Full Time Staff Attorney

Brief Description Immigrant Defenders Law Center (“ImmDef”) is a next-generation, social justice law firm that provides high-quality representation and legal services to immigrants in Southern California and beyond. ImmDef was founded with the belief that no immigrant should be forced to face an unjust immigration system alone and our universal representation programs are a first step towards that goal. Brief Description Immigrant Defenders Law Center (“ImmDef”) is a next-generation, social justice law firm that provides high-quality representation and legal services to immigrants in Southern California and beyond. ImmDef was founded with the belief that no immigrant should be forced to face an unjust immigration system alone and our universal representation programs are a first step towards that goal. Learn more about us at ImmDef represents thousands of adults, children and families annually who have multi-faceted, complex and urgent legal needs as they face our unjust immigration system. ImmDef is currently seeking full-time staff attorneys to join our team of fearless advocates providing creative and zealous representation to our clients. Staff attorneys will be joining the largest non-profit, universal representation model deportation defense team in the state of California. Our attorneys work collaboratively within our team of staff including managing and directing attorneys, paralegals, administrative support staff and case managers to provide client-centered, holistic representation. This is a rewarding and exciting position where the successful applicant will be engaged in cutting edge immigration litigation for individual clients with an overarching organizational goal of fighting for a more just immigration system.

Provide direct representation in removal proceedings to unaccompanied children, adults with mental competency issues, and detained or non-detained adults and families. Many clients face complex immigration issues, including those with juvenile or criminal histories.

Provide high-quality, client-centered representation for clients facing deportation proceedings;

Determine eligibility for legal relief and develop legal strategy case plans;

Represent SIJS-eligible youth (under age 21) in related state court proceedings, including guardianship and custody matters, or coordinate closely with juvenile dependency and delinquency counsel to obtain SIJS predicate orders;

Travel to shelters for unaccompanied children, ICE detention centers, and other custodial settings to interview and prepare clients, take declarations, complete immigration benefit applications, and provide legal advice;

Represent clients before USCIS at asylum interviews, credible fear interviews, ICE check-ins, and other immigration-related appointments;

Prepare and submit country conditions, declarations, and other supporting evidence for applications to defend clients against removal;

Work with country conditions experts, expert witnesses, psychologists, and medical professionals to develop supporting evidence for immigration relief applications;

Work collaboratively with colleagues and participate in weekly group case review, on-site trainings, and provide supervision for support staff’s legal work;

Support ImmDef’s overall mission by working closely with colleagues and ImmDef leadership on various initiatives through community engagement, peer mentoring, and event participation;

Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills;

Willingness to zealously pursue new and untested legal theories;

Passion for social justice for immigrants required.

Preferred Qualifications Experience with any of the following forms of immigration cases is helpful: asylum/WOR/CAT, special immigrant juvenile status (child custody/family court/guardianship), cancellation, waivers, adjustment of status, immigration consequences of criminal convictions, bond, humanitarian parole, post-conviction relief, habeas petitions, BIA appeals, motions to reopen, naturalization.

Experience in immigration law (non-profit or private practice) is a plus, but not required as we are ready and able to provide training;

Knowledge of best practices in working with clients with mental competency issues, including those suffering from mental health challenges and children, is a plus;

Language Proficiency Spanish language proficiency is preferred but not required; fluency in other languages is also helpful.

You can learn more about ImmDef's programs, services and client populations at ImmDef is considering applicants for any of our Greater Los Angeles Area offices, but particularly needs attorneys in Los Angeles and Riverside. Attorneys who wish to be based in Santa Ana should expect frequent travel to courts and offices in Los Angeles and/or Riverside.

This position is part of the ImmDef employee union bargaining unit. Salary calculations are based on experience pursuant to the terms of our union collective bargaining agreement.

Schedule ImmDef’s business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. but our office reception hours are 9:00 a.m. You will be required to work from an ImmDef worksite during business hours at least 3-days per week, and 2-days per week you will have the flexibility work from home or take a day off in accordance with ImmDef’s Flexible Work Schedule policies, subject to supervisor approval.

Attorneys should expect to occasionally work on nights or weekends as needed.

Professional Memberships ImmDef provides attorneys with membership in American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG), and opportunities to attend conferences, trainings and seminars/webinars hosted internally and by partner organizations.

ImmDef covers California Bar Dues (or equivalent in one other jurisdiction) for all attorneys.

Holidays and Paid Time Off 13 paid holidays

1-Week paid winter break between Christmas and New Years

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance ImmDef provides health coverage on the first of the month following 30 days on the job.

We cover 100% of premiums for our base dental and vision plans for our staff members and 75% of base plan dental and vision premiums for their dependents. ImmDef also covers 89% of the base plan medical premiums for our staff and 69% of the base plan medical premiums for their dependents.

FSA and Dependent Care FSA ImmDef offers FSA plans to help offset the costs of eligible health care expenses for you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents using pre-tax dollars

We also offer Dependent Care FSA to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or adult daycare.

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan & Employer Matching ImmDef staff are eligible to enroll in our 401(k) plans upon three (3) months of service, contributing pre-tax dollars towards their retirement goals

Funds are vested immediately!

Public Service Loan Forgiveness As a 501(c)3, full-time ImmDef staff with qualifying student loans are eligible for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Parking and Public Transportation Stipends Staff members assigned to an office without free on-site parking are eligible to receive a parking stipend of up to $130 per month in actual accrued parking or transportation costs.

Cell Phone Stipends ImmDef provides a $15 monthly cell phone stipend to staff members whose job duties require them to consistently work at sites outside of ImmDef offices, or travel between ImmDef worksites, and whose jobs require use of their personal cell phones or communications that cannot be accomplished with ImmDef-issued equipment.

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