• Description
The 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 www.immdef.org.
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.
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
o Staff attorneys will be assigned to one of ImmDef’s removal defense projects that focus on serving the following communities: unaccompanied children (detained in government custody and released to sponsors), adults with mental competency issues, individuals and families facing deportation and family separation, adults detained in ICE prisons.
o Provide high-quality, client-centered representation for clients facing deportation proceedings;
o Determine eligibility for legal relief and develop legal strategy case plans;
o 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;
o Represent individuals in court at initial or prolonged custody redetermination hearings, master calendar hearings, individual merits hearings and in ancillary state court proceedings;
o Represent clients before USCIS at asylum interviews, credible fear interviews, ICE check-ins and other immigration related appointments;
o Prepare and submit country conditions, declarations and other supporting evidence for applications to defend clients against removal;
o Work with country conditions experts, expert witnesses, psychologists and medical professionals to develop supporting evidence for immigration relief applications;
o Work collaboratively with colleagues and participate in weekly group case review, on-site trainings and provide supervision for support staff’s legal work;
o Support ImmDef’s overall mission by working closely with colleagues and ImmDef leadership on various initiatives through community engagement, peer mentoring and event participation.
We require COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing to be considered.
Must submit Cover Letter to be considered. ImmDef is currently recruiting staff attorneys to work within several programs. If you have a preference as to which program you would like to be considered for, please indicate this in your cover letter. You can learn more about our programs at www.immdef.org. While there is a preference for some positions to be based in our Los Angeles office, ImmDef will consider candidates who desire to be based one of our other offices: Riverside or Santa Ana.
ImmDef believes in second chances. As an organization, we will rely on individualized assessments in the hiring of those with past criminal convictions. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for a position fighting for our immigrant communities!
Immigrant Defenders Law Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Due to the large number of applicants, we are unable to respond to every applicant and will only contact those who are invited to interview for the position.
• Summary
Summary of Benefits:
This position is part of the ImmDef employee union bargaining unit.
Schedule:
o ImmDef’s standard work schedule is 35 hours per week, or 70 hours per pay period, with flexible scheduling options including hybrid and compressed schedules that allow staff to take up to one day off per week without needing to use paid time off.
o Hybrid Work Schedule: Staff in exempt positions at ImmDef are expected to be in the office a minimum of 3 days per week, with 2 days available to work remotely.
Professional Memberships:
o ImmDef provides attorneys with membership in the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG), as well as $150 towards the professional association of their choice, and opportunities to attend conferences, trainings and seminars/webinars hosted internally and by partner organizations.
o ImmDef covers California Bar Dues (or equivalent in another jurisdiction) for all attorneys.
Holidays and Paid Time Off :
o 13 paid holidays
o 1-Week paid winter break between Christmas and New Years
o 15 vacation days per year
o 15 Sick Days per year
Health, Dental and Vision Insurance:
o ImmDef provides health coverage on the first of the month following 30 days on the job.
o 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 98% of the base plan medical premiums for our staff and 73% of the base plan medical premiums for their dependents.
FSA and Dependent Care FSA:
o 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
o 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.
o Eligible for Parental Leave which includes six (6) weeks of ImmDef paid leave.
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan & Employer Matching:
o ImmDef staff are eligible to enroll in our 401(k) plans immediately upon hire, contributing pre-tax dollars towards their retirement goals
o After six months on staff, ImmDef will match 100% of contributions up to 3% of the employee’s salary
o Funds are vested immediately!
Public Service Loan Forgiveness:
o 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:
o Staff members assigned to an office without free on-site parking are eligible to receive a parking stipend of up to $100 per month in actual accrued parking or transportation costs.
o Staff in all offices are eligible to receive a public transportation stipend of up to $100 per month in actual accrued public transportation costs.
Cell Phone Stipends:
o 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.
o Relocation Assistance for out-of-state new hires available for attorney positions.
• Requirements
Requirements:
o Juris Doctorate;
o Active California State Bar License or licensure from another state and, if required, willingness to "waive into" the CA Bar via the Multi-Jurisdictional Practice Program;
o Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills;
o Willingness to zealously pursue new and untested legal theories;
o Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure;
o Passion for social justice for immigrants required.
Preferred Qualifications:
o Experience with 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.
o Experience in immigration law (non-profit or private practice) is a plus, but not required as we are ready and able to provide training;
o Experience working with survivors is helpful, including populations that have experienced trauma, abuse and persecution;
o Knowledge of best practices in working with clients with mental competency issues, including those suffering from mental health challenges and children, is a plus;
o DACA Recipients encouraged to apply!
Language Proficiency
o Spanish language proficiency is strongly preferred, however those with fluency in other languages may be considered;
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