Senior Immigrants’ Rights Attorney

Duties & Responsibilities

• Direct Legal Services
• Carry a substantial but sustainable caseload, primarily centered on detained and non-detained removal defense cases
• Provide high quality, client-centered representation to individuals facing removal proceedings
• Represent clients before EOIR, BIA, USCIS, ICE, and CBP in asylum, withholding, CAT, cancellation, bond, and other immigration matters
• Conduct detailed client intakes, legal screenings, and case assessments
• Provide individualized client counseling on immigration options and risks
• Prepare and file applications, motions, and appeals for detained and non-detained cases
• Prepare and litigate bond motions to secure release for detained clients
• Conduct routine visits to detention centers, ensuring access to clients and monitoring conditions affecting representation
• Potential opportunities to contribute to impact or strategic litigation, in coordination with CAIR-SFBA and CAIR-CA colleagues, depending on capacity and relevance
• Contribute to the development of creative legal arguments that advance immigrants' rights and address systemic challenges
• Support the development of creative legal arguments that advance immigrants' rights and address systemic challenges
• Participate in Know Your Rights presentations, pro se support, and immigration legal clinics, with emphasis on detention-related issues
• Collaborate with local coalitions, visitation programs, and immigrant justice networks to expand support for detained immigrants
• Conduct case-specific research on statutes, regulations, and case law
• Draft motions, appeals, briefs, and other filings with strong attention to detail and client-centered advocacy
• Provide technical expertise to colleagues on detained removal defense when requested
• Ensure timely and accurate case documentation for grant deliverables
• Contribute case narratives and data for grant reporting and fundraising purposes
• Provide limited supervision and mentorship to legal staff, such as other attorneys, caseworkers, law clerks, or interns, as assigned
• Partner with Communications staff to highlight the impact of detained removal defense
• Support organizational events and fundraising initiatives as needed

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
• Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; California strongly preferred
• Minimum three years of immigration law experience, including significant experience in the courtroom and in filing motions, preferably in an immigration defense context
• Demonstrated success handling detained dockets and related relief
• Strong client counseling, case preparation, and oral advocacy skills before EOIR and USCIS
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to independently manage a complex caseload
• Demonstrated commitment to defending low-income immigrants and other vulnerable populations
• Flexibility to travel to detention centers, courts, and community sites, including occasional early mornings or evenings
• Access to a reliable vehicle and ability to travel to detention centers and courts across the Bay Area
• Deep commitment to CAIR-SFBA's mission of defending civil rights and empowering immigrant communities