Staff Attorney (Crimmigration Specialist / Public Defender Partnership)

ISPOR Open Source Models Special Interest Group; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 82,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Parking stipend

Transit stipend

Cell phone stipend

Job summary

Immigrant Defenders Law Center is seeking a full-time Staff Attorney with crimmigration expertise to represent clients referred by Public Defender offices, handling cases at the intersection of criminal and immigration law.

The role focuses on complex removal defense, post-conviction strategy, and collaboration with public defenders. Ideal for advocates passionate about social justice for immigrants, with a California Bar license.

Qualifications

• Active California State Bar license or eligibility to waive into the CA Bar.
• Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills.
• Willingness to zealously pursue new and untested legal theories.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure; commitment to diversity.
• Passion for social justice for immigrants.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct representation in removal proceedings for clients with criminal history.
• Analyze immigration consequences of convictions and pending charges; develop strategic plans.
• Identify and pursue immigration relief (asylum, withholding, CAT, cancellation, etc.).
• Prepare and submit applications, declarations, briefs, and supporting evidence.
• Coordinate post-conviction relief with ImmDef’s PCR team and external partners.
• Work with Public Defender offices to advise on immigration consequences of pleas/convictions.
• Represent clients before immigration court, USCIS, and other agencies; file appeals and motions.
• Provide trauma-informed, client-centered services and collaborate with experts.
• Participate in case rounds, trainings, and mentorship; support advocacy efforts.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Crimmigration knowledge

Advocacy for immigrants

Education

California Bar License

Job description

• Base Pay $82,000.00 - $97,000.00 / Year
• Job Category Legal, Immigration, Non- Profit
• Employee Type FT Exempt
• Manage Others No

Description

Immigrant Defenders Law Center (“ImmDef”) is a next-generation, social justice law firm that provides high-quality representation and legal services to immigrants in Southern California and beyond. ImmDef was founded with the belief that no immigrant should be forced to face an unjust immigration system alone and our universal representation programs are a first step towards that goal. Learn more about us at www.immdef.org .

ImmDef represents thousands of adults, children, and families annually who have multi-faceted, complex, and urgent legal needs as they face our unjust immigration system.

Position Summary

ImmDef is seeking a full-time Staff Attorney with experience or strong interest in crimmigration to join our team of fearless advocates. This position will focus on representing clients referred by Public Defender offices, including individuals currently in criminal proceedings as well as former clients with prior convictions impacting their immigration status.

This role is ideal for an attorney who is passionate about the intersection ofcriminal and immigration law, and who is eager to engage in complex removal defense, post-conviction strategy, and collaborative advocacy with public defenders.

Staff attorneys will join the largest non-profit, universal representation deportation defense team in California and will play a critical role in advancing ImmDef’s work at the intersection of criminal justice and immigration systems.

Job Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Direct Representation & Legal Strategy

Provide direct representation in removal proceedings for clients with current or prior involvement in the criminal legal system, including detained and non-detained adults

Analyze the immigration consequences of criminal convictions and pending charges and develop strategic case plans

Identify and pursue forms of immigration relief, including asylum, withholding of removal, CAT, cancellation of removal, and other applicable defenses

Prepare and submit applications, declarations, legal briefs, and supporting evidence

Identify cases requiring post-conviction relief (PCR) and collaborate with ImmDef’s Post-Conviction Relief team and/or external partners

Work closely with Public Defender offices and appointed criminal defense counsel to:

Advise on immigration consequences of pleas and convictions

Coordinate defense strategies that mitigate immigration harm

Support clients navigating both criminal and immigration proceedings

Analyze and apply evolving case law at the intersection of criminal and immigration law

Court & Agency Representation

Represent clients in immigration court, including at Master calendar hearings, Individual merits hearings, and Custody redetermination (bond) hearings

Represent clients before USCIS and other agencies, including asylum interviews and ICE check-ins

File appeals, motions to reopen or reconsider, and habeas petitions, as appropriate

Client-Centered Advocacy

Provide trauma-informed, client-centered legal services to individuals facing complex legal and personal circumstances

Work with experts, including psychologists and mitigation specialists, to support cases involving criminal histories

Conduct client interviews in detention facilities, jails, or community settings

Work collaboratively with managing and directing attorneys, paralegals, and case managers

Participate in case rounds, legal trainings, and mentorship opportunities

Support ImmDef’s broader advocacy efforts, including community education and partnerships with defender organizations

Requirements

• Active California State Bar License or licensure from another state or U.S. jurisdiction and, if required, willingness and eligibility to "waive into" the CA Bar via the Multi-Jurisdictional Practice Program;
• Strong case management, legal research, and legal writing skills;
• Willingness to zealously pursue new and untested legal theories;
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work under pressure;
• Commitment to working in a diverse professional environment.
• Passion for social justice for immigrants required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working with or alongside Public Defender offices and/or analyzing immigration consequences of criminal convictions (e.g., aggravated felonies, CIMTs, controlled substance offenses).

• Experience with any of the following forms of immigration cases is helpful: asylum/WOR/CAT, special immigrant juvenile status (child custody/family court/guardianship), cancellation, waivers, adjustment of status, immigration consequences of criminal convictions, bond, humanitarian parole, post-conviction relief, habeas petitions, BIA appeals, motions to reopen, naturalization.
• Experience in immigration law (non-profit or private practice) is a plus, but not required as we are ready and able to provide training;
• Experience working with survivors is helpful, including populations that have experienced trauma, abuse and persecution;
• Knowledge of best practices in working with clients with mental competency issues, including those suffering from mental health challenges and children, is a plus;
• Commitment to working in a diverse professional environment.
• DACA Recipients encouraged to apply!
• Spanish language proficiency is preferred but not required; fluency in other languages is also helpful.

You can learn more about ImmDef's programs, services and client populations at www.immdef.org . ImmDef is considering applicants for any of our Greater Los Angeles Area offices, but particularly needs attorneys in Los Angeles and Riverside. Attorneys who wish to be based in Santa Ana should expect frequent travel to courts and offices in Los Angeles and/or Riverside.

Summary

• Starting salary range for this position is $82,000 to $97,000 DOE.
• This position is part of the ImmDef employee union bargaining unit. Salary calculations are based on experience pursuant to the terms of our union collective bargaining agreement.

Schedule:

• ImmDef’s business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but our office reception hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. As an exempt employee you will be expected to work a minimum of 35 hours per week, or 70 hours per pay period. You will be required to work from an ImmDef worksite during business hours at least 3-days per week, and 2-days per week you will have the flexibility work from home or take a day off in accordance with ImmDef’s Flexible Work Schedule policies, subject to supervisor approval.
• Attorneys should expect to occasionally work on nights or weekends as needed.

Professional Memberships:

• ImmDef provides attorneys with membership in American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG), and opportunities to attend conferences, trainings and seminars/webinars hosted internally and by partner organizations.
• ImmDef covers California Bar Dues (or equivalent in one other jurisdiction) for all attorneys.

Holidays and Paid Time Off :

• 13 paid holidays
• 1-Week paid winter break between Christmas and New Years
• 15 vacation days per year
• 15 Sick Days per year

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance:

• ImmDef provides health coverage on the first of the month following 30 days on the job.
• We cover 100% of premiums for our base dental and vision plans for our staff members and 75% of base plan dental and vision premiums for their dependents. ImmDef also covers 89% of the base plan medical premiums for our staff and 69% of the base plan medical premiums for their dependents.

FSA and Dependent Care FSA:

• ImmDef offers FSA plans to help offset the costs of eligible health care expenses for you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents using pre-tax dollars
• We also offer Dependent Care FSA to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or adult daycare.
• Eligible for Parental Leave which includes six (6) weeks ofImmDef paid leave.

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan & Employer Matching:

• ImmDef staff are eligible to enroll in our 401(k) plans upon completion of three (3) months of employment, contributing pre‑tax dollars towards their retirement goals
• After three months on staff, ImmDef will match 100% of contributions up to 4% of the employee’s salary

Public Service Loan Forgiveness:

• As a 501(c)3, full-time ImmDef staff with qualifying student loans are eligible for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Parking and Public Transportation Stipends:

• Staff members assigned to an office without free on-site parking are eligible to receive a parking stipend of up to $130 per month in actual accrued parking or transportation costs.
• Staff in all offices are eligible to receive a public transportation stipend of up to $100 per month in actual accrued public transportation costs.

Cell Phone Stipends:

• ImmDef provides a $15 monthly cell phone stipend to staff members whose job duties require them to consistently work at sites outside of ImmDef offices, or travel between ImmDef worksites, and whose jobs require use of their personal cell phones or communications that cannot be accomplished with ImmDef‑issued equipment.