Immigration Staff Attorney/Senior Staff Attorney

About the role

The Staff Attorney/Senior Staff Attorney will assist in administering Human Rights First’s pro bono asylum legal representation work. This position will mentor law firm attorneys providing representation in affirmative and defensive asylum cases and engage in direct representation of asylum seekers.

Responsibilities

• Assist in identifying cases for direct representation and pro bono placement within the Refugee Representation program.
• Conduct legal screenings and intake interviews with asylum seekers, including those held in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody.
• Provide legal information to asylum seekers and help lead pro se clinics or know-your-rights workshops conducted by the Refugee Representation team.
• Ensure asylum seekers accepted into Human Rights First’s pro bono program receive high-quality legal representation by:
  • Directly representing clients.
  • Providing in-depth mentoring to volunteer attorneys.
• Direct representation duties include:
  • Representing detained asylum seekers in habeas petitions before federal district courts, removal and custody proceedings before the Immigration Court, and requests to DHS.
  • Representing non-detained asylum seekers before the Immigration Court, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), including accompanying clients to ICE check-ins.
• Provide volunteer attorneys with prompt and thorough legal and procedural support on pro bono asylum cases, including strategizing on individual cases, reviewing draft submissions, and informing volunteers of significant legal developments in asylum law.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local law firms, corporations, law school clinics, and volunteer attorneys.
• Assist in placing cases with volunteer attorneys and promote attorney interest in pro bono representation of asylum seekers.
• Collaborate with other local service providers to strategize on how to best meet the needs of the immigrant population and improve access to legal representation.
• Identify, analyze, and respond to legal or procedural changes that affect asylum seekers, including statutory changes, proposed regulations, and court decisions.
• Contribute to and lead efforts to develop training materials for volunteer attorneys, including the online Pro Bono Resource Library, and other manuals, memoranda, videos, or trainings.
• Provide legal advice, mentorship, and guidance to Refugee Representation staff and interns across all offices, and work with the entire Refugee Representation team to ensure inter-office support and team collaboration.
• Assist in managing law school and undergraduate internship programs, including helping recruit and supervise legal interns.
• Assist in furthering advocacy initiatives by meeting with local officials at government agencies and engaging in other advocacy efforts in collaboration with the Refugee Advocacy and Communication teams, as needed.
• Promote Human Rights First’s mission by participating in local community, promotional, and other professional networking events to increase the organization’s profile in the community.
• Assist in efforts to secure and maintain funding for the organization and Refugee Representation team.
• Other duties as requested based on the team and/or organization’s need.

Requirements

• A U.S. law degree (J.D.) and active bar membership.
• Senior Staff Attorney: At least five years of experience representing asylum seekers at all levels of the administrative process, including immigration court experience.
• Staff Attorney: At least two years of experience representing asylum seekers at all levels of the administrative process, including immigration court experience.
• Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred (reading and writing); fluency in additional languages is a plus.
• Commitment to working with volunteer lawyers and experience in mentoring other attorneys, especially on immigration law matters.
• Ability to manage numerous tasks simultaneously, work under pressure, meet deadlines, and identify and analyze legal issues.
• Extensive knowledge of U.S. immigration law and policy.
• Ability to communicate patiently, respectfully, and empathetically with individuals from a variety of backgrounds as well as survivors of trauma or torture.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively, particularly in a collegial, team-based approach to work.
• Strong interpersonal and written/oral communication skills.
• Adaptability to embrace and navigate new, dynamic projects, and an ability to recognize and maximize opportunities on behalf of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully across organization lines, to work comfortably in a variety of settings, including legal, academic, and advocacy, and to work confidently with government officials and the media.
• Preferred candidates will be based within commuting distance to the Los Angeles office.
• A valid driver’s license and ability to travel regionally to local USCIS offices, immigration courts, and detention facilities by car (mileage is reimbursed).

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

• Support adoption of best practices to create a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible work experience for colleagues and external partners.
• Strive to consider the people, places, and cultures that might be missing from your work and look for opportunities to increase inclusivity in all the work you do.
• Support the mission of Human Rights First in all interactions with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Dedicate efforts to enriching DEIA consciousness throughout office-wide interactions.
• Foster a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by promoting adherence to the standards delineated in the Culture of Respect and Teamwork statement in the Employee Handbook.

Pay

Staff Attorney: $80,000-$90,000
Senior Staff Attorney: $90,000-$100,000