Description:
The Opportunity:Lead and mentor within A Community-Based Organization' growing immigration legal team.
A Community-Based Organization is expanding its Legal Services Department to meet the urgent needs of Bronx residents. Our Immigration Program, funded by the NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), plays a vital role in keeping families together, helping individuals secure lawful status, and ensuring that immigrants can fully participate in the life of their communities.
We are seeking an experienced Staff Attorney to provide high-quality legal representation in immigration matters and supervise paralegals in the preparation of affirmative applications. This
role offers the opportunity to combine direct client advocacy with program leadership, shaping service delivery for one of New York City's trusted immigrant legal services providers.
The Immigration Staff Attorney will work closely with paralegals, accredited representatives, and program staff to assist clients with applications before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), maintain case records, communicate with government agencies, and ensure accurate reporting. The role blends supervision, direct client interaction, detailed case preparation, and program support — making it an exceptional entry point for those interested in a career in immigration law and public interest advocacy.
Key Responsibilities:
- Directly supervise assigned staff, including assigning and monitoring work, setting priorities, approving schedules, and ensuring adherence to legal and program standards.
- Conduct formal performance evaluations of direct reports and provide written and verbal recommendations on promotions, terminations, disciplinary actions, and salary adjustments; such recommendations are given particular weight in final employment decisions.
- Approve leave requests and work schedules for supervised staff and reallocate resources as needed to meet program needs.
- Hold staff accountable for meeting deadlines, quality standards, and program deliverables, and take corrective action where performance does not meet expectations.
- Hold staff accountable for attending in-person meetings, including weekly unit meetings and monthly department-wide meetings.
- Mentor and train staff, including accompanying them to client meetings, outreach events, and other in-person activities, providing guidance on case preparation, legal strategy, and compliance with program requirements.
- Supervise case managers, paralegals, and/or accredited representatives in completing affirmative immigration applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including but not limited to: family petitions, adjustments of status, U visa petitions, applications for naturalization, DACA renewals, and green card renewals.
- Supervise intake processes and join a weekly site supervision rotation with other supervisors to ensure quality representation and adherence to program standards.
- Maintain regular office hours and participate in a weekly rotation of in-office and site supervision at the MOIA site in the Bronx.
- Attend and actively participate in all weekly unit meetings and department-wide all-staff meetings in person to ensure collaboration, case coordination, and alignment on program goals.
- Provide high-quality legal representation in immigration matters and manage an active caseload from intake through resolution.
- Conduct thorough consultations with clients to assess legal needs and determine eligibility for services, making referrals to outside agencies when appropriate.
- Assist clients with USCIS applications, communicate with USCIS to obtain case updates, and ensure accurate and timely data entry in program databases.
- Maintain complete and compliant case files, case notes, and service records; prepare monthly and quarterly reports for funders and internal tracking.
- Conduct community outreach, public education, and Know Your Rights (KYR) sessions, including events with elected officials.
- Attend meetings regarding the case management system to provide input on its buildout, ensuring it meets funder requirements, facilitates collection of impact data, and is configured to the program's needs for clarity, efficiency, and ease of use.
- Fully understand data reporting and compliance requirements and enforce data quality standards across the team, ensuring timely and accurate entry of case outcomes, services provided, and other reportable metrics.
- Assist in leading legal team meetings, CLE trainings, and strategic planning sessions.
- Exercise independent judgment in directing the work of others to ensure that client needs and contract requirements are met.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- A J.D. from an accredited law school, and either a July 2025 bar exam taker or attorney admitted to practice in New York State, or an attorney who has recently passed the NY Bar Exam or its equivalent.
- Admission to practice law in New York State.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines in a high-volume environment.
- Proficiency with modern office technology, including Microsoft Office, databases, email, and standard office equipment.
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice and working in low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity.
- Excellent communication, writing, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Fluency or high proficiency in Spanish strongly preferred (French proficiency also desirable).