Senior Staff Attorney - Litigation

A Latino and Immigration Advocacy-And-Assistance Organization

  • Hyattsville, MD
  • 3+ Years
  • Full Time
  • Not Specified
  • 75,000 - 79,280 / Yearly
  • Not Specified
Apply now

Description:

Department Synopsis:
The Legal Program at We Are Casa Operates Under the Principles of Justice Is the Goal, Law Is a Means. It Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint. We Endeavor to Find the Most Creative Strategies to Combat the Abuses and Injustices Identified by Our Constituents. We Value Justice in The Largest Sense Possible, Not only One Person at A Time Legal Solutions, but Broad, Transformative Solutions Created in Combination with Immigrant Leaders, We Are Casa Organizers and Other Staff, Other Local and National Organizations and Direct Service Staff. We Value Our Time and Believe that Through Hard and Sustained Effort Is Often Required, Real Rest Is Also Necessary for Creativity, Stamina and “a Life,” However Defined.

Position Summary:
A We Are Casa Senior Staff Attorney Is on The Front Line in Defending, Advocating For, and Working Alongside Our Members in Different Spaces. We Are Casa Senior Staff Attorneys Work with A Dynamic Group of Paralegals, Organizers, Advocates, and Social Service Staff in A Friendly and Fast-Paced Environment.

This Position Is Eligible to Work from We Are Casa's Multicultural Center in Hyattsville Md, We Are Casa's Baltimore Welcome Center in Baltimore, Md, We Are Casa's Rockville Welcome Center in Rockville, Md, or We Are Casa's Woodbridge Welcome Center in Woodbridge, Va.

Essential Responsibilities:
Direct Legal Work
  • Under the Supervision of The Supervising Attorney, Managing Attorney, or Legal Director, Oversee and Provide Legal Representation to We Are Casa Members in Civil Legal Cases.
  • Mentor Staff Attorneys, Membership Services Paralegals and Other Legal Department Staff, Volunteers or Interns, to Assist Them in Handling Complex Legal Cases or Issues.
  • Provide Brief Legal Services, Including Legal Orientation, Intake, Education, Counseling, Advice and Referrals, to We Are Casa Members on A Variety of Legal Issues.
  • Lead and Participate in Community Workshops and Clinics Organized by The Legal Department And/or Other We Are Casa Departments.

Coalition and Partner Engagement
  • Represent We Are Casa in External Coalitions and Collaborative Spaces (including with Co-Counsel on Complex or High-Profile Cases), Updating Partners on We Are Casa's Work and Coordinating Efforts to Achieve Mission-Oriented Goals.
  • Manage and Develop Relationships with External Partners to Achieve Departmental and Organizational Objectives, Including Both Campaign and Service Delivery.
  • Improve and Grow Relationships with Volunteers and Other Key Partners to Support We Are Casa's Legal Work, Including Pro Bono Attorneys, Law Students, and Other Relevant Professionals.
  • Coordinate Among Various We Are Casa Departments to Align Work to Achieve Campaign Objectives and Ensure High-Quality Service Delivery.

Strategic Work with Organizers
  • Support Legal Needs of The Organizing Department, Including By: Providing Legal Consultations and Direct Representation to Members of We Are Casa Organizing Committees; Responding to Urgent Situations Such as Impending Evictions of We Are Casa Members or Immigration Raids; Collaborating on Achieving Campaign Objectives; and Other Support as Needed.
  • Co-Counsel with Other Legal Services Providers or Pro-Bono Counsel to Pursue Impact Litigation.
  • Engage in Advocacy and Community Organizing Efforts and Campaigns for Improved Laws or Policies Affecting We Are Casa Members at The Local, State and Federal Level by Drafting And/or Reviewing Legislation, Presenting Testimony, Organizing Hearings, and Lobbying.

Outreach/popular Education
  • Engage in Education and Outreach Through “know Your Rights” Presentations on Legal Issues Faced by We Are Casa Members and The General Community.
  • Design, Edit, and Disseminate Legal Education Materials and Facilitate “train the Trainer” Workshops in Which Organizers and We Are Casa Members Are Trained to Reach out To Others to Inform Them of Their Rights.
  • Identify Clients to Participate in Public, Organized Campaigns and To Speak with Media.

Administrative Work
  • Complete On-Going Data Entry and Data Verification in A Timely Manner.
  • Complete Reports Related to We Are Casa Legal Department Work for Funders or As Required for Internal Evaluation.
  • Engage in An Annual Planning Process, Developing and Executing Individual Work Plans, Evaluating and Providing Feedback on Plans as The Year Progresses.
  • Provide Detailed Information Regarding Work Including Case Examples, Case Profiles, and Statistics for Regular Reporting Deadlines.

Education/certification/licensure:
  • Admitted to Practice Law in The Jurisdiction Where This Position Is Based or Ability to Be Admitted Immediately
  • Valid Us Driver's License and A Reliable Vehicle

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:
  • Bilingual English/spanish, Strongly Preferred. French Is a Plus.
  • 3+ Years of Experience Delivering Civil Legal Services And/or Working on Litigation or Policy Advocacy Directly Relevant to Working Class Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-Descendant, Indigenous, and Immigrant Communities.
  • Strong Professional Client Management Skills.
  • Strong Communication Skills
  • Strong Commitment to We Are Casa's Mission.
  • Strong Commitment to The Principles of Zealous Advocacy.
  • Strong Time Management Skills.
  • Ability to Work Well Individually and As Part of A Team.
  • Ability to Travel Regularly Between Different We Are Casa Locations.