Staff Attorney, Immigration Law Unit – Immigrant Youth Project

The Legal Aid Society, Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public Service Loan Forgivenesseligibi

Opportunities to mentor students and

Job summary

The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice seeks a Staff Attorney to join the citywide Immigration Law Unit’s Youth Project in New York City. You will provide direct representation to undocumented youth, handle SIJS and asylum cases, and collaborate with LAS staff and community partners.

You will appear in Immigration Court, USCIS, and Family Courts across NYC and surrounding counties, with opportunities to mentor law students and volunteers. Strong writing and advocacy skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State Bar.
• At least two years of immigration law and trial experience.
• Excellent writing, analytical, oral advocacy, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Experience working with undocumented youth and in immigrant communities is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Screen and provide direct representation to immigrant youth in removal proceedings.
• Appear in asylum and credible fear interviews.
• Appear in Family Court across NYC and surrounding counties.
• Collaborate with Youth Project, Juvenile Rights Practice, ACS, and foster care personnel.
• Mentor law students, pro bono attorneys, and volunteers.

Skills

Immigration law

Trial experience

Oral advocacy

Legal writing

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent

New York State Bar admission

Job description

Staff Attorney, Immigration Law Unit – Immigrant Youth Project

#26-143

New York, New York, United States

Deadline is 3:00 PM EST for Date Listed

Job Description

The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice is seeking a Staff Attorney to join the citywide Immigration Law Unit’s Youth Project team.

The Immigration Law Unit (ILU) in The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice is a recognized leader in providing high-quality representation to non-citizens in all five boroughs of New York City and surrounding counties. Our staff of almost 100 attorneys, social workers, and paralegals across seven different projects and initiatives work collaboratively to provide client-centered, interdisciplinary, and comprehensive legal services. ILU provides low-income New Yorkers with free comprehensive immigration services ranging from deportation defense to adjustment of status to legal permanent residence and citizenship applications. We specialize in the intersection between immigration and criminal law and works collaboratively with all practice areas to serve the society’s diverse immigrant clients through a comprehensive service model. ILU staff represent immigrants before United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), immigration judges in removal proceedings, and the Board of Immigration Appeals, as well as in federal court on habeas corpus petitions, petitions for review, administrative and judicial appeals, and other matters.

The Staff Attorney will provide legal services to undocumented youth and unaccompanied immigrant children at the New York Immigration Courts, before USCIS and before Family Courts in New York City and surrounding counties. The attorney will work on cases such as special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS), asylum, U/T visas and other forms of relief. The Staff Attorney will also work collaboratively with staff in the ILU’s Youth Project, LAS’ Juvenile Rights Practice, the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), and foster care agency personnel to provide immigration advice and guidance. The Staff Attorney may work with and mentor law students, pro bono attorneys, and volunteers in cases related to the Youth Project.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Screen and provide direct representation to immigrant youth in removal proceedings in Immigration Court. Attorney will also handle some affirmative cases
• Appear in Asylum Offices to represent clients in asylum or credible fear interviews
• Appear in Family court in all five boroughs of the City of New York and in surrounding counties, including but not limited to Suffolk and Nassau counties, to obtain predicate orders for special immigrant juvenile status.
• Build on existing relationships with the Society’s Juvenile Rights Practice staff attorneys and others to meet the needs of undocumented youth in foster care
• Conduct forums and workshops in immigrant communities and public schools on immigration issues
• Other duties as assigned

Professional Development and other duties as assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development
• Attend and provide trainings to advocates throughout the city and in Family and Immigration Courts
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• Admission to the New York State Bar Demonstrated commitment to representing low-income, disadvantaged clients
• At least two years of Immigration law and trial experience required
• Excellent writing, analytical, oral advocacy, and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively on an interdisciplinary team and manage a high volume of cases
• Ability to work with pro bono attorneys, law student interns, and volunteers

Preferred qualifications:

• Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable, but not required
• Experience working with children and youth highly desirable
• Demonstrated commitment to representing or working with individuals from marginalized communities

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.

Location

Manhattan - Civil Practice Lower Manhattan Neighborhood Office