Bilingual Staff Attorney (Rural Immigrant Justice)

National Legal Aid & Defender Association; Washington; Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid vacation

Parental leave

Job summary

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) seeks full-time English-Spanish bilingual staff attorneys to join NWIRP’s Granger or Wenatchee offices. Responsibilities include direct representation before immigration courts and USCIS, outreach, and casework in a hybrid work model.

The role requires a law degree, bar admission in any U.S. state, and a commitment to immigrant rights. Beginning no earlier than Fall 2027, with a two-year minimum commitment and travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Law degree and admission to the bar in any U.S. state.
• Fluent in English and Spanish; additional languages encouraged.
• Commitment to immigrant rights and NWIRP values.
• Proficiency with MS Office, Google Workspace, and online collaboration tools.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct representation in removal proceedings before courts and USCIS.
• Conduct outreach, workshops, and intakes with immigrant communities.
• Manage case files and relevant grant reporting tasks.
• Travel as required; hybrid in-office work at Granger or Wenatchee offices.

Skills

Fluency in English and Spanish

Trauma-informed representation

Independent and team work

Excellent writing and communication

Organizational skills

Education

Law degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

G Suite

Google Docs

Google Sheets

Job description

Summary

Position Description: 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 2027, by Fall 2027, with an exact start date to be determined. A minimum two-year commitment to the position is expected.

As a staff attorney, you will offer 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 immigration courts. You may also handle additional immigration matters, including cases involving individuals in immigration detention.

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 Granger Office is located in the small rural city surrounded by orchards and vineyards in Yakima County, and is 25 miles southeast of Yakima, WA. Granger is 49 miles east of Benton/Franklin County, which is home to three major cities also known as the “Tri-Cities” and boasts numerous wineries and water activities along the Yakima, Snake, and Columbia Rivers. From this location, the office serves clients from across Central and Eastern Washington. Our work involves direct representation in various forms of immigration protections, including asylum, cancellation of removal, humanitarian relief under VAWA and TVPRA, family-based, naturalization, and representations for children and youth. This office has a current staff of 17 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, social services providers, and a seasonal farmer’s market.

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 125,000 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 17 serves clients from Central and Northeastern Washington and its client base consists largely of farmworkers and their families.

Responsibilities

• 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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).

Skills And Qualifications

• Law degree;
• Admission to the bar of any state in the U.S.;
• 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 in English and Spanish, and additional languages are encouraged;
• 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 immigration law and removal experience preferred;
• Prior experience working with survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault is 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;

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.

Benefits

• 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,
• Free onsite parking for the Granger & Wenatchee offices.

Reports To

Supervising Attorney

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.

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