Immigration Staff Attorney

Counties Legal Services, Inc.; Riverside, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 78,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Inland Counties Legal Services seeks an Immigration Staff Attorney to join our Riverside team. The attorney will handle diverse immigration matters, mentoring junior staff and collaborating with paralegals. Compensation ranges from $78,000 to $115,000 annually, with Exempt status and a 4-day workweek arrangement.

The ideal candidate has a JD, active bar status, and experience with victims of violence or trauma. Strong research and advocacy skills are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Active bar admission in good standing in the U.S. state, territory, DC, or similar.
• Experience in immigration law is preferred.
• Experience via clinics, internships, externships, or fellowships is valued.

Responsibilities

• Represent clients in immigration matters before USCIS, EOIR, and other agencies.
• Maintain a varied immigration caseload including relief, family-based, and removal defense.
• Conduct client interviews and provide advice, limited-scope services, and referrals.
• Investigate and develop cases with research, records review, and evidence gathering.
• Prepare and file immigration petitions, motions, briefs, and supporting docs.
• Prepare clients and witnesses for interviews and hearings, and provide representation as needed.
• Identify deadlines, urgent matters, and strategic issues requiring supervisor input.
• Collaborate with paralegals and staff to advance client matters.
• Maintain accurate case records and timely documentation.

Skills

Legal research

Writing & briefing

Oral advocacy

Client interviewing

Interpersonal skills

Travel ability

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Active bar membership in good standing

Job description

JobTitle: Immigration Staff Attorney

FLSAClassification:Exempt

Reports To: Practice Group Director

Supervises: Paralegals and Legal Secretaries asrequired

Compensation: $78,000.00 - $115,000.00 annually

Inland Counties Legal Services is seekingan ImmigrationAttorneyto join ourImmigrationTeam in Riverside.Inland Counties Legal Services, Inc. is a nonprofit organization providing legal services to low-income personsresidingin Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.ICLStargets services to seniors and those in the greatest social or economic need. Legal services are provided by attorneys, or paralegals under the direct supervision of an attorney. Levels of serviceinclude advice andcounsel, limited action (includesnegotiations and preparation of legal documents), as well as direct representation before administrative law and civil courts.ICLS provides legalassistancein a variety of areas of law.Theeightpractice groups are: Outreach, Consumer, Housing, Family Law, Immigration, Systemic and Impact, Health Law,andPublic Benefits.Visit our website at www.inlandlegal.org more information.

Overview of Position

The Immigration Practice Groupassistsvictims of domestic violence and related crimestoobtain ormaintainlawful status.Applicants with experience working with victims are strongly preferred.ICLS currentlyoperatesunder a 4-day work week arrangement whilemaintainingfull-time status. Thus,staffwill work approximately 80% of hours, whilegetting100% of pay. Staff can arrange theirwork week to the extent possible, while prioritizing client/program needs and coordinating with theirpractice group director andcolleagues.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Represent clients in immigration matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and otherappropriate agencies.

• Maintain a varied immigration caseload that may include humanitarian relief, family-based immigration, adjustment of status, naturalization,removaldefense, and other matters consistent with the Immigration Practice Group’s priorities.

• Conduct client interviews and consultations andprovidelegal advice, counsel, limited-scope services, and referrals asappropriate.

• Investigate and develop cases through legal and factual research, records review, background checks, FOIA requests, evidence gathering, and otherappropriate investigativetools.

• Prepare and file immigration applications, petitions, motions, briefs, declarations, and supporting documentation.

• Prepare clients and witnesses for USCIS interviews, Immigration Court hearings, and other proceedings, and provide representation at such proceedings asappropriate.

• Identifylegal issues, deadlines, detention matters, emergency circumstances, and other issues requiring prompt action or supervisory consultation.

• Exercise sound professional judgment in case assessment and strategy and communicate significant developments, risks, and case-strategy decisions to supervisors asappropriate.

• Work collaboratively with paralegals and other Immigration Practice Group staff to develop, prepare, monitor, and advance client matters.

• Maintainaccurate,timely, and complete case records, notes, deadlines, documents, and other informationin accordance withICLS policies and Immigration Practice Group procedures.

• Participate in case review, supervision, team meetings, trainings, and professionaldevelopment activities designed to support high-quality legal representation.

• Participate in community outreach, legal education presentations, clinics, and other community-engagement activities throughout ICLS’s service area.

• Develop andmaintainprofessional relationships with community-based organizations, government agencies, courts, legal-service providers, and other organizations serving immigrant communities.

• Identifymattersappropriate forreferral to other ICLS practice groups or outside organizations and coordinate referrals when necessary.

• Assistwith grant reporting, program data, and other reporting requirements asappropriate.

• Work collaboratively with other ICLS practice groups and departments when client matters involve overlapping legal issues.

• Exploreand support effective models of service delivery, includingappropriate useof technology.

• Ensurethat legal services are provided consistently with ICLS priorities, policies, procedures, professional obligations, and standards for high-quality client service.

• Perform other duties consistent with the attorney’s skills, professional responsibilities, and assignedrole.

Desired Education and Experience

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.

• Active membership in good standing in the bar of a U.S. state, territory, possession, or the District of Columbia.

• Experience in immigration lawispreferred.

• Experience obtained through law school clinics, internships, externships, fellowships, or other supervised immigrationpracticeswill be considered.

• Experienceworking with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or other trauma is preferred.

• Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income, immigrant, and underserved communities.

• Strong legal research, writing, oral advocacy, interviewing, and client-counseling skills.

• Strongorganizational and case-management skills, including the ability to manage deadlines and multiple matters simultaneously.

• Ability to work independently while seeking supervision and guidance appropriately.

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with attorneys, paralegals, administrative staff, community partners, and clients from diverse backgrounds.

• Ability to travel throughout ICLS’s service area asrequired.

The recognition of our common humanity is the first step in fostering a diverse environment.The sum of our unique differences is greater than our individual parts.Our unique stories and experiences allow us to better solve the challenges that our community faces. Staff approach professional relationships with humility across the spectrum of diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigrant status, religious identity, physical and mental disabilities, and/or limited Englishproficiencywith a willingness to consider unique perspectives. Inland Counties Legal Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.