Staff Attorney, Houston

About the role

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights invites applications for the full-time position of Staff Attorney to be based in Houston, Texas. This position is funded primarily through a federal contract and is contingent on on-going renewals.

Duties and responsibilities

• Advocate for children’s best interests before government or other interested parties
• Serve as Child Advocate to a limited number of cases or as needed
• Visit children as needed and communicate with caregivers, family members and stakeholders
• Support the local and national efforts to recruit, train, support, and retain volunteer Child Advocates
• Participate in internal and external working groups
• Meet regularly with local stakeholders (government field staff, facility staff, immigration judges, ICE officers, and legal service providers)
• Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders or organizations in the community
• Assist the team in meeting case goals and other deliverables for the government contract and private grants
• Capture accurate and timely data management to inform reports to the government, other funders, and internal Young Center departments regarding children served, case outcomes, program metrics, and current trends
• Accompany children to court hearings and interviews related to their immigration case
• Under the supervision of the Deputy Program Director (Social Worker), assess which children may need additional supportive and/or mental health services and accompany them to appointments as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• J.D. and license to practice law or ability to acquire license within the first year of employment
• Experience—lived, volunteer, or professional—with immigration matters (preferred)
• Legal analysis, negotiation, and mediation skills
• Effective communication skills, including ability to liaise with various stakeholders, colleagues, and volunteer
• Excellent case management skills
• High-level organizational skills
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and proactively address case needs
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and creatively as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Commitment to a comprehensive culture of feedback, including seeking and providing positive and constructive feedback and engaging in productive conversations
• Commitment to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or anti-racism principles
• Ability to effectively engage across different cultures, identities, and ethnicities
• Strong writing skills
• Aptitude and thoughtfulness in working with children and promoting child-centered advocacy
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, Zoom, Adobe Acrobat, and willingness to learn new technology and/or platforms
• Bilingual ability (oral and written) in English/Spanish or English/other languages spoken by the population we serve
• Valid driver’s license and access to a car