Description:

CAIR San Francisco Bay Area is seeking a seasoned and mission-driven Senior Immigrants' Rights Attorney – Removal Defense & Detained Cases. This position is ideal for an experienced attorney who thrives on complex casework and client advocacy, with a focus on serving immigrants in detention and those facing deportation.

The Senior Attorney will carry a significant caseload centered on detained removal defense, including bond hearings, detained dockets, and related forms of relief. The attorney will also support CAIR-SFBA's rapid response and community defense efforts, ensuring due process for immigrants facing deportation and detention in the Bay Area. This is a senior level role, designed for someone who brings extensive experience in removal defense and is ready to provide high-quality representation while advancing CAIR-SFBA's mission of protecting civil rights and empowering immigrant communities.

Title: Senior Immigrants' Rights Attorney

Location: Based in CAIR's Santa Clara office. CAIR staff are currently working a hybrid schedule, with three days in-person and two days remote

Schedule Type: Full-time (Exempt). Occasional evenings and weekends required

Reporting Relationships: Reports to the Immigrants' Rights Managing Attorney

Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the United States. Ability to travel throughout the Bay Area is required (vehicle and driver's license necessary)

Duties & Responsibilities:

Direct Legal Services
Carry a significant caseload with emphasis on detained and non-detained removal defense cases and provide high quality, client-centered representation to individuals facing removal proceedings
Represent clients before EOIR, BIA, USCIS, ICE, and CBP in asylum, withholding, CAT, cancellation, bond, and other immigration matters
Conduct detailed client intakes, legal screenings, and case assessments
Provide individualized client counseling on immigration options and risks
Prepare and file applications, motions, and appeals for detained and non-detained cases
Prepare and litigate bond motions to secure release for detained clients
Conduct routine visits to detention centers, ensuring access to clients and monitoring conditions affecting representation
Impact & Strategic Litigation
Take initiative in spotting and advancing impact or strategic litigation opportunities related to removal defense and detention cases, coordinating with colleagues at CAIR-SFBA and across CAIR-CA to align with broader organizational goals
Support the development of creative legal arguments that advance immigrants' rights and address systemic challenges
Community Engagement
Participate in Know Your Rights presentations, pro se support, and immigration legal clinics, with emphasis on detention-related issues
Collaborate with local coalitions, visitation programs, and immigrant justice networks to expand support for detained immigrants
Legal Research & Writing
Conduct case-specific research on statutes, regulations, and case law
Draft motions, appeals, briefs, and other filings with strong attention to detail and client-centered advocacy
Provide technical expertise to colleagues on detained removal defense when requested
Grant Compliance & Support
Ensure timely and accurate case documentation for grant deliverables
Contribute case narratives and data for grant reporting and fundraising purposes
General Organizational Support
Provide limited supervision and mentorship to legal staff, such as other attorneys, caseworkers, law clerks, or interns, as assigned
Partner with Communications staff to highlight the impact of detained removal defense
Support organizational events and fundraising initiatives as needed
All CAIR staff are required to assist in general duties such as answering phones, weekly outreach, and other office tasks.

Required Qualifications:

J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; California strongly preferred
Minimum three years of immigration law experience with at least two years focused on removal defense, including detained cases and bond hearings
Demonstrated success handling detained dockets and related relief
Strong client counseling, case preparation, and oral advocacy skills before EOIR and USCIS
Excellent organizational skills and ability to independently manage a complex caseload
Demonstrated commitment to defending low-income immigrants and other vulnerable populations
Flexibility to travel to detention centers, courts, and community sites, including occasional early mornings or evenings
Access to a reliable vehicle and ability to travel to detention centers and courts across the Bay Area
Deep commitment to CAIR-SFBA's mission of defending civil rights and empowering immigrant communities

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience providing mentorship, training, or supervision to legal staff (attorneys, caseworkers, or interns)
Experience with federal appeals or habeas petitions
Experience working in nonprofit, community-based, or faith-based organizations
Conversational proficiency in Arabic, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, or Urdu