Staff Attorney, Temporary

Nacba; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 79,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully paid health benefits

Vision and dental plans

HSA/HRA options

Paid health-related leave

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Transit subsidy

Free onsite parking

Job summary

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project seeks a temporary Staff Attorney to join the Children and Youth Advocacy Program in Seattle. The role provides direct representation, consultations, and community outreach to immigrant clients seeking protections before USCIS and immigration courts, including detention cases.

The position is 12 months with potential extension and a hybrid work arrangement. Candidates must have a law degree and bar admission; English fluency is required with another language

Qualifications

• Must have a law degree and bar admission or be eligible to waive in.
• Fluency in English; additional language preferred.
• Commitment to immigrant rights and NWIRP values.
• Experience with youth, SIJ, and asylum cases preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct representation in removal proceedings and appeals.
• Represent clients with affirmative USCIS and DOS applications.
• Conduct presentations, clinics, and intakes by phone and in person.
• Analyze cases for eligibility under immigration laws.
• Maintain knowledge of immigration policy trends affecting low-income immigrants.
• Organize and maintain case files.
• Support grant reporting and training tracking.
• Participate in outreach, education, and development efforts.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Fluency in English

Excellent writing

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Trauma-informed representation

Cultural competency

Ability to work independently

Teamwork

Education

Juris Doctor / Law degree

Bar admission in any state

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

G Suite

Job description

SUMMARY

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) seeks a temporary Staff Attorney to work in the Children and Youth Advocacy Program (CYAP) unit as part of our Seattle office. Applicants must be fluent in English, with proficiency in at least one additional language preferred. The applicant must be able to start the position as soon as possible. This role is for a 12-month engagement, with the possibility of extension.

As a temporary staff attorney, you will offer direct representation, individual consultations, and community outreach and education to immigrant community members seeking immigration protections before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and immigration courts. You may also handle additional immigration matters, including cases involving individuals in immigration detention.

ABOUT NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT

Founded in 1984, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) is a nationally-recognized legal services organization on the front lines of defending and advancing the rights of immigrants. With over 200 employees, NWIRP provides direct legal representation and assistance in immigration matters to thousands of people with low incomes who come from over 150 countries and speak over 60 different languages.

NWIRP challenges unjust policies through high-impact lawsuits and advocates for laws and policies that respect the rights of immigrants. NWIRP is also a trusted provider of immigration-related community education for immigrant communities and social service providers. NWIRP serves the community through four offices in Washington State (Granger, Seattle, Tacoma and Wenatchee), but the impact of our work is felt nationwide.

NWIRP’s Children and Youth Advocacy Program (CYAP) supports immigrant children and youth, particularly unaccompanied minors from Central America and Mexico facing removal proceedings. The CYAP team manages a wide range of cases, assisting young people with various forms of immigration protection, including Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Classification, Asylum, VAWA self-petitions, U visas, T visas, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Adjustment of Status, and removal defense before immigration courts. Additionally, CYAP attorneys handle Washington State court proceedings related to Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification eligibility and conduct monthly legal clinics for DACA applicants.

RESPONSIBILITIES

All NWIRP staff attorneys are expected to:

• Provide direct representation to individuals in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court, on appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals or before the federal courts, and before the Department of Homeland Security;
• Provide direct representation to persons submitting affirmative applications with USCIS and the Department of State;
• Conduct presentations, workshops, legal clinics, and intakes, by phone and in person;
• Conduct case analysis to determine eligibility for immigration protections/status under the immigration laws;
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant policies, laws, practices, and trends in immigration law, particularly as it impacts low-income immigrants and those impacted by the criminal justice system;
• Establish, organize, and maintain files up to date;
• Perform administrative tasks related to grant reporting such as timekeeping, submitting timesheets, tracking training, and other duties in a timely manner;
• Participate in NWIRP’s outreach, community education, and development efforts; and,
• Perform other tasks and responsibilities assigned by supervisory staff depending upon NWIRP’s needs.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Law degree;
• Must be admitted (or eligible to waive in) to the Bar in any state;
• Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights and eagerness to support NWIRP’s mission, vision and values;
• Excellent writing, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills;
• Ability to provide trauma-informed and culturally-inclusive legal representation;
• Commitment to creating a welcoming, professional, and inclusive environment for staff and clients, and to working with a diverse community in a challenging environment;
• Fluency in English, with proficiency in at least one other language preferred;
• Strong ability to work independently, as well as in a team environment;
• Proficiency in use of web-based software, Microsoft Office applications (including Word and Excel), and web peer-to-peer communication platforms; familiarity with G-suite tools (Google Docs, Google Sheets and Gmail);
• Prior experience working with youth and on SIJ and asylum cases is preferred;
• Prior immigration law and removal experience preferred;
• Experience handling a high-volume caseload preferred;
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills;
• Strong organizational skills;
• Ability to take on a substantive caseload, and;
• The applicant must have a valid driver’s license as the position involves some travel.

Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand and walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear; utilize a phone, computer, keyboard, pen, and paper. Occasional work on night and weekend hours. Travel may be required. Travel reimbursements apply.

Emotional demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to discuss topics including, but not limited, to discrimination; child abuse, neglect, abandonment; domestic abuse; violence, and psychological trauma. Occasional work in a detention center environment.

The anticipated hours of work are Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm, with a 30 – 60 minute unpaid lunch, but occasional evening and weekend work hours may be required.

At the time of this posting, NWIRP staff is operating in a hybrid model, and some in-office work will be expected of this position (at least two full days per week).

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

This is an exempt, salaried position, and the minimum annual salary for candidates with no experience is $87,362.92. Salaries increase for staff attorneys with specific experience. For example, candidates with 20 years of relevant experience will earn $127,560.20 annually, and the current maximum salary, based on 40 years of experience, is $155,214.80 annually.

This full-time temporary position is not covered by NWIRP’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, however the employee will receive nearly all the same benefits as a union member.

• Fully paid health, vision and dental plans for employee-level coverage with employer-funded HRA and HSA options;
• FSA and Dependent Care accounts;
• Automatic, employer contribution of 3% to 403(b) retirement plan;
• Generous paid health-related leave (12 days per year);
• Generous paid vacation (16 days during your first year);
• 14 paid Holidays with the ability to float 5 holidays;
• Employer-paid disability, life, AD&D and long-term care insurance;
• Opportunities for paid professional development; and,
• Subsidized transit pass is available for the Seattle and Tacoma offices.
• Free onsite parking for its Granger, Tacoma and Wenatchee offices.

NWIRP is an eligible employer under the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

NWIRP is committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment. NWIRP does not discriminate on the basis of class, race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, political ideology, age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability. Excepting any undue hardship, NWIRP will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please contact [e-mail].

REPORTS TO

Supervising Attorney