Staff Attorney

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nThe Organization:The Florence Project was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. Through our programs today, we provide services to thousands of adults, youth, and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona on any given day. In 2001, the Florence Project implemented our Integrated Social Services Program, one of the first of its kind in this field. The Florence Project provides high quality legal and social services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy.\n \nPrimary Purpose of the Job: \nThe Staff Attorney will work on a team to provide pro se assistance and/or direct representation to individuals in ICE custody in Florence and Eloy, Arizona, including cases where individuals have been found incompetent. The position involves substantial work on individual intakes, group and individual court counseling and prep sessions, and other direct services to immigrants facing removal proceedings. The Staff Attorney will represent clients in bond and merits proceedings before the Immigration Court (EOIR), as needed, as well as appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The Staff Attorney may also work on related matters before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and support litigation before the United States District Courts or United States Courts of Appeals as needed.. The Staff Attorney will provide “Know Your Rights” presentations and pro se workshops, as needed, and will refer cases to the Florence Project pro bono, social services and advocacy teams. The Staff Attorney will also have the opportunity to participate in outreach activities and collaborative projects with other Florence Project teams and partner organizations.\n \nStaff Attorneys at the Florence Project are generally assigned to one program at a time (here, the Adult Program) as a matter of organizational structure. However, legal needs and services provided by the Florence Project can and often do evolve over time. This position will support the immediate need for legal case work, appeals, and advocacy in the Adult Legal Program. However, depending on the evolving legal needs and priorities of the organization, staff attorney positions may be assigned legal case work or other legal support needs performed by other programs, including the Children’s Program or Advocacy Team, and or assigned to other departments/programs as needed.\n\nEssential Duties & Responsibilities:\n\nCasework: \n\nConduct intake interviews and provide group “Know Your Rights” presentations to unrepresented individuals at the detention centers in Eloy and Florence, AZ, as needed.\n\nEducate participants on how to represent themselves and prepare pro se materials as needed.\n\nConduct formal intakes.\n\nProvide follow-up pro se assistance as needed, including but not limited to: \n\nConduct legal research to determine eligibility. \n\nWrite pro se motions and briefs on legal issues before the immigration court and Board of Immigration Appeals, and/or USCIS.\n\nReview court files.\n\nOrganize supporting evidence. \n\nReview relief applications and prepare clients for court when necessary. \n\nProvide direct legal representation to individuals in removal proceedings, including those found incompetent. Provide representation before the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and USCIS as needed. \n\nHandle most forms of relief, including cancellation of removal for LPRs and non LPRs, asylum/withholding/CAT cases, adjustment of status for refugees and other non-citizens, citizenship, T and U visas, and VAWA claims. \n\nRefer cases to other teams according to the established procedures. \n\nRefer cases to social services for support and follow up work. \n\nProfessional Development/Training - Attend mandatory training and other CLEs and training ad hoc. \n\nRemain current in immigration law, and on implications of criminal and civil law. \n\nComplies with the required ethical standards, preserve client confidentiality, and avoid conflict of interest. \n\nMaintain complete and accurate case notes and client records. \n\nPrepare timely statistical reports. \n\nConduct case audits for presentation and review as required\n\n \nAdministrative Duties: \n\nFollow cybersecurity rules and other compliance requirements. \n\nAttend and actively participate in FIRRP meetings including staff meetings and joint case review meetings as scheduled. \n\nTrack hours, data, and mileage for reimbursement as appropriate. \n\nMaintain case notes, data, and time keeping in a timely manner and keep electronic and physical files organized. \n\n \nOutreach and Advocacy: \n\nAttend occasional meetings with stakeholders including EOIR, ICE officials, and/or CCA officials to discuss ongoing issues. \n\nWhen requested, speak on behalf of FIRRP in various settings including media, panels, conferences, conference calls, visiting students, visiting funders, or community groups. \n\nParticipate in internal or external advocacy, fundraising, or outreach objectives relevant to FIRRP’s mission. \n\nDevelop and maintain cooperative relationships with local and national community partners, including but not limited to private immigration attorneys, public officials, law enforcement officials, and other nonprofits that provide services to the immigrant population. \n\nDevelop and maintain professional relationships with the EOIR, ICE, USCIS, government and social service organizations, and community organizations. \nCommunicate with the Legal Director about advocacy initiatives and legal training for the community. \nParticipate in developing and implementing special projects or presentations. \nThis position can be assigned to a primary line of work while maintaining flexibility to be assigned to other lines of work/cases at other moments depending on program’s needs, including pro se work, direct representation work, and trafficking work. Additionally, this position may perform case work for, and provide other legal support to, Children’s Legal Program or Advocacy Team as assigned. The position involves the possibility of being transferred fully to other legal work depending on the needs and priorities of the organization. \nPerform other duties as needed.\n\n \nMinimum Requirements: \n\nJ.D. and admission to any state bar. \n\nAlternatively, applicants who are law school graduates who have taken the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) and achieved a score of 260-269 are eligible to apply, with commitment to purse admission to the Arizona State Bar through the Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program (ALAP). \n To be certified eligible for an ALAP license, applicants must:  \n\nGraduate from an ABA-accredited law school. \n\nAchieve a score of 260-269 on the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) administered after July 1, 2023. \n\nMeet all other requirements for admission to practice law in Arizona, including a thorough background check. \n\nSecure qualifying employment and commit to practice under the supervision of a qualified Arizona attorney in rural Arizona or in a public law practice, for a minimum of two years. \n\nSuccessful applicants will be offered the Law Graduate position with a Law Graduate salary range, providing an opportunity to gain supervised legal experience while completing the requirements for bar admission through ALAP \n\nDemonstrate commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way. \n\nDemonstrate zealous support for the Florence Project’s mission. \n\nMust be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions. \n\nStrong litigation experience and/or oral advocacy skills. \n\nStrong legal research. \n\nStrong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse populations. \n\nAbility to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. \n\nHighly organized, innovative thinker, and work in high-volume settings with limited resources. \n\nExcellent problem solving, research, and analytical skills. \n\nEffectively manage multiple projects and meet deadlines. \n\nDemonstrate to be a hardworking, flexible, respectful team player that can work effectively in a collaborative, innovative, and client-centered work environment. \n\nAbility to work independently, be adaptable and reliable in the face of conflict, pressure, crisis, or changing priorities. \n\nExhibit high ethical standards and the ability to maintain confidentiality. \n\nMust be able to pass federal and state background checks. \n\nFluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish required. \n\nTravel is required for this position. \n\nMust have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation. \n\nProven computer skills. Advanced understanding of basic office applications\n\n \nPreferred Requirements: \n\nTwo years of prior experience practicing before the Immigration Courts or USCIS is strongly preferred. \n\n2+ years of minimum experience providing direct representation to immigrants in removal proceedings, and extensive knowledge of immigration law, specifically deportation defense, asylum, and criminal-immigration law issues is strongly preferred. \n\nPrior advocacy work in immigrant rights, human rights, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice, individuals with mental health conditions or experience working with trauma survivors is a plus. \n\nExperience with databases and data tracking (i.e., Legal Server) is a plus. \n\n \nWorking Conditions/Physical Demands: \n\nOperate in a professional office environment requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time with intermittent walking, standing, bending, squatting, pulling, and pushing. \n\nAbility to use standard office equipment such as scanners, computers, keyboards, phones, shredders, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. Requires the ability to lift up to ten pounds - accommodations may be available. \n\nTravel regularly between offices and secondary work locations. \nFrequent time in detention facilities and immigration courts located in Florence and Eloy. \nEffective September 1, 2021, FIRRP has implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy. To comply with this policy, active employees must be fully vaccinated by October 15, 2021. Employees seeking an exemption due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief should contact our Office of People and Culture. \n\n \nSalary & Benefits:\nThis is a full-time position. Salary is competitive for our field and geographical area. Salaries will be calculated based on relevant experience and our established comprehensive wage scale: $70,907.20 - $ 93,107.71 Annually DOE.\n \nWe strive to create and uphold a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for all staff. We offer excellent benefits, including:  \n \n\nMedical plans including health, dental, vision coverage, subject to plan terms\nShort Term Disability\nEligibility for group benefits such as voluntary life insurance, subject to applicable waiting periods\nRetirement plan, subject to plan terms\nPaid Time Off earned on a biweekly accrual basis- Twenty-five (25) Days of Vacation Time, annually\nFive (5) Days of Medical/Sick Time, annually\nOne (1) Day of Personal Time, monthly\nEight (8) Week Paid Sabbatical, after three years of employment\nBereavement leave.\nFifteen (15) Organization-paid holidays, all observed\nEligible for Parental Leave which includes Twelve (13) paid weeks\nMileage reimbursement for travel between offices and places of work.\nRelocation Assistance for out of state new hires available for some positions.\n\n \nApplication Process:\nThis is an immediate opening. Salary is commensurate with experience. The position will remain open until we receive enough qualified applicants. To apply, please submit a cover letter detailing your interest in the position as well as your resume, three professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply early. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Florence Project values diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, persons with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities.\n \nAt FIRRP, we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the requirements of a job.  If your experience is close to what you see listed in our current job opportunities, please still consider applying.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence, which is very much valued at FIRRP.  Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.  Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.\n\nThis job announcement is for informational purposes only and is subject to change and modification without notice. This job announcement includes a non-exhaustive list of responsibilities, qualifications and requirements of the position, but does not necessarily include all the job functions of the position.  This position is eligible for membership in the union Proyecto Solidaridad-FIRRP affiliated with OPEIU Local 251.