Description:

Established immigration law firm is seeking experienced contract immigration attorneys to assist with court appearances and USCIS interviews on an as-needed basis.

We are building a network of reliable attorneys who can provide appearance coverage for immigration matters, including opportunities in Texas and nationwide.

This is not a full-time associate position. Attorneys will be engaged as independent contractors for individual assignments based on location, availability, experience, and the type of proceeding.

Types of Assignments

Contract attorneys may be retained for:

Master Calendar Hearings (MHs)
Individual/Merits Hearings (IHs)
Bond Redetermination Hearings (BRHs)
USCIS interviews
Other immigration-related appearances as needed

EOIR hearings may be conducted by Webex or in person, depending on the Immigration Court and the particular case.

USCIS assignments will generally require in-person attendance.

What we are looking for:
We are particularly interested in attorneys with meaningful experience in immigration law who can step into an assigned matter, review the file, communicate with our legal team, prepare appropriately, and competently handle the appearance.

Candidates should have:

Active license and good standing with at least one U.S. state bar
Experience practicing U.S. immigration law
Familiarity with EOIR Immigration Court procedures
Experience handling Master Calendar Hearings
Experience with Individual/Merits Hearings and/or Bond Redetermination Hearings strongly preferred
Experience attending USCIS interviews
Ability to independently review and prepare for an assigned appearance
Strong communication and professional judgment
Reliability and punctuality
Ability to promptly provide our office with a post-hearing or post-interview report

Spanish fluency is preferred but not required for every assignment.

How Assignments Work

Our office will provide the attorney with the case materials and information necessary for the assigned appearance.

Contract attorneys are expected to review the file sufficiently in advance to competently handle the proceeding and to communicate with our office if an issue requiring attorney attention is identified before the appearance.

For court appearances, attorneys must understand that Immigration Court schedules can involve significant waiting time, particularly for Webex appearances.

Assignments may range from relatively short Master Calendar Hearings to more substantial Individual Hearings requiring additional preparation.

Compensation:
Compensation will be agreed upon before each assignment and may vary depending on:

Type of hearing or interview
Expected preparation time
Length and complexity of the proceeding
Whether the appearance is remote or in person
Location and required travel

We are open to hourly or flat-fee arrangements depending on the assignment.

Locations:
We are especially interested in developing reliable contract attorney coverage in:

Houston, Texas
McAllen, Texas
Harlingen / Rio Grande Valley, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Other Immigration Court and USCIS locations throughout the United States

Attorneys located outside Texas are encouraged to apply if they are interested in nationwide contract appearance opportunities.

Application Questions
Please include the following information with your application:

In what state(s) are you licensed to practice law?
How many years have you practiced immigration law?
Approximately how many Master Calendar Hearings have you handled?
Have you handled Individual/Merits Hearings? If so, please briefly describe your experience.
Have you handled Bond Redetermination Hearings? If so, please briefly describe your experience.
Have you attended USCIS interviews as counsel? If so, which types?
Are you available for Webex Immigration Court appearances?
What cities or geographic areas are you available to cover in person?
Are you willing to accept assignments outside your immediate geographic area?
What is your typical hourly rate for immigration contract work?
Do you offer flat-fee rates for routine Master Calendar Hearings or USCIS interviews? If so, please provide your typical rates.

We are looking to establish ongoing relationships with dependable contract attorneys, not simply fill a single appearance. Attorneys who perform well may receive recurring assignments based on our firm's coverage needs.