Bilingual Staff Attorney (Children & Youth Advocacy Program)

Nacba; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance and dental

Transit subsidy

Relocation assistance

Paid parental leave

Sabbatical after five years

Job summary

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) seeks a full-time bilingual Staff Attorney to join the Children and Youth Advocacy Program (CYAP) in our Seattle office. Fluency in English and another language is required, with Spanish strongly preferred.

The position requires a minimum two-year commitment and may involve some travel; hybrid work expectations are noted. The CYAP team handles SIJ, asylum, U visas, T visas, DACA, and removal defense, with related court proceedings and community clinics.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree and admission to or eligibility to waive into the Washington State Bar.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct representation in removal proceedings before Immigration Court and on appeals.
• Represent clients in affirmative applications with USCIS and DOS.
• Conduct outreach, legal clinics, and intake interviews both by phone and in person.
• Analyze cases to determine immigration protections and status eligibility.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of immigration laws and policies.
• Organize and manage client files; handle grant reporting tasks.
• Participate in NWIRP’s outreach, community education, and development efforts.
• Handle additional duties as assigned by supervisors.

Skills

Bilingual language ability

Excellent writing

Public speaking

Trauma-informed approach

Team collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (Law degree)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

SUMMARY:

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) seeks a full-time bilingual Staff Attorney to work in the Children and Youth Advocacy Program (CYAP) unit as part of our Seattle office. Applicants must be fluent in and an additional language, with Spanish strongly preferred. The applicant must be able to start the position as soon as possible. A minimum two-year commitment to the position is expected.

ABOUT NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT:

Founded in 1984, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) is a nationally-recognized legal services organization on the front lines of defending and advancing the rights of immigrants. With over 200 employees, 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 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 Children and Youth Advocacy Program (CYAP) supports immigrant children and youth, particularly unaccompanied minors from Central America and Mexico facing removal proceedings. The CYAP team manages a wide range of cases, assisting young people with various forms of immigration protection, including Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Classification, Asylum, VAWA self-petitions, U visas, T visas, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Adjustment of Status, and removal defense before immigration courts. Additionally, CYAP attorneys handle Washington State court proceedings related to Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification eligibility and conduct monthly legal clinics for DACA applicants.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide direct representation to individuals in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court, on appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals or beforethe 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 presentations, workshops, legal clinics, and intakes, by phone and in person;


• 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 files up to date;


• 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.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Law degree;


• Must be admitted (or eligible to waive in) to the Washington State Bar;


• Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights and eagerness to support NWIRP’s mission, vision and values;


• Excellent writing, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills;


• Ability to provide trauma-informed and culturally-inclusive legal representation;


• Commitment to creating a welcoming, professional, and inclusive environment for staff and clients, and to working with a diverse community in a challenging environment;


• Fluency in English and another language, with Spanish strongly preferred;


• Strong ability to work independently, as well as in a team environment;


• Proficiency in use of web-based software, Microsoft Office applications (including Word and Excel), and web peer-to-peer communication platforms; familiarity with G‑suite tools (Google Docs, Google Sheets and Gmail);


• Prior experience working with youth and on SIJ and asylum cases is preferred;


• Prior immigration law and removal experience preferred;


• Experience handling a high-volume caseload preferred;


• Sound judgment and decision-making skills;


• Strong organizational skills;


• Ability to take on a substantive caseload, and;


• The applicant must have a valid driver’s license as the position involves some travel.

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; domestic abuse; violence, and psychological trauma. Occasional work in a detention center environment.

Hours:

The anticipated hours of work are Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm, with a 30 – 60 minute unpaid lunch, but occasional evening and weekend work hours may be required.

Location:

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).

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION:

• This is an exempt, salaried position, and the minimum annual salary for candidates awaiting admission to the Bar is currently $84,508.11. Candidates with no relevant experience, but admitted to the Bar, qualify for an annual salary of $87,362.92. Salaries increase for staff attorneys with specific experience. For example, candidates with 20 years of relevant experience will earn $127,560.20 annually, and the current maximum salary, based on 40 years of experience, is $155,214.80 annually.


• Fully paid health, vision and 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 health-related leave (12 days per year);


• Generous paid vacation (15 days during your first year);


• 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;


• Employer-paid disability, life, AD&D and long-term care insurance;


• 4 weeks of paid sabbatical after every five years of employment at NWIRP;


• Eligibility to earn compensatory time;


• Opportunities for paid professional development;


• New employees may be eligible for a relocation bonus, per the CBA; and,


• Subsidized transit pass is available for the Seattle office.

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

EEO / DEI

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 [e-mail].

REPORTS TO:

Supervising Attorney