Immigration Staff Attorney

The role

The IRAP Staff Attorney provides deportation defense in immigration court and handles affirmative immigration matters with USCIS. They also represent clients in family court proceedings related to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status cases and work with a staff social worker for holistic advocacy.

What you will do

• Provide deportation defense in immigration court including merits hearings, motions practice, and appeals before the BIA
• Handle affirmative immigration matters with USCIS including asylum, family-based petitions, naturalization, VAWA, and U or T status
• Represent clients in family court proceedings related to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) cases
• File and litigate habeas petitions alongside litigation directors
• Perform intake, community education, and community outreach
• Collaborate with other LSNYC attorneys and advocates on cross-unit and cross-borough projects
• Partner with community-based organizations on campaigns and projects
• Mentor and collaborate with pro bono partners
• Complete administrative tasks including timekeeping, uploading documents, data reporting, and case closing

Required qualifications

• Admitted to the New York State Bar
• At least 2-3 years of immigration law direct services experience
• Experience representing clients before EOIR, including motions practice and merits hearings
• Experience with BIA appeals
• Experience working with clients who have experienced trauma and other vulnerable populations
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to manage a diverse, fast-paced, and high-volume caseload
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Collaborative orientation, ability to work in a team, and solutions-oriented approach

Nice to have

• Strong cultural or personal ties to the communities we serve
• Fluency in Spanish, including the ability to communicate in Spanish with clients about legal matters and correspond in writing in Spanish

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision plans
• Contributions to a 403(b) plan
• Generous leave time
• Access to internal Justice Learning Center for free CLEs and trainer experience

Before you apply

• Applicants should upload a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples
• Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted

About the company

Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) is the largest civil legal services provider in the country, fighting poverty and seeking racial, social and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. Brooklyn Legal Services (BLS) is part of LSNYC and provides representation to address the legal needs of Brooklyn’s diverse low-income population.