Immigration Staff Attorney - Migration and Refugee Services

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland is seeking an attorney to provide competent immigration law counsel to clients in our service area. You will interview, screen, advise, and represent clients in USCIS, EOIR, BIA, and DHS matters.

The role requires managing a full caseload, maintaining files, and collaborating with attorneys, paralegals, and volunteers. Travel within the service area and a flexible schedule may be required.

Qualifications

• J.D. or L.L.M. from an accredited US law school.
• Must be at least 21 years old at hire.
• Foreign language fluency strongly preferred.
• Experience in immigration law preferred; law school experience considered.
• Experience working cross-culturally; comfortable with language barriers.
• Active license in good standing or bar exam pending; Ohio admission when eligible.
• Strong organizational skills; able to manage a full caseload with multiple projects.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication.
• Self-directed, self-motivated, and able to work independently.
• Flexible schedule including evenings, holidays or weekends.
• Valid Ohio Driver’s License; MVR check required.
• Proficient with computers and MS Office.
• Fingerprinting and background check required.

Responsibilities

• Interview and screen clients for legal services and provide brief advice and legal counsel.
• Prepare submissions and represent clients before USCIS, EOIR, and DHS agencies.
• Maintain caseloads and case status in management software; keep files current.
• Respond promptly to calls, messages, and requests from clients and agencies.
• Travel to government facilities, detention facilities, parishes, and communities as needed.
• Comply with professional conduct; maintain client confidentiality.
• Stay current on immigration law statutes, regulations, and procedures.
• Assist in grant-funded programs and fee-based legal initiatives.
• Collaborate with attorneys, BIA representatives, paralegals, staff, volunteers, and interns.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Legal research

Client interviews

Caseload management

Written & oral communication

Cross-cultural communication

Independent work

Microsoft Office

Education

J.D./LL.M. from an accredited US law school

Tools

Case management software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Promote and support the mission of Catholic Charities by providing competent and reliable legal advice and counsel to immigrants in our service area.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that the activities of this position and relevant programs are consistent with the mission, vision and values of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland.
• Interview and screen clients for legal services and provide brief advice and legal counsel when appropriate.
• Prepare submissions and represent clients for matters with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Executive Office of Immigration Review (Immigration Court and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security and other government entities.
• Properly manage a full caseload by tracking important case information in the case management software and maintain paper and electronic client files to properly reflect case status for caseload for proper representation and the submission of monthly and annual statistical and grant reports.
• Promptly respond to calls, messages, and requests from clients, attorneys, and government agencies.
• Travel to the government facilities, detention facilities, parishes, community groups, and other locations as required in order to represent clients and meet with clients or members of the community.
• Comply with applicable rules of professional conduct, including confidentiality regarding clients and physical and electronic files.
• Maintain current knowledge regarding the state of statutory, regulatory, policy, and procedural requirements as it relates to immigration law.
• Assist in the implementation of grant-funded programs and fee-based legal initiatives.
• Continue to foster relationships with volunteers, clients, community agencies, related Catholic Charities organizations and fellow employees of Catholic Charities.
• Assist, as needed, with community-based collaborative and educational initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with other attorneys, BIA accredited representatives, paralegals, support staff, volunteers, and interns working in the immigration program.
• Perform other duties as assigned to accomplish objectives including special projects, as needed.
• Working Conditions and Physical Demands
• Normal office environment.
• Travel throughout service area required.
• Extended time at a desk and working on a computer and extended telephone calls.
• Extended time sitting, talking, and listening/hearing, including court hearings and interviews of four or more hours.
• Reading, writing and finger dexterity to manage correspondence, faxes, copying, answering phones, forms/documents, computer and client files required on a frequent basis.
• Organizing and coordinating schedules.
• Analyzing and interpreting data.
• Communicating with the public.
• Light lifting as needed.

Requirements

• J.D. or L.L.M. from an accredited law school in the United States.
• Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of hire.
• Fluency in a foreign language is strongly preferred.
• Experience working in immigration law preferred (law school experience will be considered).
• Experience working cross-culturally. Must be comfortable working with language barriers.
• Must have active status law license in good standing in applicant’s state of admission or have taken a state’s most recent bar exam with admission pending. Attorneys licensed outside of Ohio must apply for admission to practice in Ohio courts when eligible.
• Must have strong organizational skills and the ability to maintain a full case load while simultaneously participating and/or managing multiple projects.
• Must have excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills. Must be able to present complex data in an understandable format orally and in writing.
• Must be self-directed, self-motivated, and work independently.
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule that may require work on evenings, holidays, or weekends.
• Must have a valid Ohio Driver’s License subject to an annual Moving Vehicle Report (MVR) check through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
• Must have a good working knowledge of computers and Microsoft Office software.
• Final applicant is required to be fingerprinted and complete a background check