Immigration Staff Attorney

Description:

New Hampshire Legal Assistance (NHLA) seeks a Staff Attorney to work in our immigration law practice. The Staff Attorney will have a comprehensive immigration law practice including screening, in-depth consultations, pro se assistance, and full representation; collaboration with other legal services providers and community support organizations; and outreach and community education.

The Staff Attorney will handle work statewide in New Hampshire, plus make appearances in person, as needed, in EOIR and USCIS adjudications and appeals and in the U.S. District Courts and Circuit Courts of Appeal. Extensive local travel is anticipated, including to ICE detention facilities in Dover, NH and Berlin, NH, and occasionally at other facilities in New England. Office space (private or shared, depending on space availability) for the Staff Attorney is available in NHLA's Manchester office. NHLA also has offices in Berlin, Claremont, Concord, and Portsmouth; there may be office space available in one of those offices depending on overall organizational space needs and the candidate's preferences. NHLA has a remote work policy under which two days per week of remote work is typically approved for staff attorneys. For this position, we are open to the possibility of primarily remote work for an experienced immigration attorney, with the understanding that significant in-person work (such as meeting with clients in New Hampshire and accompanying and/or appearing on behalf of clients in court proceedings and at appointments in New Hampshire and Massachusetts) is required. All NHLA staff members are provided with the necessary equipment (such as laptop computers) to work remotely. Occasional travel out of state, for example to national conferences, is anticipated. Travel reimbursement including mileage is provided.

NHLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This position is funded through private philanthropy and NHLA will be happy to discuss the funding outlook with qualified candidates.

Duties:

• Work collaboratively with NHLA's immigration law team including attorney, paralegal, and administrative staff;
• Screen potential clients for program and immigration relief eligibility;
• Provide a range of legal services including in-depth consultations, pro se assistance, and full representation in immigration court bond and removal proceedings and BIA appeals, in Petitions for Review in the U.S. Courts of Appeal, in habeas petitions in U.S District Courts, and in USCIS adjudications and appeals;
• Implement a holistic, client-centered approach to civil legal aid, including trauma-informed lawyering practices and promotion of language access;
• Collaborate with immigration legal services providers, particularly in northern New England;
• Engage with community organizations, including presenting at community education programs; and
• Participate as an active member of the NHLA team across practice areas.
• Qualifications and Competencies:
• Law degree and license to practice law in at least one state;
• New Hampshire bar admission, or eligibility for admission on motion, is preferred;
• Prior immigration law experience strongly preferred;
• Commitment to fighting for the rights of low-income noncitizens, including those detained by the Department of Homeland Security;
• Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills;
• Ability to competently interview and advise clients from diverse backgrounds;
• Experience working alongside low-income clients and communities is a plus;
• Access to a car and ability to travel on a regular basis, including within New Hampshire, to Boston/Lowell, and to locations not easily accessible by public transportation;
• Current technology skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and Adobe;
• Ability to speak Spanish or another relevant language in addition to English is a plus; additional compensation of $1,500.00 per year is available to bilingual staff members.

Position Salary/Benefits:
This is a full-time position. Full-time is defined as 37.5 hours per week. This position is considered exempt for the purpose of federal wage/hour law.

The anticipated salary for the position depends on prior law-related work experience, expected to range from $74,211 per year (for candidates with 2 years of prior law-related work experience) to $84,737 per year (for candidates with 7 years of prior law-related work experience). The position is eligible for the NHLA employee benefits package including medical/dental insurance, retirement plan, and generous paid time off.

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