Bilingual Staff Attorney (WA MASS)

Nacba; Washington; On-site; USD 85,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid leave

Vacation

Parental leave

Relocation bonus

Transit subsidies

Parking support

Job summary

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) seeks a full-time bilingual Staff Attorney to support the WA MASS program in Washington State. You will provide direct removal proceedings representation, brief legal services, and trainings, with travel to NWIRP offices and partner sites.

The role requires a law degree, U.S. bar admission, and fluency in English plus another language (Spanish, French, or Portuguese preferred). A hybrid work arrangement and comprehensive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Law degree.
• Admission to the bar of any U.S. state.
• Commitment to immigrant rights and NWIRP’s values.
• Excellent writing, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to provide trauma-informed, culturally inclusive representation.
• Fluency in English; additional languages (Spanish, French or Portuguese) encouraged.
• Strong ability to work independently and in a team.
• Proficiency with MS Office, Google Docs/Sheets, and email platforms.
• Prior immigration law/removal experience preferred.
• Experience with survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault preferred.
• Experience handling a high-volume caseload preferred.
• Valid driver’s license for travel.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct representation in removal proceedings and appeals.
• Represent applicants before USCIS and the Department of State.
• Conduct intakes, workshops, legal clinics, and outreach.
• Analyze cases to determine immigration protections for low-income clients.
• Maintain files and track grant reporting and timekeeping.
• Travel to NWIRP offices and partner sites for consultations.

Skills

Law degree

Bar admission

Immigrant rights

Writing skills

Trauma-informed

Bilingual

Team player

MS Office

G Suite

Caseload management

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Google Docs

Google Sheets

Gmail

Job description

SUMMARY

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) seeks a full-time bilingual Staff Attorney to work in our Washington Migrant and Asylum Seeker Support program (WA MASS). This role may be based out of any of our four offices located in Granger, Seattle, Tacoma or Wenatchee, WA. Applicants must be fluent in English and at least one other language, with Spanish, French, and Portuguese preferred. The applicant must be able to start the position as soon as possible and is expected to commit to at least two years.

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 WA MASS Unit is an organization-wide program that provides limited immigration legal services, resources, education, and training through a grant administered by the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance (ORIA). The unit receives referrals from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) as well as directly from the community, conducts intakes for community members, and refers cases with potential relief to partner agencies or NWIRP staff for limited services.

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 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.

Specific to this position

• Provide legal intakes to community members referred to NWIRP through the Washington Migrant and Asylum-Seeker Services (WA MASS) Project Hub or who connect directly through NWIRP;
• Provide brief legal services (Pro se assistance);
• Provide referrals to other legal services organizations; and,
• Provide quarterly training on relevant immigration law topics to legal services providers that receive direct referrals from NWIRP to provide brief legal services;
• Create filing preparation checklists and template filings to be referenced by other unit staff;
• Travel to other NWIRP offices, partner locations, and other offsite locations to provide consultations to community members.

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 additional languages, especially Spanish, French or Portuguese, 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;
• 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

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).

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 10 years of relevant experience will earn $110,044.82 annually, and the current maximum salary, based on 40 years of experience, is $155,214.80 annually.

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

• 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 and life and AD&D 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 passes are available for the Seattle and Tacoma offices.
• Free onsite parking for the Granger, Tacoma, and Wenatchee offices.

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

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