Description:
Job Summary/General Purpose of Job:Provide direct legal representation to clients in immigration proceedings, including children and respondents who are designated as not competent to represent themselves in their immigration proceedings, as part of the National Qualified Representatives Program.
Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:
- Direct legal representation of immigrants and asylum seekers in removal proceedings, bond proceedings, and appeals before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), with a focus on representation of clients detained in immigration custody.
- Provide legal services, including pro se legal assistance, orientation, and direct representation, to immigrants and asylum seekers facing removal.
- Collaboration with the Mental Health Case Manager to help clients obtain release from immigration custody and to remain stable as they return to the community from custody.
- Collaboration with and participation in the work of the Legal Orientation Program at immigrant detention facility.
- Review legal screenings conducted by orientation programs and reviews and assigns follow-up services, including additional interviewing, referrals to other legal service providers and advocates, or in-house representation.
- Conduct child-friendly and trauma-informed legal services for unaccompanied minors and immigrant youth, including individual screenings, pro se assistance, referrals, and direct legal representation. Prepare and file applications for legal relief, and represent clients before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), state courts, and related entities.
- Develop and maintains legal competency relating to immigration legal services. Build and maintain relationships with local stakeholders.
- Observe ethical practices relating to confidentiality and all other applicable legal ethics standards.
- Maintain case files, documentation and data integrity using division's case management system. Ensure contract compliance, including helping to prepare funder reports and ensuring that data is entered accurately and timely as required.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Required Education, Qualifications, Experience:
- Juris Doctorate (JD) degree or Master of Law (LLM) degree, from an ABA-accredited law school.
- Licensed to practice law in a U.S. state or territory with current Bar membership in good standing.
- Fluent in English in written and spoken forms.
- Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office products and Google tools.
- Comfortable with public speaking and frequent communication with clients and their supporters, government counsel, court staff, and immigration officers and judges.
- Must have reliable transportation to travel to off-site work locations.
- Must be insurable and have an acceptable driving record.
- Ability to travel to and enter detention centers, and regular travel to the San Diego Immigration Court in downtown San Diego, Otay Mesa Immigration Court, and Otay Mesa Detention Center.
- Comfort with working with colleagues and clients from all over the world, with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, as well as clients living with serious physical and mental disabilities (legal internship, law school clinic, or non-legal experience will be taken into consideration).
- Familiarity with legal research tools, strong written and oral advocacy skills, and a commitment to participate fully in training and development of these skills.
Preferred Education, Qualifications, Experience:
- Fluency in Spanish in written and spoken forms preferred.
- Licensed to practice law and member in the State Bar of California with one year's experience, preferably in immigration.
- Prior volunteer, community, or work experience regarding immigration or detention.
- Prior work experience with immigrants, asylum seekers, or refugees, and providing legal services to low-income people, especially for clients in criminal or immigration custody.
- Professional dedication to legal advocacy on behalf of people in custody, members of oppressed and marginalized groups, and people with a prior history of involvement in the criminal and immigration legal systems.
