Confirm completeness of filings and coordinating final application review.
• Monitor emails and respond to internal and external inquiries.
• Assist with PERM-based green card processes and 9089 drafts.
• Assist in dependent visa reviews as assigned.
• Develop familiarity with RFE response drafting under supervision.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Communication

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Active bar license or results pending with license within 9 months

Tools

Voyager case management

Job description

We strive to be the "new generation immigration solutions" provider with an innovative spirit to disrupt and constantly improve the immigration process for companies, employees and their families.

Founded in 2014, Meltzer Hellrung leverages technology, a service-oriented mindset, and a compassionate approach to assist high-growth corporations in scaling their immigration programs, increasing their access to talent, and expanding operations into new markets.

Our values describe the essence of our firm:

• We Are Authentic: We express our ideas, concerns, and are accepted for who we are. We share our quirks, strengths, vulnerabilities, and our interests. We value honesty and openness to foster an environment where everyone feels valued and accepted.
• We Take Ownership: We embrace our roles, responsibilities, and work with a sense of accountability and integrity. We take full responsibility for actions and outcomes. Owning our work honors our colleagues and those we seek to help.
• We Are Resilient: We bear the weight of our clients’ expectations as their advocates and persevere through setbacks. We pursue all options to help achieve the best outcomes for our clients.
• We Are Growth-Minded: We approach our service, our organization, and our careers with an innovative spirit. We look for ways to improve and progress as individuals and as a team. We continually look to evolve and add value.

About Voyager

We launched our proprietary immigration platform in 2022 to ensure that we deliver on our promise of service that is transparent, fast, and secure. Voyager appropriately reduces information silos to ensure important case and immigration status details are available to all stakeholders, reducing communication burdens and overall confusion.

About the Role

The Associate Attorney works directly under a senior attorney or team lead throughout an initial training period, building the case judgment and process fluency needed to progress toward independent case management. Meltzer Hellrung’s clients span from individual entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies and venture-backed unicorns.

The Associate Attorney is fundamentally responsible for supporting senior attorneys and account paralegals in reviewing case documentation, forms, and client communications, while developing the substantive immigration knowledge needed to eventually handle matters with greater independence.

The practice is fast-moving and deadline-driven, requiring strong organization and attention to detail across multiple active matters. A significant part of the job is monitoring case systems and communications and escalating issues to senior attorneys promptly.

Location: Offered in Chicago, hybrid in-office schedule

Availability: Immediate Contract, Full-Time

Responsibilities:

• Support senior attorneys and paralegal account managers in visa application preparation, as assigned by senior staff/team leads
• Review case files, profiles, and documentation in Voyager for accuracy and completeness
• Review documents collected from clients/foreign nationals for sufficiency, escalating gaps to a senior attorney
• Review H-1B and LCA forms prepared by paralegals and provide initial-level feedback prior to senior attorney sign-off
• Assist with support letter (LOS) drafting and review, using firm templates and client-provided details
• Assist with final application review prior to filing, confirming forms and supporting documents are complete and consistent
• Monitor emails, responding to internal requests from account managers and paralegals, and to external client inquiries as appropriate
• Assist in the PERM-based green card process as assigned, including review of recruitment documentation, PWR review, and initial review of 9089 drafts
• Assist in dependent visa application review as assigned
• Begin developing familiarity with RFE response drafting under direct attorney supervision

Experience Required:

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
• Active bar license, or bar exam results pending with license expected within 9 months of start date
• Presence in Chicago
• 1-3 years prior corporate immigration experience as an attorney, law clerk, legal extern, or immigration paralegal is required
• Healthcare: 100% coverage of PPO health insurance, dental, and vision covered by the firm.
• Higher-level PPO plan is available at additional cost.
• Health through Blue Cross Blue Shield, vision and dental through Guardian.
• The firm covers 75% of dependent coverage for health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Short-term disability, Long-term disability coverage and life insurance policy, 100% covered.
• Retirement: 401(k) with 100% match on the first 3%, and 50% match on the next 2%. Low rates on Vanguard funds via Vestwell.
• Flex Spending Account: up to $3,400 annually available pre-tax in 2026.
• Transit: Employees can set aside up to $340 a month available pre-tax in 2026.
• 12 weeks/60 days paid parental leave for birth/adoption of a new child.
• $2,000 referral bonus for new hires.
• PTO Days by Year of Service
• Attorneys have bar license, CLE costs, cell phone and service covered.
• Laptop provided.

Salary Range: 80k-110k is commensurate with experience and background. This position also has the opportunity to receive origination commissions and an annual bonus.

Immigration Sponsorship: Immigration sponsorship is available for this position.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.