Description:

Summary:

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) seeks a temporary, full-time bilingual Staff Attorney to work in the Detained Immigrant Advocates unit as part of our Tacoma office. Applicants must be fluent in English and at least one other language. Spanish is preferred, but we welcome bilingual candidates who speak other languages to apply as well. Additional language skills are encouraged. This role is for a 12-month engagement, with the possibility of extension.

As a 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, and at the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC), located in Tacoma, Washington. The staff attorney will represent a high-volume workload of detained immigrant clients with complex legal issues in immigration law. The staff attorney may also be assigned work relating to other immigration matters.

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 180 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.

DIA

NWIRP's Detained Immigrant Advocates Unit (DIA) is one of two units at NWIRP's Tacoma office that provides direct legal services to individuals detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, WA. This regional immigration detention facility holds up to 1,575 community members at any given time.

Responsibilities:

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, 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;
Admission to the bar of any state in the U.S.;
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 in English and another language;
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 immigration law and removal experience preferred;
Prior experience working with survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault is 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.

Emotional Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to discuss topics including, but not limited, to discrimination, domestic abuse and violence. Regular 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. NWIRP offers a generous benefits package, including:
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 Tacoma office. Free onsite parking for the Tacoma office.

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 HR@nwirp.org.

Reports to:

Supervising Attorney

To Apply:
Please upload a single-file document on our Careers Page containing your cover letter, resume, and a list of (3) references.

In Your Cover Letter, Please Address:

How your personal or professional experiences qualify you for this role, and;
What challenges you recognize as barriers to providing legal advocacy to immigrant community members.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.