Staff Attorney (Associate Research Scholar)

Columbia University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia Law School seeks a lawyer with experience in immigration law to join Morningside Heights Legal Services, Inc., beginning on October 1, 2026. This is an initial one-year appointment, with the possibility of renewal through June 20, 2028.

The staff attorney will support members of the Columbia community whose immigration status is at risk. The staff attorney will provide rapid response representation, including deportation defense and federal lawsuits as needed.

Qualifications

• J.D. or equivalent legal degree.
• At least three years of relevant professional immigration law experience.
• Admission to a state bar and ability to work collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intake interviews for Columbia community members (10%).
• Represent community members before administrative agencies, tribunals, and federal courts on immigration issues (60%).
• Draft and maintain FAQ and KYR documents (10%).
• Host KYR trainings and present at community events (10%).
• Cover an on-call emergency line (5%).
• Attend meetings in the community, including with local immigration coalitions (5%).

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Administrative skills

Organizational skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Collaborative work

Independent work

CBP/ICE/USCIS/EOIR experience

KYR trainings

Teamwork in interdisciplinary settings

Education

J.D. or equivalent degree

Job description

Staff Attorney (Associate Research Scholar)

Columbia Law School seeks a lawyer with experience in immigration law to join Morningside Heights Legal Services, Inc., beginning on October 1, 2026. Morningside Heights Legal Services, Inc., is the nonprofit law firm that houses Columbia Law School’s clinical program. This is an initial one-year appointment, with the possibility of renewal through June 20, 2028. The staff attorney will support members of the Columbia community whose immigration status is at risk. The staff attorney will be responsible for conducting individualized legal consultations and representation, as well as outreach and Know-Your-Rights (KYR) presentations, for Columbia community members who have concerns about their immigration status. The staff attorney will provide rapid response representation, including deportation defense and the filing of federal lawsuits as needed.

As a staff attorney, responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Conducting intake interviews for Columbia community members (10%);
• Representing Columbia community members before administrative agencies, tribunals, and federal courts, on a range of immigration-related issues, including but not limited to (60%):
  • Advocacy with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) concerning international travel;
  • Waivers filed with the State Department and U.S. consulates;
  • Applications for bond and representation in removal proceedings;
  • Stays of removal and parole requests with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE);
  • Habeas and mandamus petitions, and temporary restraining orders, among other district court filings;
  • Petitions and applications before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and Executive Office for Immigration Review (EIOR), including adjustment of status and asylum and other humanitarian protections;
  • Liaising with ICE and CBP and other government agencies, as necessary;
• Drafting and keeping FAQ and KYR documents up to date for Columbia community members (10%);
• Hosting KYR trainings and presenting at community events (10%);
• Covering an on-call emergency line (5%); and
• Attending meetings in the community, including with local immigration coalitions (5%).

The staff attorney will hold the University title of Associate Research Scholar. This is a non-tenure track position and does not teach.

Qualifications

Minimum Degree Required:

J.D. or equivalent legal degree

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants for the Staff Attorney position should have a minimum of three years of relevant professional experience. This experience may include but is not limited to working with asylum seekers; individuals seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Temporary Protected Status, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals; family, student, or employment visas; naturalization applications; and/or related direct legal services or advocacy efforts on behalf of immigrant communities. Admission to a state bar and a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others are necessary.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent interpersonal, administrative, and organization skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated success in a collaborative, fast-paced work environment.
• Experience engaging with CBP, ICE, USCIS, and EOIR, and in district court litigation is an asset.
• Comfortable with and interested in conducting Know-Your-Rights trainings and community presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Prior experience working in an interdisciplinary team.

Salary Range:

$125,000–$150,000 a year

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Columbia University is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.