Description:

About the role:
We are seeking an experienced immigration attorney to lead our removal defense and asylum practice.

This is a substantive litigation role for an attorney who wants meaningful courtroom responsibility, autonomy over case strategy, and the opportunity to take ownership of a growing practice area.

Our asylum work includes both tracks: affirmative applications filed with USCIS and defensive asylum cases before the Immigration Court, including matters referred from the USCIS Asylum Office to EOIR.

You will manage your own court calendar, develop litigation strategy, prepare cases for hearings, and represent clients through critical stages of their immigration proceedings.

You will work directly with the founding attorney while having significant independence in the management and strategy of your cases.

This is not a position where an attorney is simply assigned a large volume of files and expected to process them.

We are looking for an attorney with sound legal judgment who understands that immigration litigation requires preparation, attention to detail, strong advocacy, and accountability to the client.

What You Will DoRemoval Defense and Immigration Court

Represent respondents in removal proceedings before EOIR.
Handle master calendar hearings and individual merits hearings.
Prepare and litigate defensive asylum applications.
Represent clients in cases referred from the USCIS Asylum Office to Immigration Court.
Handle cancellation of removal matters.
Handle adjustment of status before the Immigration Court.
Prepare and litigate withholding of removal and Convention Against Torture (CAT) claims.
Handle bond proceedings when appropriate.
Prepare and argue motions and other applications related to removal proceedings.
Develop case strategy and prepare clients and witnesses for hearings.
Review evidence, declarations, country-condition materials, and other supporting documentation necessary for litigation.
Maintain organized case strategy and hearing-preparation documentation.

Affirmative Asylum

Prepare and manage affirmative Form I-589 asylum applications before USCIS.
Represent clients at USCIS Asylum Office interviews.
Analyze the one-year filing deadline and applicable exceptions.
Develop asylum claims involving complex factual and legal issues.
Evaluate credibility, corroborating evidence, country conditions, nexus, protected grounds, and other relevant asylum issues.
Prepare clients thoroughly for asylum interviews.

Qualifications Required

J.D. from an accredited law school.
Active membership in good standing with the bar of the highest court of any U.S. state, territory, possession, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
Professional fluency in Spanish and English, written and spoken.
Demonstrated experience representing respondents in Immigration Court.
Experience handling individual merits hearings, particularly asylum matters.
Experience preparing and presenting asylum cases.
Strong legal research, writing, analysis, and advocacy skills.
Excellent client communication skills.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage a litigation docket proactively.
Ability to exercise independent professional judgment and take responsibility for case strategy and preparation.

Illinois admission is not required. Attorneys admitted and in good standing in another qualifying U.S. jurisdiction may practice before EOIR subject to applicable federal requirements and EOIR registration requirements.

Strongly preferred:

Existing EOIR eRegistry registration and EOIR ID.
Experience with both affirmative and defensive asylum.
Experience with cases referred from the USCIS Asylum Office to Immigration Court.
Experience with cancellation of removal.
Experience with adjustment of status before EOIR.
Experience with withholding of removal and CAT claims.
Experience with bond proceedings.
Experience preparing and litigating immigration motions.
Experience with credible fear and reasonable fear proceedings.
Familiarity with Docketwise or another immigration case-management platform.