Description:

About the Border Butterflies Project
Border Butterflies is a project anchored by the Black LGBTQIA Migrant Project, Transgender Law Center, Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement, and other Tijuana based organizations. The project aims to support LGBTQ asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border with legal, humanitarian, post-detention, and organizing support. The staff attorney position, based in the Tijuana/San Diego region, will be hosted by Transgender Law Center. The staff attorney will provide direct legal support to LGBTQ asylum seekers in living Tijuana and United States.

About Transgender Law Center
A Largest American Transgender-Led Civil Rights Organization is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, A Largest American Transgender-Led Civil Rights Organization employs various community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender-nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation. (www.transgenderlawcenter.org)

Position Summary:
This position is within A Largest American Transgender-Led Civil Rights Organization's litigation team with a focus on the Border Butterflies Project.

Primary Responsibilities:

Provide direct immigration services to LGBTQ asylum seekers in Mexico and United States including conflict-of-interest checks, over-the-phone intakes and consultations, preparing immigration applications, reviewing evidence and records, drafting declarations, obtaining supporting documents, filing FOIA requests, conducting research, and drafting parole and bond applications.
Review and assist attorneys who provide direct immigration services to LGBTQ asylum seekers in Mexico and United States including conflict-of-interest checks, over-the-phone intakes and consultations, preparing immigration applications, reviewing evidence and records, drafting declarations, obtaining supporting documents, filing FOIA requests, conducting research, and drafting parole and bond applications.
Review affirmative applications before United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), advise and assist attorneys in providing the best possible support from intake of these matters to resolution.
Supervise and coach Border Butterfly attorneys to help them grow their knowledge, skills, and further their professional development; assist in the development of team-wide trainings.
Assist attorneys in communicating with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), USCIS or clients when problematic situations arise, including directly intervening when necessary.
Ensure supervisees maintain up to date case notes and records, and provide quality assurance for entries in the case management systems.
Daily attention to administrative and operational responsibilities to ensure reporting compliance, including detailed and comprehensive data collection;
Participate in internal and external reoccurring Border Butterfly meetings
Support the work of the legal team and the organization generally;
Other duties as assigned.

While A Largest American Transgender-Led Civil Rights Organization prides itself of prioritizing life-work balance for its staff, this position may require occasional long hours/weekends when on deadline.

Qualifications and Requirements:

A Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
Two years of supervising experience of staff.
Admission to the bar of at least one state
Experience practicing immigration law including but not limited to in law school clinics, internships and volunteer work.
Fluency in Spanish and English.
Experience with legal or policy advocacy relating to immigration.
Familiarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender nonconforming communities.
Experience working with communities of color and transgender communities.
Deep understanding of intersecting oppressions including anti-Blackness, white supremacy, transphobia, ableism, misogyny, colonialism, and capitalism.
Demonstrated capacity to provide a welcoming presence to clients experiencing trauma, and a demonstrated client-centered, trauma-informed perspective and cultural responsivity to the diverse populations we serve.
Experience working with people from a variety of different racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, educational, religious, sexual, gender, and generational backgrounds
Strong writing, editing, and legal research skills and experience with public speaking.
Strong ability to work collaboratively both within the organization and with other groups.
Strong personal organization and time management skills.
Creativity and good judgment.
Enthusiasm for the work of the organization and its potential.
Demonstrated ability to triage and manage multiple tasks under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated capacity to provide a welcoming presence to clients experiencing trauma, and a demonstrated client-centered, trauma-informed perspective and cultural responsivity to the diverse populations we serve.
Willingness to travel and to work outside of regular office hours when necessary.

Administration & A Largest American Transgender-Led Civil Rights Organization's internal ecosystem:

Daily attention to administrative and operational responsibilities to ensure reporting compliance, including detailed and comprehensive data collection
Assist with the smooth transfer of cases to pro bono attorneys and other legal representatives;
Attend relevant meetings, including;Border Butterfly meetings;All-staff meetings (1-2 hours per month)
Other duties as assigned in support of the BBP legal team and the organization at large

Preferred Qualifications: