The American Lawyer: Proposed H-1B Changes Make Foreign Lawyers More Expensive, but Also More Accessible
October 3, 2025

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Proposed H-1B changes could shift how major law firms hire foreign lawyers, introducing a $100,000 fee for certain applicants and a weighted lottery based on wages. In an article published in The American Lawyer, Partner Bo Cooper explains that the lottery could give an advantage to foreign graduates of US law school LL.M. programs who are paid at higher wage levels, even if they have limited experience. Bo notes that applicants receive lottery entries based on their wage level, so entry-level attorneys earning salaries typically associated with more experienced lawyers may have multiple chances in the lottery.
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