Staff Attorney - Employment

CASA INC; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

We Are CASA in Maryland is seeking a Staff Attorney to defend and advocate for members in civil legal matters, including immigration, housing, employment, and civil rights.

You will work with paralegals, organizers, and social service staff in a fast-paced team, provide direct representation under supervision, perform legal orientation, intake, and referrals, and support campaigns and policy work across CASA organizations as needed.

Responsibilities

• Direct legal representation to CASA members in civil cases (immigration, housing, employment, civil rights).
• Provide brief legal services including orientation, intake, counseling, advice and referrals.
• Support the organizing department and collaborate with paralegals, organizers, and social service staff.

Job description

WE ARE CASA & CASA IN ACTION SYNOPSIS:

We Are CASA’s mission is to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working class Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendant, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. Rooted in the collective power of our community, our inclusive, permanent, member-led movement radically transforms communities and systems to ensure the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members are fully met as we strive for justice and full liberation at home and in solidarity with others across the world. We Are CASA has a sister organization, CASA in Action, a separate, but related, nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Although We Are CASA and CASA in Action share a common goal of supporting immigrants and low-income people in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Georgia, they are separate organizations with their own board of directors. A set of employees at the two organizations, including the person filling this position, shares their time between the two organizations. This has no effect on salary or benefits.

DEPARTMENT SYNOPSIS:

The legal program at We Are CASA operates under the principles of Justice is the goal, law is a means. It is a marathon, not a sprint. We endeavor to find the most creative strategies to combat the abuses and injustices identified by our constituents. We value justice in the largest sense possible, not only one person at a time legal solutions, but broad, transformative solutions created in combination with immigrant leaders, We Are CASA organizers and other staff, other local and national organizations and direct service staff. We value our time and believe that through hard and sustained effort is often required, real rest is also necessary for creativity, stamina and “a life,” however defined.

POSITION SUMMARY:

A We Are CASA staff attorney is on the front line in defending, advocating for, and working alongside our members in different spaces. The Staff Attorney will be responsible for providing direct representation to CASA members in civil legal cases, such as immigration, housing, employment, and/or civil rights, while helping to support the broader efforts of We Are CASA’s Legal Department, as assigned by their supervisor. We Are CASA staff attorneys work with a dynamic group of paralegals, organizers, advocates, and social service staff in a friendly and fast-paced environment.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Direct Legal Work

• Under the supervision of the Supervising Attorney and/or Managing Attorney, provide legal representation to We Are CASA members in civil legal cases.
• Provide brief legal services, including legal orientation, intake, education, counseling, advice and referrals to community members on a variety of legal issues, such as immigration, housing, employment, and/or civil rights. Most We Are CASA Staff Attorneys will work primarily in one issue area.
• Participate in community workshops and clinics organized by the Legal Department and/or other departments.

Strategic Work with Organizers

• Support the legal needs of We Are CASA’s Organizing Department as they arise, including through regular engagement with staff and community leaders, providing legal consultations to members identified by Organizing staff, responding to urgent situations such as impending evictions of We Are CASA members or immigration raids, collaborating on policy and campaign issues, and other support as needed.
<