Description:
Summary:
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP)
seek full-time bilingual Staff Attorneys to join our Granger and
Wenatchee offices. Applicants must be fluent in English and Spanish, and
additional languages are encouraged. The applicant must be able to
start the position in 2026, by September 1, 2026, or sooner. A minimum
two-year commitment to the position is expected.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. 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
Granger Office is located in a city of over 3,000 people located in a
rural area 25 miles southeast of Yakima. From this location, the office
serves clients from across Central and Eastern Washington. Our work
involves direct representation in various forms of immigration
protections, including asylum, cancellation of removal, humanitarian
relief under VAWA and TVPRA, family-based, naturalization, and
representations for children and youth. This office has a staff of 13
and serves a client base consisting largely of farmworkers and their
families. NWIRP's Granger office is housed within a community center
which includes a public Spanish language radio station, domestic
violence provider, and a seasonal farmer's market.
NWIRP's
Wenatchee Office is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled
in the foothills of the Cascade mountain range, and at the confluence of
the Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers. The Greater Wenatchee area is home
to 116,000 residents. With its scenic orchards and growing wine
industry, Wenatchee also boasts easy access to rivers, lakes, hiking
trails, and its own downhill ski resort, Mission Ridge. The current
staff of 16 serves clients from Central and Northeastern Washington and
its client base consists largely of farmworkers and their families.
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;
- Provide direct representation to persons in State court proceedings (specific to attorneys admitted in WA State and working with children and youth seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile classification);
- 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;
- 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 Spanish, and additional languages are encouraged;
- 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; and,
- Ability to take on a substantive caseload.
This
position is expected to travel to immigration courts in Seattle or
Tacoma, as well as USCIS offices in Seattle, Spokane, and Yakima,
Washington. Occasionally, travel to Portland, Oregon, may also be
necessary. A valid driver's license is required to meet these travel
expectations. Additionally, the role may involve some evening and
weekend hours.
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.
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 awaiting admission to the Bar is currently $84,508.11.
Candidates with no relevant experience, but admitted to the Bar, qualify
for an $87,362.92 annual salary. Salaries continue to increase with
additional, 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.NWIRP is proud to be a unionized
employer, and this full-time position is covered by NWIRP's Collective
Bargaining Agreement (CBA). NWIRP offers a generous benefits package,
which includes:
- 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);
- 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 6 months of employment, plus the ability to extend with State-paid leave;
- 14 paid Holidays with the ability to float 5 holidays;
- Employer-paid disability, life, AD&D and long-term care insurance;
- 4 weeks of paid sabbatical after every five years of employment at NWIRP;
- Eligibility to earn compensatory time;
- Opportunities for paid professional development;
- New employees may be eligible for a relocation bonus, per the CBA; and,
- Free onsite parking for Granger and Wenatchee Offices.
NWIRP is currently 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 AttorneyTo Apply:<
