Attorney

CIRA - Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

9 paid holidays

Medical, dental, vision

Life & AD&D insurance

403b with 5% automatic contribution

FMLA paid time off

Wellness Program

EAP program

Development stipends

Relocation assistance

Travel reimbursement

Job summary

Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) in Omaha/ Lincoln, Nebraska, is seeking an Attorney to join our Legal Department to provide direct representation for family-based immigration cases, communicate with clients, and contribute to education and advocacy efforts.

Candidates must have a JD, Nebraska license or eligibility, 3–5 years of immigration law experience, strong research and writing skills, and a commitment to public interest law.

Qualifications

• Must have a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school of law in the United States.
• Licensed to practice law in Nebraska or able to obtain a license to practice law in Nebraska.
• A minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience practicing immigration law in the United States preferred.
• Knowledge of immigration and nationality law or Nebraska family or juvenile law is required.
• Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Direct Representation: work with attorneys, DOJ-accredited representatives, and staff to serve clients who may qualify for family-based immigration relief.
• Client Communication: maintain regular contact with clients and keep them aware of case status.
• Education and Advocacy: contribute to outreach and education programs related to family-based immigration benefits and advocate for the rights of noncitizens under U.S. law.
• Maintain complete and accurate client records in CIRA’s case management system.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Client communication

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Team collaboration

Diversity sensitivity

Spanish language

Office 365

Education

Juris Doctor (US)

Nebraska bar license or eligibility

Tools

Office 365

Case management software

Job description

Attorney

REPORTS TO: Lead Attorney

WORKSITE: Omaha or Lincoln, Nebraska

COMPENSATION

• Salary range of $70,000 – $80,000, commensurate with experience
• Excellent benefits including:
  • Unlimited paid time off (including employee birthday); 9 paid holidays with year-end holiday break
  • Medical, dental, vision, life, and AD&D insurance; 403b retirement plan with an automatic 5% contribution; and paid FMLA
  • Employee Wellness Program (including enriching snacks, support groups, and engaging activities)
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (includes life event referral program, 5 free counseling sessions, financial and legal resources, and employee discount/savings program)
  • Yearly stipends for employee development opportunities
  • Relocation assistance; travel and expense reimbursement

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION

At the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA), we see strength in every story. We are Nebraska and Southwest Iowa's leading immigration legal services provider and refugee resettlement agency, built on the foundation that every person – regardless of their country of origin or immigration background – deserves dignity, belonging, and opportunity.

Through high-quality legal representation, resettlement services, social work, education, and advocacy, we meet the complex and evolving needs of our immigrant and refugee communities. Our expert team supports complex needs with one shared goal: empowering our clients to forge better lives, resulting in stronger communities for all of us.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Each Attorney is an integral part of CIRA’s Legal Department. The core functions of this position, described in more detail below, are: (1) direct representation; (2) client communication; and (3) education and advocacy.

CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION

Direct Representation

• Work with and maintain collaborative communication with attorneys, DOJ-accredited representatives, and staff who contribute to serving clients who may qualify for family-based immigration relief
• Work directly with clients and U.S. consulates abroad to support consular processing, including coordinating documentation, facilitating communication, and helping clients navigate procedural requirements through case completion.
• Represent adult and child clients before Nebraska County and District Courts, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Omaha Immigration Court, Board of Immigration Appeals, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Manage a caseload of family-based immigration cases, including other case types for which those clients may also apply
• Represent clients in western Nebraska County and District Courts in seeking predicate orders that may provide access to Special Immigrant Juvenile status
• Contribute to targeted legal service delivery (such as relief-specific legal clinics) to represent particularly vulnerable populations in seeking specific forms of immigration relief
• Maintain complete and accurate client records in physical files and on CIRA’s case management software, including but not limited to logging all new activities, filing receipts, correspondence, and filings in the case file, tracking reminders and deadlines, meeting those deadlines, etc., as described in detail in CIRA’s Legal Procedures Manual

Client Communication

• Maintain regular contact with clients and promptly return calls in accordance with the Legal Procedures Manual
• Keep clients aware of the status of their case
• Inform clients of the risks and benefits of applying for immigration relief
• Maintain an accurate record of every client communication within CIRA’s case management system

Education and Advocacy

• Contribute to outreach and education programs related to family-based immigration benefits and advocate for the rights of noncitizens under U.S. law
• Engage in community education and advocacy to promote an accurate understanding of immigration law and policy and to advocate for changes that will positively benefit humanitarian and family-based immigrants

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school of law in the United States
• Licensed to practice law in Nebraska or able to obtain a license to practice law in Nebraska
• A minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience practicing immigration law in the United States preferred
• Knowledge of immigration and nationality law or Nebraska family or juvenile law is required
• Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred but not required
• Exceptional legal research and writing ability and impeccable organizational skills
• Ability to manage confidential documents and communications in a professional manner
• Strong interpersonal communication and people skills
• Commitment to CIRA’s mission and values in serving immigrants, refugees, and newcomers, and a demonstrated commitment to public interest law
• Deep understanding of and ability to work sensitively and well with people of diverse national, ethnic, cultural, religious, and gender identities, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Fluency in using Office 365 applications (ex. Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, etc.) and the ability to learn new data management software
• Exhibits responsibility through consistent attendance, effective time management, dependability, self-discipline, flexibility, and working independently
• Ability to work in a team and handle multiple tasks in an organized and timely manner
• Impeccable integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed
• Ability to think strategically, problem-solve, exercise good judgment, and lead change
• Openly supports departmental and organizational changes and demonstrates comfort working in a rapidly growing and evolving organization
• Ability to take initiative and make difficult decisions when necessary
• Ability to pass all required background checks
• Must be authorized to work in the United States

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This job consists of regularly sitting at a desk and using a computer and phone.
• This is not a remote position.
• Workdays pertain to a Monday – Friday schedule, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, with occasional flexibility required.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated with it. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

INCLUSION & EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

CIRA is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity. We do not discriminate based on an individual’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or any characteristics prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment at CIRA, including recruiting, hiring, assignments, training, promotions, compensation, employee benefits, employee discipline and discharge, and all other terms and conditions of employment.