Description:

South Dakota Voices for Peace (SDVFP) seeks a Staff Attorney to carry out direct legal services to children in immigration court, and survivors of violence with immigration legal needs, living in South Dakota. The Staff Attorney will work on a team with case coordinators, interns and interpreters and will be supervised by the Executive Director, an immigration attorney. The Staff Attorney must be a self-motivated advocate with a passion for justice and equity and experienced in working with multilingual, vulnerable clients. This position is based in Sioux Falls, SD. The Staff Attorney will represent children and families through the immigration process, including immigration court work. The Staff Attorney will have opportunities to conduct community presentation, develop educational material and attend community meetings around these issues. Immigration Court is in Fort Snelling, MN.

Primary Responsibilities:

Conduct intakes, legal research, fact development, work with multilingual clients, draft and file immigration filings, affidavits, briefs, prepare clients for interviews and court proceedings.
Represent clients through immigration court proceedings and understand EOIR practices and procedures.
Firm adherence to all applicable Professional Responsibility and ethical standards.
Stay abreast of all policy and rule changes in immigration law.
Represent SDVFP at regional roundtables and committees pertaining to immigration law and our practice area.
Represent SDVFP at all meetings and events
Work with legal team to develop sound strategies in case management.
Work with SDVFP team to develop public education materials and communication strategies.
Conduct relevant presentations in multilingual communities and ability to work with interpreters.
Work with SD Voices for Justice lobbyists to advance the goals of SD Voices and coalition partners on goals of immigration. Support legislative advocacy with legal and policy analysis.
Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.
Commit to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts.
Travel as required.

This is a full-time position. Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Health benefits; generous paid holidays; optional flexible schedule; student loan repayment; AILA membership, malpractice insurance and SD Bar dues included.

Qualifications:

Demonstrated commitment to the mission and goals of SD Voices for Peace and SD Voices for Justice.
J.D. degree and 1-3 year experience in the legal field.
Licensed to practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction with the ability to join the South Dakota Bar (willing to take the next bar examination or waive in).
Passionate commitment to and familiarity with immigrants' rights, racial and social justice, and state issues around immigration.
Demonstrated ability to work with vulnerable clients.
Demonstrated ability to work with multilingual clients and interpreters.
Demonstrated ability to work with multicultural team.
Fluency in Spanish (written and spoken) preferred but not necessary.
Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team.
Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills.

Our clients are children who may have experienced extreme trauma that may include sexual assault, sexual exploitation and trafficking, physical cruelty, neglect or abuse, and mental cruelty. To work with and represent our clients, this position requires emotional resilience and crisis management skills that entail separating personal feelings and keeping professional boundaries with clients. Other qualifications essential to the position are:

Proven ability to remain empathetic and professional when faced with emotional distress and conflict.
Demonstrated resilience and effective coping strategies for managing vicarious trauma and stress.
Exceptional communication and active listening skills, even in emotionally charged conversations.
Strong sense of self-awareness and ability to process your own emotional responses to challenging and complex situations.
Creating firm boundaries between attorney and clients
Understanding that cases may not be resolved in the manner advocated fo