Senior Associate Attorney

Meltzer Hellrung LLC; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Meltzer Hellrung LLC in Chicago seeks a Senior Associate Attorney to lead companies through securing work visas and green cards for foreign national employees. Clients range from startups to Fortune 500 firms.

You will collaborate with attorneys and paralegals to prepare petitions to DHS, DoL, and DOS. The role is fast-paced with multiple matters daily and heavy client communication via email and phone.

Qualifications

• Licensed attorney in the United States.
• At least 5 years of experience in a high-volume business immigration environment.
• Expertise with NIV visa types: H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, TN, L-1, O-1.
• Expertise with all stages of the PERM process, including: PERM, I-140, and Adjustment of Status.
• Experience working with entrepreneurs and startups on E-2, O-1, NIW, and EB-1A petitions is strongly desired.
• Experience independently managing client account relationships.
• Experience mentoring account staff including paralegals and legal assistants.
• Demonstrated ability and experience in generating and retaining clients is strongly desired.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate cases and assist in providing case strategies and/or solutions to issues.
• Guide clients and employees through immigration processes.
• Conduct regular phone calls with client accounts regarding legal updates, immigration process updates, company immigration policy, and best practices.
• Review petitions and responses to governmental inquiries for US immigration benefits prepared by paralegals and junior attorneys.
• Review petitions for global immigration benefits prepared by paralegals and external counsel partners.
• Respond to client and foreign national communication.
• Maintain relationships with points of contact throughout their careers.
• Provides support and leadership to assigned team(s), including supervising junior attorneys and paralegals.
• Provide coverage for attorneys on vacation and leave of absence.
• May liaise with other attorneys or departments in the firm on projects and initiatives.
• Perform legal research and prepare legal memoranda and/or legal briefs when necessary.

Skills

H-1B visa experience

PERM process

EB-1A/NIW petitions

Client management

Mentoring staff

Job description

About Meltzer Hellrung

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 firm’s Senior Associate Attorney position will support and lead companies through the process of securing work visas and green cards for foreign national employees. Meltzer Hellrung’s clients span from individual entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies and venture-backed unicorns.

This position is fundamentally responsible for helping clients make strategic decisions in hiring employees, determining what visas to apply for, and the best way to secure those benefits. They will collaborate with other attorneys and paralegals to prepare and review petitions to the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, and the Department of State.

The job is fast paced, and a Senior Associate Attorney may work on many different client matters per day. A significant part of the job is responding to communication from clients by email and phone.

Location

Offered in Chicago, hybrid in-office schedule

Availability

Immediate, Full-Time

Responsibilities

• Evaluate cases and assist in providing case strategies and/or solutions to issues
• Guide clients and employees through immigration processes
• Conduct regular phone calls with client accounts regarding legal updates, immigration process updates, company immigration policy, and best practices
• Review petitions and responses to governmental inquiries for US immigration benefits prepared by paralegals and junior attorneys
• Review petitions for global immigration benefits prepared by paralegals and external counsel partners
• Respond to client and foreign national communication
• Maintain relationships with points of contact throughout their careers
• Provides support and leadership to assigned team(s), including supervising junior attorneys and paralegals
• Provide coverage for attorneys on vacation and leave of absence
• May liaise with other attorneys or departments in the firm on projects and initiatives
• Perform legal research and prepare legal memoranda and/or legal briefs when necessary

Experience Required

• Licensed attorney in the United States
• At least 5 years of experience in a high-volume business immigration environment
• Demonstrated expertise with the following NIV visa types: H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, TN, L-1, O-1
• Demonstrated expertise with all stages of the PERM process, including: PERM, I-140, and Adjustment of Status
• Experience working with entrepreneurs and start ups on E-2, O-1, NIW, and EB-1A petitions is strongly desired
• Experience independently managing client account relationships
• Experience managing and mentoring account staff including paralegals and legal assistants
• Demonstrated ability and experience in generating and retaining clients is strongly desired.

Benefits

Found at https://www.meltzerhellrung.com/careers/

Salary Range

$140,000 - $170,000 (total potential compensation including base annual salary plus performance bonus). Commensurate with experience and background.

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