Immigrants’ Rights Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney

Inside Philanthropy; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Long-term disability insurance

Life insurance

Pre-tax commuter benefits

Job summary

Centro Legal de la Raza in Oakland, CA, seeks an Immigrants’ Rights Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney to provide direct representation before USCIS and federal immigration courts. A J.D. and CA Bar admission are required; bilingual English/Spanish is strongly preferred.

The role is hybrid, with a 32-hour workweek and a comprehensive benefits package. Travel to detention centers, outreach, trainings, and collaboration with staff and community partners are expected; Senior level adds $5,000

Qualifications

• J.D.; admitted and in good standing with the California State Bar.
• Demonstrated commitment to immigrant justice.
• Fluency in English and Spanish strongly preferred (English plus another immigrant language accepted).
• Experience in removal defense or humanitarian-based immigration law; clinics/internships or equivalent.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed lawyering for survivors of violence or trauma.
• Willingness to conduct training/outreach and travel to detention centers in CA.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct immigration legal services: full-scope representation before USCIS, EOIR, ICE, and courts; limited-scope representation and/or pro se assistance; comprehensive consultations.
• Respond to immigration enforcement events in Alameda County with advocacy and legal representation before DHS agencies and federal courts.
• Join legal workshops, clinics, and off-site events; occasional travel to detention centers.
• Collaborate with non-attorney staff and supervise interns/volunteers.
• Partner with local, regional, and national groups on policy, funding, and litigation under supervising/directing attorneys.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by Immigrants’ Rights leadership.

Skills

California Bar

Bilingual English/Spanish

Immigrant Justice

Removal Defense

Trauma-informed practice

Training & Outreach

Strong Writing

Team Collaboration

Diversity & Inclusion

Education

J.D.

Job description

Job Description

Position: Immigrants’ Rights Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney

Reports to: Immigrants’ Rights Supervising Attorney

Bargaining Unit: Yes

FLSA: Exempt

Type: Full Time

Position Summary

Centro Legal is seeking a passionate attorney committed to immigrant justice to join our Immigrants’ Rights Practice. Our practice specializes in direct representation of noncitizens before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Concord and Sacramento Immigration Courts and Board of Immigration Appeals, California State Courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Northern Districts of California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Candidates must hold a J.D. and be admitted to and in good standing with the California State Bar (law students and graduates awaiting bar results may also be considered). The attorney’s caseload will primarily consist of cases before both the federal courts and immigration agencies for detained and non-detained clients in removal proceedings. The fellow will also provide limited-scope legal services and consultations in clinic settings, including occasional travel to ICE detention centers throughout California. This position is open immediately.

Primary responsibilities

• Provide direct immigration legal services to clients and community members, including: full-scope representation before USCIS, EOIR, ICE, and state and federal courts; limited-scope legal representation and/or pro se assistance for individuals vulnerable to enforcement and removal; and comprehensive immigration legal consultations with potential clients and community members.
• Emergency response to reports of immigration enforcement in Alameda County, including advocacy and legal representation on behalf of detained community members before the various agencies of the Department of Homeland Security as well as federal courts.
• Participate in legal workshops, presentations, clinics, and other off-site events and initiatives, including occasional travel to ICE detention centers throughout California.
• Collaborate with non-attorney staff and oversee interns and volunteers on the work described above.
• Collaborate with local, regional, and national partners on policy initiatives, funding, and litigation efforts, under the lead of managing and/or directing attorneys.
• Other appropriate work as assigned by supervising, managing, and/or directing attorneys of the Immigrants’ Rights practice.

Required Qualifications

The applicant must profoundly share Centro Legal’s mission and vision of racial, economic and social justice. Additional qualifications include:

• J.D; admitted and in good standing with the California State bar
• Demonstrated commitment to immigrant justice;
• Language requirement: Fluency in English and Spanish strongly preferred. We may consider candidates who have fluency in English and another language spoken by immigrant communities in Alameda County;
• Experience with removal defense or humanitarian-based immigration law strongly preferred, including law school clinics and internships, pre-JD paralegal or similar experience in an immigration law setting, and/or personal experience with the immigration legal system; alternatively, we will consider candidates with a strong professional background working with immigrant communities in a context other than immigration law;
• Familiarity with trauma-informed lawyering skills and practices for working with survivors of violence, incarcerated individuals, and/or other forms of trauma;
• Willingness to conduct training and outreach activities throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties and travel to detention centers throughout California;
• Strong writing, research, analytical, organizational, and verbal communication skills; strong leadership skills and experience performing presentations or trainings preferred;
• Ability to work cooperatively on projects with lawyers, non-lawyer legal staff, and diverse community organizations; and
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity within the office and a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences regarding race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, socio-economic circumstance, immigration status, and record of arrest or conviction.

Compensation

This is an exempt full time position that is competitive and commensurate with experience ranging from $80,594-$90,662.

Senior Staff Attorney Consideration:

Candidates with advanced experience and qualifications may be considered for the Senior Staff Attorney classification, which includes an additional $5,000 in annual compensation, subject to applicable CBA provisions and the established approval process.

Benefits and Perks

We offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to include: medical, dental, vision, long-term disability and life insurance.

• Medical and Insurance Coverage: Centro Legal covers 100% of health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance premiums for full-time employees and 50% of dependent premiums.
• Additional Benefits: Pre-tax commuter benefits for eligible transit and parking expenses.
• Paid Time Off (PTO):
  • Vacation: 0–2 years: 10 days annually; 2–4 years: 12 days annually; over 4 years: 14 days annually.
  • Vacation Example: Based on a 32-hour, four-day workweek, 10 vacation days equals 2 weeks and 2 days off.
  • Sick Leave: 12 days per year, accrued at 8 hours per month.
  • Wellness Days: 2 paid wellness days per calendar year.
• Holidays and Office Closure: Paid holidays, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and the following Friday, plus winter closure from December 24 through January 1.
• Work Schedule: 32-hour, four-day workweek.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Hybrid working environment, including regular in-person attendance at court proceedings, clinics, community events, and organizational meetings.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Frequent communication with clients, staff, courts, agencies, partners, and community members by phone, email, video call, and in person.

Other Duties:

• This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Duties may change based on organizational and programmatic needs.

About Centro Legal de la Raza

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Oakland, California, Centro Legal de la Raza (“Centro Legal”) is a comprehensive legal services and advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of immigrant, low-income, and Latino communities through bilingual legal representation, education, and advocacy.

Centro Legal combines high-quality legal services with know-your-rights education, affirmative litigation, and youth development, helping ensure access to justice for thousands of individuals and families throughout Northern and Central California each year.

For more information, please visit https://www.centrolegal.org/.

Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Centro Legal’s mission includes advancing social, economic, and racial justice. We are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to maintaining a workplace where all staff can flourish and grow professionally.

Our staff are essential to our ability to achieve our mission. The collective sum of our employees’ individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, creativity, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talents represents a significant part of our culture, reputation, sustainability, and organizational success.

Centro Legal is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, pregnancy, gender, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, medical condition, genetic information, mental or physical disability, military or veteran status, marital status, family responsibilities, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, immigration status, primary language, weight, height, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, HIV/AIDS status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Centro Legal also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that an individual has any protected characteristic or because an individual is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, a protected characteristic.