Attorney - Immigrant Justice Team

About the role

The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice is the primary public defender in New York City providing holistic, client-centered representation to people facing misdemeanor, felony, and homicide charges. The Immigrant Justice Team advises clients of the Criminal Defense Practice on the immigration consequences of criminal arrests and works to mitigate those consequences. Our clients are doubly stigmatized by the intersection of the immigration and criminal-legal systems. We work to help each client understand their situation and make an informed decision among the options available to them. For many of our clients, their conversation with us will be the first immigration consult they ever have, and we see this as a unique opportunity to help them understand their immigration status and identify possible relief. We also take on a limited number of immigration cases for direct representation. While each IJT attorney is assigned to a particular borough, the members of the IJT work together in pursuit of a common goal.

Responsibilities

• Be part of the defense team representing non-citizen clients in criminal court.
• Advocate on behalf of clients in state criminal proceedings and in related matters involving the application of federal, New York State, and New York City law.
• Consult with and advise non-citizen clients and criminal defense attorneys on the potential immigration consequences of their criminal cases and seek, consistent with our 6th Amendment duty, to mitigate those consequences where possible.
• Train and educate LAS staff and community members on criminal-immigration issues and emergent trends.
• Engage in policy advocacy on behalf of clients.
• Depending on interest and availability, represent Criminal Defense Practice clients on immigration matters including removal defense and affirmative applications.
• Other duties as assigned.

This position may require evening and weekend hours.

Salary

Salary Range: $86,520 – $157,075. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid vacation
• Disability insurance
• Life insurance

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice.

Work Authorization

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)