Staff Attorney (Immigration Removal Defense)

at  Immigrant Defenders Law Center

Immigrant Law Defenders provides high-quality, holistic, client-centered legal representation because we believe everyone deserves a fighting chance in immigration court. As part of Team ImmDef, you’ll help communities and families who are facing deportation stay together. We’re looking for candidates with a strong commitment to social justice to join our mission-driven non-profit organization. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply.
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. Our attorneys work collaboratively within our team of staff including managing and directing attorneys, paralegals, administrative support staff and case managers to provide client-centered, holistic representation. This is a rewarding and exciting position where the successful applicant will be engaged in cutting edge immigration litigation for unaccompanied minor clients with an overarching organizational goal of fighting for a more just immigration system.

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;
• Commitment to working in a diverse professional environment.
• DACA Recipients encouraged to apply!

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY:

• Spanish language proficiency is strongly preferred and may be required for certain attorney positions; fluency in other languages is also helpful.
• All Attorneys hired by ImmDef must be committed to learning Spanish and achieving working fluency within their first year of employment. ImmDef has limited funds available to assist with Spanish language learning resources and interpretation for attorneys needing to improve their Spanish language skills.
• Attorneys at a beginner Spanish level will only be considered as part of ImmDef’s Spanish Language for Lawyers program, which will open up applications in Summer 2024 for start dates in August 2024.
  ImmDef is currently recruiting staff attorneys to work within several programs. If you have a preference as to which program you would like to be considered for, please indicate this in your cover letter. You can learn more about our programs at www.immdef.org. While there is a preference for some positions to be based in our Los Angeles office, ImmDef will consider candidates who desire to be based one of our other offices: Riverside or Santa Ana.
  Due to the large number of applicants, we are unable to respond to every applicant and will only contact those who are invited to interview for the position. Preference is given to applicants for full-time positions, but experienced applicants looking for a part-time position will also be considered.

We offer our staff generous benefits including:

• Professional Membership and California (or equivalent) Bar Dues support
• Time Off: 13 paid holidays, 1-week paid winter break between Christmas and New Year’s Day, 15 vacation days per year, 15 sick days per year.
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance: 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.
• Health Care and Dependent Care FSA: ImmDef offers flexible spending account 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 FSA to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or adult daycare.
• Parental Leave: Upon meeting eligibility, we offer 6 weeks of ImmDef paid parental leave.
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan & Employer Matching: ImmDef staff are eligible to enroll in our 401(k) plans immediately upon hire, contributing pre-tax dollars towards their retirement goals. After six months of employment, ImmDef will match 100% of contributions up to 3% of the employee’s salary.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for a position fighting for our immigrant communities!
Immigrant Defenders Law Center is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. We value diversity in the workplace and strongly encourage applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, ethnic group identification, citizenship, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, arrest or conviction record, or any other protected characteristic.

• Staff attorneys will be assigned to the Children’s Representation Project, focused on representing unaccompanied children (detained in government custody and released to sponsors).
• Attorneys prioritize and regularly attend in-person and virtual Spanish classes, approaching Spanish learning with the same commitment and professionalism as expected with client representation.
• Attorneys provide high-quality, client-centered representation for clients facing deportation proceedings;
• Determine eligibility for legal relief and develop legal strategy case plans, with a particular focus on forms of relief for children (special immigrant juvenile status, asylum, visas for victims of crimes and trafficking, and family-based petitions);
• 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.
• Juris Doctorate;
• Active California State Bar License or licensure from another state and, if required, 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;
• Commitment to working in a diverse professional environment.
• Passion for social justice for immigrants required.