Staff Attorney, Petaluma

Immigration Institute of the Bay Area; Petaluma (CA); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

403(B) retirement plan matching

Health, dental, life, vision insurance

Vacation, sick leave, 15 holidays

Sabbatical eligibility

Job summary

Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA) in Petaluma seeks a Staff Attorney to provide immigration-related legal services for low-income clients, supervise staff, and represent IIBA at events and partner meetings. The role emphasizes high standards for legal protocols and client-centered advocacy.

The staff attorney will handle eligibility assessments, complex relief applications (asylum, removal defense, naturalization), and develop evidentiary records, while maintaining strong client

Qualifications

• J.D. and active membership in a U.S. state bar.
• Experience in immigration law, including U-Visas, VAWA self-petitions, family petitions, waivers, DACA, naturalization preferred.
• Strong legal research and writing; client-centered advocacy.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Commitment to serving immigrants and low-income communities.
• Spanish fluency required

Responsibilities

• Provide eligibility and full representation, including family-based and humanitarian petitions, waivers, U Visas, DACA, naturalization, and removal defense.
• Represent clients in Immigration Court, including bond and calendar hearings.
• Prepare and file applications for relief from removal (asylum, cancellation, etc.).
• Develop evidentiary records and draft motions and briefs.
• Maintain client communication and provide client-centered legal counseling.
• Participate in team rounds and trainings.

Skills

J.D. and bar admission

Immigration law experience

Legal research and writing

Client-centered advocacy

Time management

Strong communication

Spanish fluency

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA)

Location: Petaluma

Full-time, Exempt

About IIBA

The Immigration Institute of the Bay Area was founded in 1918, and its mission is to welcome, educate and serve immigrants, refugees and their families as they join and contribute to the community. IIBA provides immigration legal services, English and civic education, and other services throughout the Bay Area, as well as through its collaborative efforts with local and regional service providers. IIBA offers a team-oriented, collegial and collaborative work environment. We pride ourselves on providing excellent service to our clients, and we know our organization runs on the hard work and dedication of our passionate employees.

At IIBA, we have a clear vision: to be the place where adiverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay, and to do their best work. IIBA’s dedication to promoting diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion is reflected in the work that we do. We are committed to equity and believe deeply in the value of diversity of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, national origin and all the other wonderful characteristics that make us human.

Position Overview

IIBA seeks a Staff Attorney to join our team. Attorneys provide quality immigration-specific legal services, advice, and representation in support of low-income individuals; provide supervision for staff, volunteers and new hires; represents IIBA at events, and partner meetings; and maintains high standards for legal protocols and record keeping.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide eligibility and risk assessment, full representation, brief service, and/ or legal advice to low-income clients filing applications, including family-based and humanitarian immigration petitions, waivers, U Visas, DACA, naturalization, adjustments of status, and removal defense.
• Represent clients in Immigration Court, including bond hearings, master calendar hearings, motion practice, and merits hearings.
• Prepare and file applications for relief from removal, including asylum, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status in proceedings, and other forms of relief.
• Develop evidentiary records including client declarations, expert evidence, and country conditions documentation.
• Draft legal motions, briefs, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain client communication and provide client-centered legal counseling.
• Participate in team case rounds and trainings.
• Perform all other duties as needed and/or as directed by supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• J.D. and active membership in any U.S. state bar.
• Experience in immigration law assisting immigrants with U-Visas, VAWA self-petitions, family visa petitions, waivers, DACA, naturalization preferred.
• Experience in removal defense and immigrant rights advocacy preferred.
• Strong legal research, writing, and client‑centered advocacy skills.
• Dedicated to providing high-quality legal assistance and capable of handling complex legal issues on behalf of low-income immigrant populations.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational and communication skills.
• Very strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
• Exceptional time management skills – ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to act independently and exercise sound judgment.
• Commitment to serving immigrants and sensitivity to the needs of the low-income, culturally diverse newcomer community.
• Familiarity with the region and knowledge of local resources, public systems, and area philanthropy preferred.
• Experience in developing and providing services to the target population preferred.
• Spanish fluency required

Salary and Benefits

In the spirit of pay transparency, we are excited to share the base salary range for this position is $81,000 – $90,000 excluding fringe benefits and potential bonuses. If you are hired at IIBA, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills, education, and/or experience. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as part of any final offer.

IIBA offers a generous cafeteria-style benefits package, elements of which include, but are not limited to:

• Employer matching 403(B) retirement plan: up to 6% employer contribution
• Insurance: Health, dental, life, vision, chiropractic & acupuncture. Medical and dependent care pre-tax reimbursement accounts.
• Vacation: three weeks (15 days) of accrued vacation per year with an increase each year.
• Sick Leave including paid family sick time
• Holidays: 15 paid Holidays per year, including 2 floating holidays
• Eligible for Sabbatical Leave after 5 years and 10 years of continued employment.

New employees are required to work in the office 4 days a week for the first three months of their employment with IIBA. This period is crucial for onboarding, training, and integration into IIBA’s culture. After the initial three-month period, new employees may be eligible to transition to a hybrid work schedule, subject to approval by their supervisor, the needs of the office, and in accordance with IIBA policies.

Applicants for employment in the United States must have work authorization that does not currently or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.

For more information on IIBA, see our website: www.iibayarea.org . Position opened until filled. This description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities.

The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant. Because of a need to remain responsive to the needs of our clients and our Agency’s operations, responsibilities may be modified at any time.

IIBA recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. Persons receiving services in our programs are entitled to freedom from harassment, retaliation, and reasonable accommodation for qualified disabilities.