Staff Attorney (Rural Immigrant Justice)

SUMMARY:

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) seeks full-time English-Spanish bilingual attorneys to join NWIRP’s offices in Granger or Wenatchee. Applicants must be fluent in English and Spanish. Additional languages are encouraged. The selected applicants must be able to start their position in 2025, by September 1, 2025 or sooner. A minimum two-year commitment to the position is expected.

As a staff attorney, you will provide direct representation, individual consultations, and community outreach and education to immigrant community members seeking immigration protections before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the immigration courts. The staff attorney may also be assigned work relating to other immigration matters, including cases of people in immigration detention.

Under NWIRP’s current COVID policies, new staff members must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination (unless eligible for an exemption). Staff may choose to wear a face mask in the workplace but it is not currently required. At the time of this posting, NWIRP staff is operating in a hybrid model, and some in-office work will be expected of this position (at least two full days per week).

This position is expected to travel to immigration courts in Seattle or Tacoma and USCIS offices in Seattle, Spokane, or Yakima in Washington State (and occasionally in Portland, Oregon). A valid driver’s license will be required in order to meet these expectations. The position may involve occasional evening and weekend work hours.

ABOUT NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT:

Founded in 1984, NWIRP is a nationally recognized legal services organization on the front lines of defending and advancing the rights of immigrants. Each year, NWIRP provides direct legal representation and assistance in immigration matters to thousands of people with low incomes who come from over 150 countries and speak over 60 different languages. NWIRP challenges unjust policies through high-impact lawsuits and advocates for laws and policies that respect the rights of immigrants. NWIRP is also a trusted provider of immigration-related community education for immigrant communities and social service providers. NWIRP has a staff of over 150 and an annual budget of over $20 million. NWIRP serves the community through four offices in Washington State (Granger, Seattle, Tacoma and Wenatchee), but the impact of our work is felt nationwide.

NWIRP’s Granger Office is located in Granger, WA, a city of over 3,000 people located in a rural area 25 miles southeast of Yakima. Yakima is known for its rich agriculture, exciting outdoor activities, and diverse culture. From Granger, the office serves clients from across Central and Southeastern Washington. Its work involves direct representation in various forms of immigration protections, including, but not limited to, asylum, cancellation of removal, humanitarian relief under VAWA and TVPRA, family-based, naturalization, and representation for children and youth. The office has a staff of fifteen and serves a client base consisting largely of farmworkers and their families. NWIRP’s Granger office is housed within a community center which includes a public Spanish language radio station, medical, and financial services for the farmworkers and their families.

NWIRP’s Wenatchee Office is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled in the foothills of the Cascade mountain range, and at the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers. The Greater Wenatchee area is home to 116,000 residents. With its scenic orchards and growing wine industry, Wenatchee also boasts easy access to rivers, lakes, hiking trails, and its own downhill ski resort, Mission Ridge. The current staff of 16 serves clients from Central and Northeastern Washington and its client base consists largely of farmworkers and their families.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION:

The beginning annual salary for licensed attorneys with no prior experience is $80,771.93 and is higher for attorneys with specific types of experience. For example, for someone with 10 years of qualifying experience the annual salary would be $101,742.62; 20 years would be $117,936.58.

NWIRP is proud to be a unionized employer and this full-time position is covered by NWIRP’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. NWIRP offers a generous benefits package, including:

Fully paid health, vision & dental plans for employee-level coverage with employer-funded HRA and HSA options
FSA and Dependent Care accounts
Automatic employer contribution of 3% to 403(b) retirement plan
Generous paid vacation (16 days during your first year)
12 days of paid health leave per year
16 days paid vacation in your first year (with additional days in subsequent years)
12 weeks of paid parental leave after 6 months of employment, plus the ability to extend with State-paid leave
14 paid holidays with the ability to float 5 holidays
Paid authorized absences for attending workshops, conferences, and other educational/training programs
Employer-paid disability/life/AD&D coverage; Long-term care insurance
4 weeks of paid sabbatical after every five years of employment at NWIRP
Eligibility to earn compensatory time
Relocation bonus, if relocating over 100 miles for this role
Free parking on-site

NWIRP is an eligible employer under the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY, EQUITY AND REPRESENTATION:

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project is an equal opportunity employer committed to having a diverse staff, board, and volunteer base reflective of the communities we serve and that enhances our ability to create a vibrant environment where all members of the NWIRP community thrive. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants (including people who were formerly detained, undocumented, or who have navigated the immigration legal system), women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds and language abilities.

NWIRP is committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment. NWIRP does not discriminate on the basis of class, race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, political ideology, age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability. Excepting any undue hardship, NWIRP will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please contact [email protected].

RESPONSIBILITIES:

All NWIRP staff attorneys are expected to:
Provide direct representation to individuals in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court, on appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals or before the federal courts, and before the Department of Homeland Security;
Provide direct representation to persons submitting affirmative applications with USCIS and the Department of State;
Conduct intakes, by phone and in person, and interview clients to gather or clarify information;
Conduct case analysis to determine eligibility for immigration protections/status under the immigration laws;
Maintain a working knowledge of significant policies, laws, practices, and trends in immigration law, particularly as it impacts low-income immigrants and those impacted by the criminal justice system;
Establish, organize, and maintain up-to-date files;
Perform administrative tasks related to grant reporting such as timekeeping, submitting timesheets, tracking training, and other duties in a timely manner;
Participate in NWIRP’s outreach, community education, and development efforts; and
Perform other tasks and responsibilities assigned by supervisory staff depending upon NWIRP’s needs.

Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear; utilize a phone, computer, keyboard, pen and paper. Occasional work on night and weekend hours. Travel may be required. Travel reimbursements apply.

Emotional demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to discuss topics including, but not limited, to discrimination; child abuse, neglect, abandonment; sexual assault; domestic abuse; violence, and psychological trauma.