Cooley LLP · Palo Alto, California
Case #I-200-25092-825532
Cooley LLP filed an H-1B petition for a Associate position in Palo Alto, California at $260k per year — 82% above the prevailing wage of $143k. The case was processed in 2 days during the FY FY2025 cycle. This position is for continued employment.
| Case Number | I-200-25092-825532 |
| Case Status | Withdrawn |
| Visa Class | H-1B |
| Fiscal Year | FY 2025 |
| Employer | Cooley LLP |
| Employer Location | Palo Alto, California |
| Job Title | Associate |
| SOC Code | 23-101100 – Lawyers |
| Worksite | Palo Alto, California |
| Annual Wage | $260k |
| Prevailing Wage | $143k |
| Wage Premium | +82.2% |
| Positions | 1 (0 new, 1 continued) |
| Job Title | Salary | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate | $310k | CERTIFIED | Apr 4, 2025 |
| Associate | $310k | WITHDRAWN | Apr 3, 2025 |
| Associate | $230k | CERTIFIED | Dec 6, 2024 |
| Associate | $390k | CERTIFIED | Oct 11, 2024 |
| Special Counsel | $465k | CERTIFIED | Aug 13, 2025 |
This Labor Condition Application (LCA) was filed by Cooley LLP for the position of Associate in Palo Alto, California. The offered annual salary is $260k, compared to the prevailing wage of $143k for this occupation and location. This represents a wage premium of +82.2% above the prevailing wage.
The LCA is the first step in the H-1B visa process. Employers must file an LCA with the Department of Labor certifying that they will pay the foreign worker at least the prevailing wage for the occupation in the area of intended employment. A certified LCA is required before the employer can file an H-1B petition with USCIS.
Case status: Withdrawn. This means the employer or their representative withdrew the application.
A Labor Condition Application (LCA) is a mandatory document that U.S. employers must file with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) before they can petition for a foreign worker under the H-1B, H-1B1, or E-3 visa categories. The LCA process was established under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to protect both foreign and domestic workers by ensuring fair wages and working conditions.
When a U.S. company identifies a foreign national to fill a specialty occupation position, they must first obtain DOL certification through the LCA process before filing the H-1B petition (Form I-129) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In this case, Cooley LLP filed LCA case number I-200-25092-825532 to sponsor a Associate position at their worksite in Palo Alto, California. By filing this LCA, the employer attests to four key conditions: (1) paying the higher of the actual wage or prevailing wage, (2) providing working conditions that will not adversely affect other similarly employed workers, (3) no strike or lockout at the worksite, and (4) providing notice of the filing to the bargaining representative or posting notice at the worksite.
The DOL establishes four wage levels for each occupation and geographic area, representing the progression from entry-level to fully competent workers:
For this filing, the offered wage of $260k compares to the DOL prevailing wage of $143k for Lawyers positions in the Palo Alto, California area. The positive wage premium of +82.2% indicates the employer is offering above the DOL-determined average for this occupation and location.
The prevailing wage is the average wage paid to similarly employed workers in a specific occupation in the area of intended employment. The DOL determines prevailing wages using data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employers must pay H-1B workers the higher of the prevailing wage or the actual wage paid to other employees in similar positions at the company. This requirement is designed to prevent employers from using H-1B workers to undercut domestic wages.
A "Certified-Withdrawn" status means this LCA was initially certified by the DOL but was later withdrawn by the employer. This can happen for various reasons: the foreign worker may have declined the position, found employment elsewhere, the employer may have decided to refile with updated information, or business conditions may have changed. A withdrawal does not negatively affect the employer's ability to file future LCAs.
This LCA was received by the DOL on Apr 2, 2025 and a decision was rendered on Apr 4, 2025, a processing time of approximately 2 business days. The standard DOL processing time for LCA applications is 7 to 10 business days. This application was processed within the standard timeframe.
The offered salary of $260k for this Associate position provides a data point for evaluating compensation trends in H-1B visa sponsorship. When reviewing H-1B salary data, consider that wages vary significantly based on geographic location, employer size, industry sector, and the worker's experience level. This position falls under SOC code 23-101100 (Lawyers), which standardizes how the Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies occupations across industries. Metropolitan areas like New York, San Francisco, and Seattle typically command higher salaries due to higher costs of living, while positions in smaller markets may offer lower nominal wages but comparable purchasing power.
The offered annual salary for this Associate position at Cooley LLP is $260k. The Department of Labor prevailing wage for this occupation and location is $143k. The offered wage represents a +82.2% premium over the prevailing wage.
This H-1B filing is for a position located in Palo Alto, California. The employing company, Cooley LLP, is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
This Labor Condition Application is filed under the H-1B visa classification. The H-1B visa is designed for specialty occupation workers who possess at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent in a specific field related to the job.
The employer for this filing is Cooley LLP, located in Palo Alto, California. Cooley LLP filed this Labor Condition Application (case number I-200-25092-825532) for a Associate position during fiscal year FY 2025. View all Cooley LLP H-1B filings.
Certified-Withdrawn means this LCA was initially certified by the DOL but was subsequently withdrawn by the employer or their authorized representative.