Staff Attorney (Rapid Response & Detention Defense)

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. ImmDef was founded with the belief that no immigrant should be forced to face an unjust immigration system alone, and our universal representation programs are a first step towards that goal. Learn more about us at www.immdef.org. ImmDef represents thousands of adults, children, and families annually who have multi-faceted, complex, and urgent legal needs as they face our unjust immigration system. Position Summary ImmDef is seeking multiple full-time Staff Attorneys to join our Rapid Response team, working on the front lines of immigration enforcement to defend individuals facing detention, deportation, and family separation. As aggressive immigration enforcement actions continue to impact communities across Southern California, ImmDef's Rapid Response team provides critical legal assistance to individuals who have been arrested and detained by immigration authorities. Our attorneys visit detention centers, meet with individuals shortly after their arrest, assess their legal options, and pursue strategies to secure their release from immigration custody. A central focus of this team is fighting to get people out of detention and back home with their families, where they can meaningfully participate in their defense against deportation. Attorneys evaluate eligibility for release and immigration relief, represent clients in bond proceedings, and pursue federal habeas corpus litigation to challenge unlawful detention. They also provide individualized legal consultations to help detained individuals understand their rights, evaluate their options, and make informed decisions about their immigration cases. Beyond individual representation, Rapid Response attorneys play a critical role in identifying and documenting potential civil rights violations, abusive enforcement practices, and dangerous or unlawful detention conditions. Through their work directly with detained individuals, attorneys help identify emerging patterns and legal issues that may warrant broader advocacy or litigation. This role is ideal for an attorney who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is passionate about protecting due process and challenging immigration detention, and is eager to develop creative legal strategies in response to rapidly evolving enforcement practices. Staff attorneys must be prepared to act quickly, provide clear and compassionate legal counseling, and advocate for clients facing some of the most consequential decisions of their lives. Staff attorneys will join the largest nonprofit universal representation deportation defense team in California and work alongside a dedicated team of attorneys, paralegals, case managers, and community partners committed to protecting immigrant communities. Job Responsibilities Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Rapid Response & Detention Screenings Provide urgent, client-centered legal assistance to individuals recently arrested or detained by immigration authorities. Frequently travel to immigration detention centers and other custodial settings to meet with detained individuals, conduct legal screenings, and provide timely legal counseling. Assess clients' immigration histories, criminal histories, prior immigration proceedings, and other relevant circumstances to identify potential defenses to removal and eligibility for release from detention. Evaluate the legal basis for immigration detention, eligibility for bond, and potential avenues for challenging unlawful custody. Identify individuals with urgent legal needs, including those facing prolonged detention, imminent removal, or other circumstances requiring immediate intervention. Develop individualized legal assessments and recommendations to help clients understand their available options and potential next steps. Bond, Habeas & Detention Defense Represent detained individuals in custody redetermination and bond hearings before immigration courts. Evaluate and pursue federal habeas corpus petitions challenging unlawful immigration detention, including statutory and constitutional challenges to detention authority and bond eligibility. Prepare bond motions, habeas petitions, legal briefs, declarations, and supporting evidence to advocate for clients' release. Develop creative legal strategies to challenge immigration detention and secure clients' release to their families and communities. Research and analyze evolving legal developments affecting immigration detention, custody determinations, and access to judicial review. Coordinate with colleagues and external legal partners on complex detention-related legal issues and litigation strategies. Individualized Legal Counseling & Immigration Options Provide comprehensive legal consultations to detained individuals regarding their immigration circumstances, available legal options, and potential outcomes. Evaluate eligibility for immigration relief, including asylum, withholding of removal, CAT protection, cancellation of removal, and other applicable defenses. Counsel clients regarding their prospects for release through bond or habeas litigation, the potential merits of their removal defense cases, and the practical implications of remaining in detention while pursuing relief. Explain available alternatives, including voluntary departure when legally available, and help clients make informed decisions based on their individual circumstances, goals, and legal options. Provide clear, realistic assessments of the strengths, challenges, and potential consequences of different legal strategies, recognizing the significant personal and family impacts of prolonged detention. Provide limited-scope legal assistance and pro se guidance to individuals who may not receive ongoing representation. Represent clients in removal proceedings or other immigration matters when appropriate and consistent with the team's priorities and capacity. Monitoring Enforcement Practices & Detention Conditions Screen detained individuals for potential civil rights violations, unlawful enforcement practices, and abusive or unsafe conditions during immigration arrests, transfers, and detention. Interview clients regarding their experiences with immigration enforcement, including the circumstances of their arrest, treatment by enforcement officers, access to counsel, and conditions of confinement. Identify and document potential legal violations, including due process concerns, denial of medical care, mistreatment, and other conditions that may warrant further investigation or legal intervention. Collaborate with ImmDef's litigation and advocacy teams to identify emerging patterns, systemic concerns, and opportunities for broader legal challenges. Facilitate appropriate referrals or coordination with legal and advocacy partners when issues fall outside the scope of the team's direct representation. Client-Centered Advocacy & Community Collaboration Provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive legal services to individuals experiencing detention, family separation, and the threat of deportation. Communicate clearly and compassionately with clients about their legal options, case developments, and potential next steps. Work with clients' families, community organizations, and legal service providers to obtain supporting documentation and facilitate legal interventions. Provide Know Your Rights information, legal orientations, and community education related to immigration enforcement and detention. Coordinate referrals for legal representation and community resources when clients' needs extend beyond the scope of Rapid Response services. Collaboration & Teamwork Work collaboratively with managing and directing attorneys, paralegals, case managers, and administrative support staff. Participate in regular case reviews, legal trainings, and team strategy discussions. Provide guidance and supervision to support staff on assigned legal matters. Contribute to the development of legal resources, screening protocols, and practice strategies that strengthen ImmDef's Rapid Response work. Support ImmDef's broader mission through community engagement, peer mentoring, and participation in organizational initiatives. Perform other duties as assigned by ImmDef leadership. Requirements Juris Doctorate; Active California State Bar License or licensure from another state and, if required, eligibility and willingness 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; Passion for social justice for immigrants required. Preferred Qualifications: Experience with 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. Language Proficiency Spanish language proficiency is strongly preferred for this position; fluency in other languages is also helpful. Summary 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. The Rapid Response team is also expected to be available some evenings and weekends to respond to when there is urgent need to advocate for particularly vulnerable immigrants detained by ICE. Professional Memberships: ImmDef provides attorneys with membership in the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG), as well as $150 towards the professional association of their choice, and opportunities to attend conferences, trainings and seminars/webinars hosted internally and by partner organizations. ImmDef covers California Bar Dues (or equivalent in another jurisdiction) for all attorneys in February of each year. Holidays and Paid Time Off : 13 paid holidays 1-Week paid winter break between Christmas Eve 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 after three months of service, 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 $100 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. Relocation Assistance for out-of-state new hires may be available for attorney positions as part of the job offer. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for a position fighting for our immigrant communities!