Staff Attorney, Technical Assistance Program

Description:

Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights invites applications for the full-time position of Staff Attorney with its Technical Assistance Program. The position is open to applicants based anywhere in the United States, with preference given to applicants in the American Southeast or in cities where the Young Center has offices: Houston, San Antonio, and Harlingen, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Phoenix, Arizona; and Los Angeles, California.

The Technical Assistance Program (TAP) offers case consultations, trainings, and resources to professionals working with immigrant families impacted by child welfare and other state court systems to help improve outcomes for children and build the capacity of advocates, agencies, and courts to navigate the inevitable complexities that arise when they serve immigrant children and families. TAP also oversees a project that supports families affected by family separation under the first Trump administration who are part of the Ms. L. v. ICE class action. Additionally, TAP runs a separate initiative aimed at empowering detained parents to make informed decisions about the care and custody of their children, even while in detention. This position is a unique opportunity for an attorney to join a passionate team in an evolving program and to advance the rights and best interests of immigrant children in individual cases as well as systemically. The Staff Attorney will analyze and navigate complex issues at the intersection of child welfare and immigration law in response to requests for assistance to support multi-system impacted children's access to language, culture, legal representation, family unity, and long-term safety and well-being.

About Young Center:
The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests—safety and well-being—of immigrant children in the United States. The Young Center's Child Advocate Program (CAP) serves as the federally-appointed bests interests representative for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in federal custody. Through CAP's state initiative, we also serve and are appointed by the Superior Courts of New Jersey as independent Child Advocates to children released from federal custody into the New Jersey community. Child Advocates meet with children and learn their stories in order to identify and advocate for their best interests through an interdisciplinary, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive lens. The Young Center's Policy Program fights for wholesale reform of the immigration system while pursuing immediate changes in policy and practice that center children's rights and best interests in all decisions. The Technical Assistance Program, the Young Center's newest program, offers intersectional expertise and critical resources to advocates and service providers working with immigrant children involved in child welfare and other state court systems.

The Young Center has offices in Houston, San Antonio, and Harlingen, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. We also serve children through our programs in New Jersey.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Consult with stakeholders from various disciplines and entities on resources and best practices for serving immigrant children involved in a child welfare system
• Review and interpret legal documents from the U.S. immigration system and state child welfare systems to facilitate consultations
• Research state and federal law on various matters related to immigration, child welfare, and/or family law
• Draft legal analysis of complex issues at the intersection of immigration and child welfare law
• Receive and conduct intake calls from parents detained in ICE custody to help them understand, and connect with resources related to, their rights with respect to the custody, care, and placement of their children
• Provide internal case consultation and case support related to child welfare and family law matters
• Collaborate on virtual and in-person presentations to child welfare stakeholders
• Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders or organizations at the intersection of immigration and child welfare
• Provide support for state- or county-specific technical assistance projects as needed on an ad hoc basis.
• Capture accurate and timely data in Salesforce database to inform reports to funders and internal Young Center departments regarding requests for assistance, issues consulted on, program metrics, and current trends
• Participate in internal and external working groups
• Participate in a supportive, collaborative work culture that allows for creative, thoughtful, high-quality, and effective interdisciplinary advocacy
• Actively engage with colleagues and supervisors in developing strategies for technical assistance
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements:

• J.D. and license to practice law
• Minimum 2 years practice in immigration, child welfare, or family law and/or policy
• Legal analysis, negotiation, and mediation skills
• Effective written and oral communication skills, including ability to liaise with various stakeholders, colleagues, and volunteers
• Excellent case management skills
• High-level organizational skills
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and proactively address consultation needs
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and creatively as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Ability to work in a flexible, evolving environment, adapt to situations, and manage change effectively
• Commitment to a comprehensive culture of feedback, including seeking and providing positive and constructive feedback and engaging in productive conversations
• Commitment to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or anti-racism principles
• Ability to effectively engage across different culture, identities, and ethnicities
• Aptitude and thoughtfulness in promoting child-centered advocacy
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, Zoom, Adobe Acrobat, and willingness to learn new technology and/or platforms

Preferred Qualifications:

• Generally, has prior experience working with trauma survivors, or migrant/refugees/unaccompanied children to demonstrate an understanding of the population we serve. This may be first-hand experience or demonstrated interest in the field through coursework, internships, volunteer opportunities, etc.
• Lived experience that lends insight into supporting children and their families navigating the immigration system and/or the child welfare system
• Understanding of the impact of trauma on children and familiarity with a trauma-informed approach to advocacy
• Bilingual ability (oral and written) in English/Spanish or English/other languages spoken by the population we serve
• Background and/or demonstrated interest in U.S. immigration law
• Experience working with adults in immigration detention
• Candidate's physical location where the Young Center has an office or in the Southeast (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, or South Carolina)

Physical Demands:
Physical demands include regular attendance; keyboarding; sitting for long periods (at least 5 hours a day). Ability to use a computer, telephone, and copy machine. Ability to travel by plane, car, and other conveyances within U.S. Occasional lifting for event setup/preparation.

Application Details:
Young Center is an "at-will" and equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and actively seeks a diverse applicant pool. Young Center encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, marital or parental status, pregnancy, citizenship, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, or veterans' status. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified applicants with disabilities may participate in the application process; no applicant will be penalized for requesting an accommodation. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

$71,438 to $81,281 is the standard new hire range for this position ($78,582-$89,409 for those residing in the Los Angeles and DC metropolitan areas; $82,963-$93,473 for those residing in the NYC metropolitan area). Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to location experience. The Young Center does not ask for prior pay history from our candidates and our off-making process is negotiation-free for salaries and benefits. We offer our best possible salary based on relevant experience. The range listed is just one component of the Young Center's total compensation package for employees. The Young Center provides excellent benefits, including health/dental/vision insurance (employee & dependents) at no cost to employee, paid vacation, sick time, and a 401 (k) plan with employer match.

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please apply on the Young Center website with a cover letter, resume, writing sample and three references. Only complete applications will be considered. To learn more about the Young Center's wo

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