Immigration Attorney, or DOJ-Accredited Representative - 2025771

Job Description

Job Description

Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten? Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor?

If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you.

At this pivotal moment in time, we are rapidly expanding and growing our team to meet the increasing needs of our world. We are looking for people who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world and the lives of the suffering.

If you’re looking for a purpose-driven career in which you can grow your talents, while also standing up for the rights of the vulnerable, we want you to join us today.

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church. The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Europe. Since then, for 80 years, across 100 countries, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish.

Today, organizational programming focuses on humanitarian and disaster response, community strengthening and resilience, and refugee & immigrant services and advocacy.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Immigration Attorney or DOJ-accredited representative will play a critical role in World Relief Western WA’s Immigration Legal Services (ILS) team. The primary role of the Immigration Attorney or DOJ-accredited representative will be to represent clients in applications before US Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS). If licensed as an attorney, the position will also involve limited-scope representation to individuals in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).

Please note: this position is being advertised for either a DOJ-accredited representative or a licensed attorney. Compensation ranges vary (32.40-34.00 per hour for a DOJ-accredited representative, and 80,000-84,000 per year for an attorney). 

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Client Services

• Provides substantive legal screening to determine clients’ benefit eligibility.
• Explain immigration benefits and advise clients on best actions to take for their specific case.
• Assist clients with completing applications for immigration benefits.
• Provide representation to individuals needing assistance filing applications with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (green card applications, naturalization, family-based immigration, asylum and other humanitarian visas).
• Help clients advocate for themselves when they are interacting with government agencies such as: the Department of State (DOS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other government offices.
• Perform factual and legal research for personal caseload and in support of other ILS team members.
• Communicate clearly with clients about all matters related to their immigration situation, and the ability to clearly explain to clients what supporting documents and evidence must be provided.
• Advocate zealously for clients.

Administration

• Maintain up-to-date record of client data and case progress in both LawLogix database and in multiple Excel documents.
• Ensure physical and electronic case files are accurate and up-to-date with most recent client documents and government notices.
• Respond promptly to client emails and phone calls regarding their cases and submit inquiries on case status to DOS, USCIS, DHS and EOIR, as needed.
• Perform administrative tasks related to grant reporting in a timely manner.

Training

• Alongside ILS Program Manager, train other ILS team members on relevant legal topics, including how to file immigration petitions/motions.
• Attend relevant trainings to promote an ever-growing knowledge of immigration law and tactics.
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant policies, laws and trends in immigration law, particularly as it impacts low-income immigrants and refugees and share updates with other team members.

Outreach & Community Education

• Assist with advertising WRS Immigration Legal Services to target immigrant populations and may participate in and/or lead community education events on topics of legal importance to target immigrant populations.
• Make referrals both internally and externally, as appropriate.
• Conduct Know-Your-Rights trainings when required to do so.

Additional Duties if Licensed as an Attorney

• Provide representation to individuals in removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Administrative Review (EOIR) - Immigration Court.
• Draft and file motions and applications at EOIR Immigration Courts.
• Counsel individuals in removal proceedings on immigration law, case procedures and legal options.
• Determine legal strategy in cooperation with other attorneys and the program manager.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Mature and personal Christian faith
• Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
• Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
• Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity and National Association of Evangelicals' For the Health of The Nation document
• Previous knowledge and understanding of immigration law and systems.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, especially Outlook, Excel, Word & PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability to work with people from a wide range of cultural, racial, religious and language backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage a varied and demanding caseload, including excellent time-management, priority-setting, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work both independently and in collaboration with others.
• Occasional travel to Whatcom County and Thurston County office locations (1-2 times per month) required.
• A desire to serve immigrants and refugees in support of the mission and vision of World Relief.
• Flexibility, resourcefulness and the ability to enthusiastically assist with other duties as assigned.

Additional requirements for Immigration Attorney:

• Licensed attorney in good standing with an active state bar membership.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proficiency in one or more languages commonly spoken by the populations we serve is highly desirable (e.g., Spanish, French, Dari, Arabic, or other relevant languages).
• Licensed under the Washington State Bar
• Previous experience with Immigration Case Management System Equifax (LawLogix)
• Experience within a non-profit legal environment
• Candidates from refugee, asylee or immigrant backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply

Additional preferred qualifications for Immigration Attorney:

• Removal defense experience is desirable

World Relief offers a competitive benefits package and employee discount program for full-time, Regular, employees.

World Relief is honored to be recognized with the Gold-level Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation for exceeding the core components of our well-being program including leadership and culture, program foundations and execution, and whole person health.

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Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

For World Relief staff, strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief is essential, and Christian faith is a prerequisite for employment, based upon United States federal guidelines provided in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.