Staff Attorney (Immigration Removal Defense)

About the role

Brief Description
Immigrant Defenders Law Center (“ImmDef”) is a next-generation, social justice law firm that provides high-quality representation and legal services to immigrants in Southern California and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct representation in removal proceedings to unaccompanied children, adults with mental competency issues, and detained or non-detained adults and families.
• Many clients face complex immigration issues, including those with juvenile or criminal histories.
• Determine eligibility for legal relief and develop legal strategy case plans.
• Represent SIJS-eligible youth (under age 21) in related state court proceedings, including guardianship and custody matters, or coordinate closely with juvenile dependency and delinquency counsel to obtain SIJS predicate orders.
• Identify the need for post-conviction relief and collaborate with ImmDef’s Post-Conviction Relief team to pursue available remedies.
• File appeals, motions to reopen or reconsider, and habeas corpus petitions, as needed and as funding and program capacity permits.
• Coordinate with public defenders and appointed counsel for clients with ongoing criminal or juvenile delinquency proceedings.
• Travel to shelters for unaccompanied children, ICE detention centers, and other custodial settings to interview and prepare clients, take declarations, complete immigration benefit applications, and provide legal advice.
• Represent individuals in court at initial or prolonged custody redetermination hearings, master calendar hearings, individual merits hearings, and in ancillary state court proceedings.
• Represent clients before USCIS at asylum interviews, credible fear interviews, ICE check-ins, and other immigration-related appointments.
• Prepare and submit country conditions, declarations, and other supporting evidence for applications to defend clients against removal.
• Work with country conditions experts, expert witnesses, psychologists, and medical professionals to develop supporting evidence for immigration relief applications.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and participate in weekly group case review, on-site trainings, and provide supervision for support staff’s legal work.
• Support ImmDef’s overall mission by working closely with colleagues and ImmDef leadership on various initiatives through community engagement, peer mentoring, and event participation.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support programmatic and organizational needs.

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-Junctional 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 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.