Pro Bono Scholar – Immigration Unit

The role

The Pro Bono Scholar will provide legal representation to individuals and families in immigration matters. This includes removal proceedings, affirmative immigration matters, and Family Court proceedings related to SIJS. The role also involves client intake, community outreach, and administrative tasks.

What you will do

• Represent individuals and families in removal proceedings before Immigration Court and in administrative and federal appeals.
• Handle affirmative immigration matters including asylum, family-based petitions, consular processing, naturalization, VAWA self-petitions, and U and T visa petitions.
• Represent clients in Family Court proceedings related to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) cases.
• Represent clients during orders of supervisions and other check-ins.
• Collaborate with the unit's staff social worker to provide trauma-informed representation and holistic advocacy.
• Conduct client intake, community education, and outreach activities.
• Work collaboratively with attorneys and advocates across LSNYC units and boroughs.
• Collaborate with Citywide Litigation on habeas petitions when necessary.
• Partner with community-based organizations on campaigns, projects, and advocacy efforts.
• Complete administrative responsibilities including timekeeping, document management, data reporting, and grant compliance.

Required qualifications

• Be a participant in the New York State Pro Bono Scholar program.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and working in low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity.
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and conduct community outreach in low-income neighborhoods.
• Excellent advocacy, analytic, writing, and leadership skills.

Nice to have

• Fluency or proficiency in either Spanish or a language other than English that is frequently used by our clients
• Experience in immigration related advocacy

Benefits

• Access to internal Justice Learning Center
• Opportunities to earn free CLEs
• Opportunities to gain experience as a trainer

Before you apply

• Applications are considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
• 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. Its staff of more than 600 people helps hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers annually to meet basic needs and fight systemic injustices.