Immigration Attorney - Removal Defense

Law Office of Miguel Palmeiro, LLC; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Dental/vision options

Job summary

The Law Office of Miguel Palmeiro, LLC, serving Arlington, VA, seeks an in-office attorney to lead a removal defense docket before EOIR, handling cases from master calendar to individual hearing. The role involves appearing before Immigration Judges in VA/MD, with support from paralegals and an in-house brief writer, under the Managing Partner's strategy review.

Requirements include a J.D. and license, 2+ years in removal defense, fluent Spanish, strong writing, and in-person work in Arlington.

Qualifications

• J.D. and active license in good standing in any U.S. jurisdiction.
• At least 2 years of removal defense experience, including individual hearings you have conducted.
• Professional fluency in Spanish, spoken and written.
• Strong legal writing and organization; comfort managing a busy hearing calendar.
• Ability to work in person in Arlington and appear at immigration courts in Virginia and Maryland.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of removal proceedings from master calendar through individual hearing.
• Prepare and present asylum, withholding of removal, CAT, cancellation of removal, and adjustment/waiver cases before Immigration Judges.
• Draft and file motions, pre-hearing statements, briefs, and evidence packets through ECAS.
• Prepare clients and witnesses to testify; conduct direct and cross‑examination and closing arguments.
• Handle bond hearings and detained matters as the detained practice grows.
• Conduct consultations and case evaluations in Spanish and English.

Skills

Spanish fluency

Legal writing

Courtroom experience

Education

J.D. degree

Tools

ECAS

Job description

• The Law Office of Miguel Palmeiro, LLC builds on a practice first established in 1978 and has offices in Arlington and Sterling, Virginia, and Rockville, Maryland. We represent individuals and families in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French across family-based immigration, asylum, removal defense, U visas, VAWA, naturalization, and employment-based matters.

The role

We are hiring a full-time, in-office attorney at our Arlington office to lead a removal defense docket before EOIR, with a growing detained and bond practice. You will own your cases from master calendar through the individual hearing and appear in person before the Immigration Judges in Annandale, Sterling, Hyattsville, and Baltimore, supported by paralegals and an in-house brief writer, with the Managing Partner reviewing strategy.

What you will do

• Manage a caseload of removal proceedings from master calendar through individual hearing
• Prepare and present asylum, withholding of removal, CAT, cancellation of removal, and adjustment/waiver cases before Immigration Judges
• Draft and file motions, pre-hearing statements, briefs, and evidence packets through ECAS
• Prepare clients and witnesses to testify; conduct direct and cross‑examination and closing arguments
• Handle bond hearings and detained matters as the detained practice grows
• Conduct consultations and case evaluations in Spanish and English

What you bring

• J.D. and an active license in good standing in any U.S. jurisdiction
• At least 2 years of removal defense experience, including individual hearings you have conducted
• Professional fluency in Spanish, spoken and written
• Strong legal writing and organization; comfort managing a busy hearing calendar
• Ability to work in person in Arlington and appear at immigration courts in Virginia and Maryland

Nice to have

• Detained and bond hearing experience
• Federal court experience (habeas, mandamus, or Fourth Circuit petitions for review)
• Portuguese or French

Pay and benefits

$90,000 to $125,000 per year based on experience. Group health insurance, plus optional dental and vision plans, 401(k) with match, and paid time off.

The Law Office of Miguel Palmeiro, LLC is an equal opportunity employer.