Bilingual Staff Attorney (Children & Youth Advocacy Program)

About the role

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) seeks a full-time bilingual Staff Attorney to work in the Children and Youth Advocacy Program (CYAP) unit as part of our Seattle office. Applicants must be fluent in English and an additional language, with Spanish strongly preferred. The applicant must be able to start the position as soon as possible. A minimum two-year commitment to the position is expected. As a staff attorney, you will offer direct representation, individual consultations, and community outreach and education to immigrant community members seeking immigration protections before USCIS and immigration courts. You may also handle additional immigration matters, including cases involving individuals in immigration detention.

Founded in 1984, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) is a nationally-recognized legal services organization on the front lines of defending and advancing the rights of immigrants. With over 200 employees, NWIRP provides direct legal representation and assistance in immigration matters to thousands of people with low incomes who come from over 150 countries and speak over 60 different languages. NWIRP challenges unjust policies through high-impact lawsuits and advocates for laws and policies that respect the rights of immigrants. NWIRP is also a trusted provider of immigration-related community education for immigrant communities and social service providers. NWIRP serves the community through four offices in Washington State (Granger, Seattle, Tacoma and Wenatchee), but the impact of our work is felt nationwide. NWIRP’s Children and Youth Advocacy Program (CYAP) supports immigrant children and youth, particularly unaccompanied minors from Central America and Mexico facing removal proceedings. The CYAP team manages a wide range of cases, assisting young people with various forms of immigration protection, including Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Classification, Asylum, VAWA self-petitions, U visas, T visas, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Adjustment of Status, and removal defense before immigration courts. Additionally, CYAP attorneys handle Washington State court proceedings related to Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification eligibility and conduct monthly legal clinics for DACA applicants.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct representation to individuals in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court, on appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals or before the federal courts, and before the Department of Homeland Security;
• Provide direct representation to persons submitting affirmative applications with USCIS and the Department of State;
• Conduct presentations, workshops, legal clinics, and intakes, by phone and in person;
• Conduct case analysis to determine eligibility for immigration protections/status under the immigration laws;
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant policies, laws, practices, and trends in immigration law, particularly as it impacts low-income immigrants and those impacted by the criminal justice system;
• Establish, organize, and maintain files up to date;
• Perform administrative tasks related to grant reporting such as timekeeping, submitting timesheets, tracking training, and other duties in a timely manner;
• Participate in NWIRP’s outreach, community education, and development efforts;