Full Time Staff Attorney

Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights invites applications for the full-time position of Staff Attorney to be based in Phoenix, Arizona.

This position is a unique opportunity for an attorney to join a passionate team made up of social workers, attorneys, and administrative staff, to engage in interdisciplinary written and oral best interests advocacy on behalf of children in immigration removal proceedings. Young Center is appointed as independent Child Advocate for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children and advocates for their best interests with respect to their custody, placement, conditions of release, reunification with caregivers, repatriation, and their immigration proceedings. Young Center does not directly represent children in immigration matters but works closely with the legal service providers who may represent the children’s legal interests. The Staff Attorney will help recruit, train, and supervise bilingual and bicultural volunteer Child Advocates—teachers, law students, social workers, community members—who will work one-on-one with children. The Staff Attorney will apply their legal knowledge and skills to identify issues impacting children’s rights and best interests. Young Center team is a passionate and collegial group of professionals committed to ensuring that children receive the full protection of federal immigration law, domestic child welfare law and international human rights law. This position is funded primarily through a federal contract and is contingent on on-going renewals.

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests, safety, and well-being of immigrant children in the United States. We center children's voices, celebrate their strengths, and recognize their fundamental need to be with family and in community, not detention.
For more than 20 years, the Young Center has accompanied and advocated for over 10,000 children from more than 70 countries worldwide. We are the only organization that takes an integrated approach to protecting and advancing the rights of children, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and state and federal law, through direct services, stakeholder support across child welfare systems, systems and narrative change, and litigation. Further, we fight tirelessly to bring greater equity to the child welfare system, demanding accountability from systems and people in positions of power, so children in immigrant families who face court cases remain safe, free, and with families in communities where they are supported.
We also serve children through our programs in New Jersey. Advocate for children’s best interests before government or other interested parties

• Supervise volunteers appointed as Child Advocate for unaccompanied and separated children in federal custody in or near Phoenix and across the United States as needed
• Serve as Child Advocate to a limited number of cases or as needed
• Visit children as needed and communicate with caregivers, family members, and stakeholders
• Provide internal case consultation and case support involving the state, federal, and international best interests legal principles and immigration law for the Phoenix office
• Support the local and national efforts to recruit, train, support, and retain volunteer Child Advocates
• Meet regularly with local stakeholders (government field staff, facility staff, immigration judges, ICE officers, and legal service providers); collaborate on presentations to local stakeholders; and speak about the Child Advocate Program at local, regional, and national events
• Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders or organizations in the community
• Assist the team in meeting case goals and other deliverables for the government contract and private grants
• Capture accurate and timely data management to inform reports to the government, other funders, and internal Young Center departments regarding children served, case outcomes, program metrics, and current trends
• Participate in a supportive, collaborative work culture that allows for creative, thoughtful, high-quality, and effective interdisciplinary advocacy
• In collaboration with the site Managing Social Worker and/or Deputy Program Director (Social Worker), consult with social worker colleagues to develop child-centered advocacy through a trauma-informed lens that identifies and advocates for the best interests of unaccompanied and separated children
• Under the supervision of the Managing Attorney and with input from the Deputy Program Directors (Attorney and Social Worker), draft and submit best interests determinations to immigration judges, asylum officers, attorneys, and federal agencies, applying state, federal, and international law and incorporating social science research and social work best practices, including, but not limited to trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approaches
• Accompany children to court hearings and interviews related to their immigration case
• Under the supervision of the Deputy Program Director (Social Worker), assess which children may need additional supportive and/or mental health services and accompany them to appointments as needed
• D. and license to practice law or ability to acquire license within the first year of employment
• 3+ years of demonstrated child welfare or immigration law experience.
• Legal analysis, negotiation, and mediation skills
• Ability to work in a flexible, evolving environment, adapt to situations, and manage change effectively
• Commitment to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or anti-racism principles
• Strong writing skills
• Aptitude and thoughtfulness in working with children and promoting child-centered advocacy
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, Zoom, Adobe Acrobat, and willingness to learn new technology and/or platforms
• Bilingual ability (oral and written) in English/Spanish or English/ other languages spoken by the population we serve
• Valid driver’s license and access to a car

Experience—lived, volunteer, or professional—with immigration matters

Ability to use computer, telephone, and copy machine. Ability to travel by plane, car, and other conveyances within U.APPLICATION DETAILS
The Young Center is an "at-will" and equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in and affirmatively factors diversity into its hiring practices. Young Center encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, marital or parental status, pregnancy, citizenship, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, or veterans’ status. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process; Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.
$The Young Center provides excellent benefits, including health/dental/vision insurance (employee & dependents) at no cost to the employee, paid vacation, sick time, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.
Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please apply on the Young Center website with a cover letter, resume, three references, and a writing sample. Only complete applications will be considered.
To ensure you receive all communications regarding your application and candidacy with the Young Center, please add the following domains to your email safe sender list: @jazzhr.