Staff Attorney, Immigration (Hybrid)

Description:

Position Overview:
The Staff Attorney at the Manhattan Family Justice Center is a key position within Sanctuary for Families' Immigration Intervention Project, a legal services project that represents thousands of survivors of domestic violence, other forms of gender based violence, and human trafficking in a broad range of immigration matters. The Staff Attorney provides direct legal representation to immigrant clients. Other important responsibilities include conducting community outreach and education in Manhattan, screening walk-in clients at the Manhattan Family Justice Center, collaborating with other agencies represented there to assist immigrant survivors, and advocating for improvements in systems affecting their lives. The IIP operates from 5 different locations in New York City; this Staff Attorney works out of the NYC Family Justice Center located in Manhattan.

Responsibilities:

• Represent survivors of gender-based violence and sex trafficking in their immigration cases before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), and appellate courts;
• Collaborate with volunteers, interns and pro bono attorneys; supports training of junior staff members on all aspects of client contact, litigation support, case management, and/or project development.
• Coordinate with partner agencies at the Manhattan Family Justice Center and serve as an immigration law resource there;
• Screen potential clients for eligibility for immigration relief and legal representation through Sanctuary for Families;
• Represent Sanctuary for Families at the Manhattan Family Justice Center and at community events, on advocacy committees, and on task forces.
• Collaborate with district attorney's offices, other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, health care providers, and community-based organizations to improve responses to immigrant survivors, and to educate and provide technical assistance on issues relating to immigrant clients.
• Contribute to Sanctuary's efforts to educate the public, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, social service agencies, community-based organizations, and elected officials about issues related to immigrant survivors; develop written materials and curriculum for such purposes.
• Perform any other Department or agency-related duties or special projects as assigned by the Legal Center Director and Deputy Director and the Director of the Immigration Intervention Project.

Requirements:

• Admission to practice law in a U.S. jurisdiction, preferably New York;
• Minimum of two years of experience in immigration law;
• Experience working in the field, preferably in a non-profit setting, to assist survivors of domestic violence, other forms of gender-based violence, and/or human trafficking;
• Bilingual English and a relevant community language (e.g. French, Spanish, Russian);
• Excellent judgment;
• Strong writing, research, and analytical skills;
• Strong communications and leadership skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work independently and under pressure;
• Ability to motivate, inspire, and manage staff;
• Energetic and passionate about Sanctuary's mission of ending gender-based violence and human trafficking;
• Deep understanding of and ability to work well with people of diverse ethnic, cultural, religious, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
  

---