Staff or Senior Attorney

Ccijustice; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4-day work week

Medical and dental benefits

403(b) retirement plan

Wellness stipend

Vacation leave (3 weeks per year)

Job summary

Ccijustice in Oakland, CA is hiring a Staff or Senior Attorney to provide legal services and advocacy for individuals at risk of immigrant detention. The position requires a member of the State Bar with a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience and fluency in Spanish.

The attorney will lead legal representation efforts, coordinate with partners, and train volunteers. Ccijustice offers a supportive work environment, potential for remote work, and a competitive salary range of $103,000–$130,000.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience representing detained immigrants in removal proceedings.
• Fluent in Spanish, able to communicate with clients without an interpreter.
• Willingness to travel to ICE processing centers and Immigration Courts.

Responsibilities

• Provide full and limited-scope legal representation in detained removal defense cases.
• Participate in litigation and advocacy consistent with CCIJ’s mission.
• Recruit, train, and supervise legal volunteers.

Skills

Fluent in Spanish

Representation in removal proceedings

Experience with immigrant communities

Education

Member of a State Bar

Job description

Reports to Supervising Attorney and/or Program Director.

ABOUT CCIJ

The California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice (CCIJ) utilizes coordination, advocacy, and legal services to fight for the liberation of immigrants in detention in California. We seek to empower immigrants in and at risk of detention through technical assistance, education, and participatory defense strategies, while also advancing advocacy, policy and litigation initiatives consistent with the goals of abolition and freedom for immigrants in detention. We are a statewide organization headquartered in Oakland, CA and our 17 staffmembers are located throughout the state.

THE POSITION

CCIJ is hiring an experienced Staff or Senior Attorney to join our dynamic team and be responsible for legal services and coordination. This position will also work in partnership with other CCIJ team members to provide legal services and advocacy for individuals in and at risk of immigrant detention in California.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provide full and limited‑scope legal representation in detained removal defense and/or custody cases such as habeas petitions or bond hearings based on CCIJ’s case selection criteria.
• Participate in litigation, advocacy and other legal strategies consistent with CCIJ’s mission.
• Provide attorney support to CCIJ rapid response hotline partners, including legal consultations at processing centers and limited scope emergency legal services.
• Recruit, train and supervise legal volunteers and partners to provide emergency legal services.
• Coordinate Rapid Response Pilot Program coverage at 630 Sansome Street in San Francisco, California as part of the Bay Area Habeas Network.
• Coordinate the “Attorney of the Day” program with the Legal Empowerment Initiative in non‑detained Immigration Court in Concord, California.

But, the Senior Attorney will not be expected to perform all of these responsibilities.

REQUIREMENTS

• Member of a State Bar (California membership highly recommended).
• Minimum of 3 years of experience representing detained immigrants in removal proceedings and/or immigration‑related federal court litigation.
• Fluent in Spanish, strongly encouraged (i.e. able to speak to clients in Spanish without an interpreter and able to translate written materials in English to Spanish).
• Experience (personal and/or professional) with populations CCIJ serves, including people in detention, immigrant communities, and individuals who have been impacted by the criminal legal system.
• Willingness to regularly travel to ICE processing centers and/or Immigration Courts in the SF Bay Area (SF, Stockton, Concord), and CCIJ’s office in Oakland, CA.
• Willingness to travel several times per year to California immigrant detention centers in Kern County.
• Willingness to occasionally travel to immigration courts or other detention centers throughout CA and detention centers out of state as needed.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

CCIJ’s office is located in Oakland, CA. Remote work is possible but candidates must reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. CCIJ hosts regular in‑person events for the whole team throughout the year to collaborate on projects and to celebrate our collective wins.

COMPENSATION

The starting salary range is $103,000–$130,000. Actual salary will be set based on CCIJ’s compensation policy, which is based on years of experience. Benefits include a 4‑day work week, medical, dental, vision, Flex Spending/Dependent Care Accounts, 403(b) retirement plan, wellness stipend, and vacation leave (accrued at 3 weeks per year, plus PTO), plus holiday closures, which include additional office closure around the December holidays.

California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in both its staff and work.