Description:

Primary Purpose of the Job:
The Staff Attorney (Released Representation) will work on a team to provide pre-court counseling sessions and direct representation, including challenging casework and appeals, for unaccompanied children in front of the immigration court, family court, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The position includes extensive client contact with youth, including indigenous youth and youth who have suffered abuse, abandonment, neglect or other emotional and physical trauma. It requires significant time in state and immigration court. The position may include the provision of “Know Your Rights” presentations. This position additionally includes the opportunity to participate in outreach activities and collaborative projects.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Casework

Provide?legal?representation to released unaccompanied children in cases?accepted through the?Children's?Program.??Legal?representation includes representation in immigration proceedings before the Immigration Court, representation before the Board of Immigration Appeals,?representation before the?Arizona Juvenile Courts,?and other related services reasonably necessary to complete these proceedings.????
Supervise legal assistants assigned to each case.??
Conduct intake interviews and provide “Know Your Rights” information to?released unaccompanied immigrant children.?
Provide?direct representation in front of the immigration court,?juvenile?court, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, including challenging casework, and appeals?before the appropriate bodies.???
Develop and recommend?case?strategy?consistent with?immigration law and procedure.??
Prepare cases, draft legal papers, present required evidence, and engage in negotiations, consistent?with the Code of Professional Responsibility for the legal profession.?
Conduct assessment of client's social, economic, and psychological functioning.?
Collaborate with Children's?Program?social workers by identifying needs of the client and making appropriate?referrals.?
Determine?appropriate?range of services, interventions and referrals needed.?
Attend?and is engaged in?all team?meetings?and?trainings.?
Remain?current in?immigration law?and policy, and on?impact of criminal and civil law?on the immigration case.?
Complies with required ethical standards, preserves client confidentiality, and avoids conflict of interest.?
Maintain complete and accurate case notes and client records.??
Prepare timely statistical reports.??
Conduct?periodic?case audits for presentation and review.?
Participate in training on immigration procedures and?develop and?conduct training sessions as assigned.?

Advocacy?

Provide “Know Your Rights Presentation” and follow up support.?
Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with local and national community partners, including but not limited to private immigration attorneys, public officials, law enforcement officials, and other nonprofits that provide services to the immigrant population.?
Develop and maintain professional relationships with the Immigration Court (EOIR),?Superior Court of Arizona?Juvenile Courts,?and the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), government and social service organizations, and community organizations.??
Communicate with the Managing Attorney about possible advocacy initiatives and legal?trainings?for the community.?
Support A Nonprofit Organization?advocacy,?outreach and development activities as needed.??
Perform other administrative duties as needed.?

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

Participate in organizational fundraising and outreach efforts as requested.
Participate in developing and implementing special projects or presentations.
Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

J.D. and admission to any state bar.
If not licensed in AZ, must commit to applying to waive into practice in Arizona after two years of bar licensure in any jurisdiction, under the Arizona Rule 38(f) (a provision that allows for non-Arizona-barred attorneys to practice in Arizona state courts while under the employment of an approved legal service provider such as FIRRP, no fee required
Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish required.
Demonstrate commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way. Must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions.
Demonstrate a zealous support of the A Nonprofit Organization mission.
Must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions.?
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Strong legal research.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse populations.
Highly organized, an innovative thinker, and work in high-volume settings with limited resources.
Excellent problem solving, research and analytical skills.
Effectively manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
Demonstrate to be a hardworking, flexible, respectful team player that can work effectively in a collaborative, innovative, and client centered work environment.
Ability to work independently, be adaptable and reliable in the face of conflict, pressure, crisis or changing priorities.
Exhibit high ethical standards and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
Must be able to pass federal and state background checks.
Travel is required for this position.
Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
Proven computer skills. Advanced understanding of basic office applications.

Preferred Requirements:??

2+ years of minimum experience providing direct representation in removal proceedings, and extensive knowledge of immigration law, specifically deportation defense, asylum, and criminal-immigration law issues is strongly preferred.
2 years of prior experience practicing before the Arizona Courts, the Immigration Courts, or USCIS is strongly preferred.
Prior advocacy work in immigrant rights, human rights, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice, or experience working with trauma survivors is a plus.
Experience with databases and data tracking (i.e., Legal Server) is a plus.