Staff Attorney (Crimmigration Specialist / Public Defender Partnership)
Position Summary
ImmDef is seeking a full-time Staff Attorney with experience or strong interest in crimmigration to join our team of fearless advocates. This position will focus on representing clients referred by Public Defender offices, including individuals currently in criminal proceedings as well as former clients with prior convictions impacting their immigration status. This role is ideal for an attorney who is passionate about the intersection of criminal and immigration law, and who is eager to engage in complex removal defense, post-conviction strategy, and collaborative advocacy with public defenders. Staff attorneys will join the largest non-profit, universal representation deportation defense team in California and will play a critical role in advancing ImmDef's work at the intersection of criminal justice and immigration systems.
Job Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Provide direct representation in removal proceedings for clients with current or prior involvement in the criminal legal system, including detained and non-detained adults
- Analyze the immigration consequences of criminal convictions and pending charges and develop strategic case plans
- Identify and pursue forms of immigration relief, including asylum, withholding of removal, CAT, cancellation of removal, and other applicable defenses
- Prepare and submit applications, declarations, legal briefs, and supporting evidence
- Identify cases requiring post-conviction relief (PCR) and collaborate with ImmDef's Post-Conviction Relief team and/or external partners
- Work closely with Public Defender offices and appointed criminal defense counsel to:
- Advise on immigration consequences of pleas and convictions
- Coordinate defense strategies that mitigate immigration harm
- Support clients navigating both criminal and immigration proceedings
- Analyze and apply evolving case law at the intersection of criminal and immigration law
- Represent clients in immigration court, including at Master calendar hearings, Individual merits hearings, and Custody redetermination (bond) hearings
- Represent clients before USCIS and other agencies, including asylum interviews and ICE check-ins
- File appeals, motions to reopen or reconsider, and habeas petitions, as appropriate
- Provide trauma-informed, client-centered legal services to individuals facing complex legal and personal circumstances
- Work with experts, including psychologists and mitigation specialists, to support cases involving criminal histories
- Conduct client interviews in detention facilities, jails, or community settings
- Work collaboratively with managing and directing attorneys, paralegals, and case managers
- Participate in case rounds, legal trainings, and mentorship opportunities
- Support ImmDef's broader advocacy efforts, including community education and partnerships with defender organizations
Requirements
- Juris Doctorate degree or L.L.M. degree
- Active California State Bar License or licensure from another state or U.S. jurisdiction and, if required, willingness and eligibility to "waive into" the CA Bar via the Multi-Jurisdictional Practice Program
- Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills
- Willingness to zealously pursue new and untested legal theories
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure
- Commitment to working in a diverse professional environment
- Passion for social justice for immigrants required
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with or alongside Public Defender offices and/or analyzing immigration consequences of criminal convictions (e.g., aggravated felonies, CIMTs, controlled substance offenses)
- Experience with any of the following forms of immigration cases is helpful: asylum/WOR/CAT, special immigrant juvenile status (child custody/family court/guardianship), cancellation, waivers, adjustment of status, immigration consequences of criminal convictions, bond, humanitarian parole, post-conviction relief, habeas petitions, BIA appeals, motions to reopen, naturalization
- Experience in immigration law (non-profit or private practice) is a plus, but not required as we are ready and able to provide training
- Experience working with survivors is helpful, including populations that have experienced trauma, abuse and persecution
- Knowledge of best practices in working with clients with mental competency issues, including those suffering from mental health challenges and children, is a plus
- Commitment to working in a diverse professional environment
- DACA Recipients encouraged to apply
Language Proficiency
Spanish language proficiency is preferred but not required; fluency in other languages is also helpful. You can learn more about ImmDef's programs, services and client populations at www.immdef.org.
Pay
Starting salary range for this position is $82,000 to $97,000 DOE. This position is part of the ImmDef employee union bargaining unit. Salary calculations are based on experience pursuant to the terms of our union collective bargaining agreement.
Schedule
ImmDef's business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but our office reception hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. As an exempt employee you will be expected to work a minimum of 35 hours per week, or 70 hours per pay period. You will be required to work from an ImmDef worksite during business hours at least 3-days per week, and 2-days per week you will have the flexibility work from home or take a day off in accordance with ImmDef's Flexible Work Schedule policies, subject to supervisor approval. Attorneys should expect to occasionally work on nights or weekends as needed.
Benefits
- Professional Memberships: ImmDef provides attorneys with membership in American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG), and opportunities to attend conferences, trainings and seminars/webinars hosted internally and by partner organizations. ImmDef covers California Bar Dues (or equivalent in one other jurisdiction) for all attorneys.
- Holidays and Paid Time Off: 13 paid holidays, 1-Week paid winter break between Christmas and New Years, 15 vacation days per year, 15 Sick Days per year
- Health, Dental and Vision Insurance: ImmDef provides health coverage on the first of the month following 30 days on the job. We cover 100% of premiums for our base dental and vision plans for our staff members and 75% of base plan dental and vision premiums for their dependents. ImmDef also covers 89% of the base plan medical premiums for our staff and 69% of the base plan medical premiums for their dependents.
- FSA and Dependent Care FSA: ImmDef offers FSA plans to help offset the costs of eligible health care expenses for you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents using pre-tax dollars. We also offer Dependent Care FSA to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or adult daycare.
- Eligible for Parental Leave which includes six (6) weeks of ImmDef paid leave.
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan & Employer Matching: ImmDef staff are eligible to enroll in our 401(k) plans upon completion of three (3) months of employment, contributing pre-tax dollars towards their retirement goals. After three months on staff, ImmDef will match 100% of contributions up to 4% of the employee's salary
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness: As a 501(c)3, full-time ImmDef staff with qualifying student loans are eligible for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- Parking and Public Transportation Stipends: Staff members assigned to an office without free on-site parking are eligible to receive a parking stipend of up to $130 per month in actual accrued parking or transportation costs. Staff in all offices are eligible to receive a public transportation stipend of up to $100 per month in actual accrued public transportation costs.
- Cell Phone Stipends: ImmDef provides a $15 monthly cell phone stipend to staff members whose job duties require them to consistently work at sites outside of ImmDef offices, or travel between ImmDef worksites, and whose jobs require use of their personal cell phones or communications that cannot be accomplished with ImmDef-issued equipment.