Description:
About You:As Staff Attorney, you will play an essential role in LCCRSF's Immigrant Justice (Litigation) program. You will work under the supervision of the Immigrant Justice Program Director. With guidance from the Immigrant Justice Program Director, you will initiate and conduct all stages of impact litigation advancing immigrant rights. Priorities of the Immigrant Justice impact litigation program include habeas proceedings for immigrants subjected to prolonged detention; habeas proceedings for immigrants newly arrested pursuant to recently implemented mass arrest policies, including courthouse arrests policies; detention conditions lawsuits under federal and state laws; investigations of detention abuses; and defense against ideological deportation.
The ideal candidate will have experience litigating immigration matters in federal court and a strong commitment to working with immigrants and advancing the immigrant rights movement.
Your Work
With guidance from the Immigrant Justice Program Director and through collaboration with key partners, the IJ Staff Attorney will conduct all stages of impact litigation.
Specific duties include:
- Develop and support litigation strategy;
- Perform legal and factual research related to ongoing or potential litigation;
- Draft and review pleadings, participate in discovery strategy and execution, and conduct other litigation tasks, as needed;
- Track hours expended on litigation matters, for use in grant reporting and future possible fee petitions;
- Support fellows and interns, as needed;
- Support co-counsel relationships with law firms and non-profit partners;
- Provide technical assistance to pro bono attorneys from the private bar, other non-profits, and law schools in areas of LCCRSF IJ team expertise; and
- Other tasks as assigned by the Immigrant Justice Program Director.
Essential Qualifications
- J.D. and a member in good standing of any state bar (*California strongly preferred);
- Minimum of two years of litigation experience;
- Demonstrated commitment to the mission, goals and priorities of LCCRSF;
- Experience working with immigrant communities, preferably within California (law school clinic experience included);
- Spanish language competency preferred;
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills;
- Excellent organizational, communication, analytical, writing, editing skills, and strong attention to detail;
- Ability to work as a member of a team and independently; ability to set and carry out objectives and prioritize workflow with minimal supervision; and
- Ability to effectively work and communicate with diverse groups of individuals, including representatives of government, the private bar, and grassroots organizations.
The working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this position, the employee must be able to remain in a stationary position, constantly operate a computer, and must have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
