Staff Attorney - New American Legal Clinic (Clovis)

SAN JOAQUIN COLLEGE OF LAW; Clovis (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

San Joaquin College of Law seeks a Staff Attorney for the New American Legal Clinic in Clovis to interview clients, analyze relief options, and file with USCIS and EOIR. The role centers on removal defense and coordinating with students and staff to advance cases.

The ideal candidate has a J.D. and bar membership, is ready for occasional nights/weekends, and can travel within California to detention facilities and major immigration courts. Bilingual Spanish preferred but not required.

Qualifications

• J.D. and Bar membership required.
• Willing to work nights and weekends as needed, average once a month.
• Ability to travel within the Central Valley and to CA detention facilities.
• Strong computer and case management skills.

Responsibilities

• Interview potential clients and analyze their case for immigration relief.
• Prepare filings for USCIS and EOIR.
• Review immigration forms promptly and identify issues from form review.
• Maintain organized physical and electronic files with notes and deadlines.
• Conduct legal research and present complete analysis on immigration topics.
• Attend trainings and report updates to NALC Director and staff.
• Represent clients at immigration court and USCIS/EOIR interviews as needed.
• Travel to San Francisco or Los Angeles for hearings when required.
• Mentor law students and clinic staff in case handling and procedures.
• Engage with community partners and coordinate outreach programs.

Skills

Interview potential clients

Legal research

Client advocacy

Administrative support

Bilingual (Spanish)

Education

J.D. and Bar membership

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Staff Attorney - New American Legal Clinic (Clovis)

Under the direction of the Clinic Director, the Clinic Staff Attorney will be dedicated to interviewing potential clients analyzing their forms of relief, preparing filings to USCIS and EOIR, and providing support of the clinic’s staff and students. This position will be heavily dedicated to removal defense cases. The Staff Attorney will also be responsible for reviewing filings from staff case workers and students as well as representing clients before USCIS and EOIR.

• J.D. and Bar membership required
• Able to work nights and weekends, averages once a month, but up to two or three nights or weekend events within a two or three-week period
• Valid driver’s license and must be able to travel within in the Central Valley regularly, to detention facilities throughout California and to Immigration Court in San Francisco and Los Angeles
• Intermediate to Advanced skills with Microsoft products
• Ability to keyboard 35-40 words per minute

Ideal Candidate

• Minimum 3-5 years with administrative experience specific to immigration work, or minimum 1 year immigration law experience as attorney
• Preferred bilingual (Spanish) but not required.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Work in conjunction with law students and NALC staff members to prepare cases.

Knowledge and Skills

An individual must be able to effectively execute the institution and clinic’s mission. Individuals in this position must have the ability to handle legal research and analysis, represent and strongly advocate for clients before administrative federal agencies in a professional, reliable, client-focused manner. The position requires you to be reliable, responsible, flexible, organized and possess a high work ethic and exercise good judgment. You must also maintain strict attention to detail, independent follow-through, respond constructively to changing situations, protect confidential information and create good working relationships with a diverse staff, faculty, student, and client population. Furthermore, you must also learn and apply college policies and procedures.

Essential Job Requirements

• Conduct interviews with potential clients and analyze their case for potential immigration relief
• Prepare filings for USCIS and EOIR;
• Review immigration forms in a timely, attentive, and thorough manner, and be able to identify potential issues based solely on review of forms;
• Ensure files (both physical and electronic) are well organized and up to date; entering notes, reminders and case status in the case management system; watching deadlines for timely filing of documents
• Conduct thorough legal research and present complete analysis on topics of immigration law
• Stay up to date with quickly changing immigration laws and policy;
• Attend trainings and report updates to NALC Director, staff and students
• Attend in person administrative agency interviews and immigration court hearings in professional, client-focused manner
• Travel to immigration court in San Francisco or Los Angeles to attend hearings when required
• Travel to immigration detention facilities to conduct client visitations and help prepare clients for hearings
• Able to collaborate with administrative staff and law students in the clinic, to field questions and provide initial support and mentorship, as needed
• Display a high level of discretion in dealing with confidential information
• Exhibit excellent customer service skills (written and verbal) and desire to work with a diverse population
• Assist the NALC Director in student coordination specifically related to office and file protocol
• Plan, promote, facilitate, execute, and advertise NALC clinic programs to students
• Create and deliver professional presentations of SJCL and NALC services to diverse groups of people; support and facilitate off-campus immigration events, including presentations and workshops (able to work nights and weekends on average once a month, but up to two or three nights or weekend events within a two or three-week period of time.); outreach and networking to community agencies such as: Proteus, community adult schools in need of NALC services
• Must be able to function in a high-volume environment to ensure individual and team goals are achieved in compliance with funding of multiple grants

Physical

Ability to sit, and bend, reach in all directions: adequate sight or corrected vision for the purpose of reading printed or written materials; hear and speak to communicate with coworkers and the public; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate instructional equipment. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Salary Range

$80,000-$90,000 Annually

This is not a remote work opportunity

San Joaquin College of Law provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.