Description:

A Voluntary Bar Association of Lawyers and Law Students was founded on a commitment to advance the rule of law in the United States and beyond by providing practical resources for legal professionals, conducting law school accreditation, developing model ethics codes and more. Today, the ABA remains a member-based organization that works to ensure access to justice for all, a fair legal process, and respect for the rule of law at home and across the globe.

A Voluntary Bar Association of Lawyers and Law Students is committed to service and refining the standards that guide the legal profession. ABA staff are provided multiple types of continuing education and career development opportunities. Your work will help eliminate bias, enhance diversity, and advance the rule of law throughout the US and around the world.

A Voluntary Bar Association of Lawyers and Law Students recognizes the value staff contribute to our success through a generous benefits package that protects their health and their financial security. A Voluntary Bar Association of Lawyers and Law Students's wide array of benefit offerings include 401(k), medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, health spending accounts, supplemental life and disability insurance, prepaid legal programs, and a complimentary membership to A Voluntary Bar Association of Lawyers and Law Students, which offers additional benefits.

Flexible/hybrid work arrangements may be available for residents of CA, DC, IL, IN, IA, MD, MI, MN, TX, VA, and WI. Residency requirements may apply. ABA employees are eligible to apply for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

Staff Attorneys for?ProBAR's?Adult Team advocate for and serve adults in ICE custody who are at risk of deportation and face significant barriers to access to counsel. Our Adult Team Staff Attorneys provide a combination of legal orientations, direct representation, and pro se assistance to adults from around the world who seek humanitarian immigration relief.

Through our Immigration Court Helpdesk Program (ICH), a national program funded and overseen by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), ProBAR provides legal orientation services for pro se respondents with pending removal proceedings in the Rio Grande Valley. This includes individuals with cases before the Harlingen Immigration Court. The ICH Staff Attorney will provide legal orientation services to pro se respondents through the ICH program. The team's legal services are complemented by?ProBAR's?holistic approach that integrates connections to services.?

The Organization:
ProBAR empowers immigrants through high-quality legal information, representation, and connections to services. ProBAR serves immigrants in the Rio Grande Valley and Houston regions with a particular focus on the legal needs of adults and unaccompanied children in federal custody. Founded in 1989 as a project of A Voluntary Bar Association of Lawyers and Law Students, ProBAR's primary office is located in Harlingen, TX with a field office in Houston, TX. For more information about ProBAR, please visit our website: https://abaprobar.org/

Job Summary / General Purpose of Job
Accountable for providing legal services to detained unaccompanied children in immigration removal proceedings, in the border region. This position will require regular involvement with individuals living in difficult circumstances and who may have experienced trauma.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities (listed in order of importance and/or time spent)

Provide legal services, including direct representation, to detained or locally released immigrants in removal proceedings.
Provide group and individual legal orientations to detained immigrants in immigration removal proceedings.
Regularly appear in immigration court. Represents clients seeking immigration relief such as asylum, T Visas, U Visas, cancellation of removal and other relief as appropriate.
Mentor pro bono attorneys and non-attorney staff and volunteers as needed.
Develop and maintain legal competency relating to immigration detention work.
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.
Performs other related duties as required.

Required Education, Qualifications, Experience:

Possession of a Juris Doctorate or Master of Law (LLM) from an ABA-accredited law school and be in good standing.
Licensed to practice law in a U.S. state or territory.
Fluent in English and Spanish in written and spoken forms.
Intermediate proficiency with online research and Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, OneDrive, teams.
Must be familiar with conducting virtual meetings, training, and observations on software such as Zoom, Teams, etc.
Must have reliable internet and phone connection.
Must be able to pick up on client verbal and non-verbal cues. Have reliable transportation to travel to off-site work locations.
This position requires the ability to travel to and enter detention centers.
In accordance with the federal policies and contractor funding requirements, clearance of federal background checks will be required for this position.

Preferred Education, Qualifications, Experience:

Licensed to practice law and member in the State Bar of Texas, and one year experience.
Prior work experience clients from Central America and including indigenous language- speaking populations.
Prior volunteer, community, or work experience regarding immigration or detention.
Prior non-profit experience, particularly involving immigration detention.

Physical Requirements:

Typical office setting with frequent visits to immigration detention facilities and immigration court.
Continuously operates a computer and other office machinery, such as telephone, copy machine, and computer printer.