Description:
Summary:The Supervising Staff Attorney will provide client consultations with greater attention to complicated cases, representation of clients, research, and analysis. The Staff Attorney will work collaboratively with our staff, including the Managing Director, Program Manager, Staff attorneys, administrative support staff, and case workers, to provide client-centered, holistic services as a part of ELF's immigration department. The Staff Attorney represents clients before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS only) in the following areas of immigration:
- Adjustment of Status
- Consular Process
- Extension of Non-Immigrant Status
- DACA Renewal Applications
- Naturalization
- Acquisition and Derivation of Citizenship
- Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) Renewals
- Advance Parole
- Parole-in-Place
- U-VISA
- VAWA
- Inadmissibility Waivers
- Staff Attorney Cases
- TPS
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
- K-1 Visas
- T-Visas
- CAT
- Litigate affirmative and defensive cases before USCIS, EOIR, the BIA, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Responsible for individual caseload, providing affirmative and defensive immigration services, primarily focusing on removal defense, asylum, and SIJS petitions, among other forms of benefits and/or relief.
- Secondary responsible for individual caseload, providing affirmative and defensive immigration services, with a primary focus on asylum, family petitions, DACAs, naturalizations, and representation of clients in front of USCIS.
- After determining that a client is entitled to any given immigration benefit, prepares applications or petitions with supporting evidence and represents clients before USCIS and EOIR.
- Provide support as needed to other attorneys, accredited representatives, legal assistants, and volunteers on substantive legal matters and participate in developing case selection criteria.
- Other responsibilities include but are not limited to conducting consults on potential clients and assessing whether they qualify for relief, researching legal issues related to their claims, preparing all necessary filings, and representing them throughout their removal proceedings.
- Uses cultural sensitivity and awareness to develop appropriate and effective strategies to address the needs and advance the rights of vulnerable communities.
- Prepare and submit country conditions, declarations, and other supporting evidence for applications to defend clients against removal.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues and participate in weekly group case reviews, on-site trainings, and provide supervision for support staff's legal work;
- Supervise the Attorneys.
- Track and assess annual case files and outcomes in an electronic case management system.
- Network to obtain external organizational support, build collaborations that support legal program activities, and/or refer clients to partners on issues outside our expertise.
- Assist with meeting grant deliverables that fund the immigration legal program.
- Complete narrative reports as needed for grantors and funders, including program outcomes, Work Plans, goals/objectives, etc.
- Participate in staff meetings, case reviews, and other community meetings as needed.
- Support, as needed, with legal workshops, clinics, and training.
- Assist and participate in at least two monthly clinics.
- Conduct presentations on various immigration-related topics as needed.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Immigration Services or Executive Director.
- provide supervision and final review for casework across immigration service areas as needed.
- provide onsite counsel to immigration staff as they complete cases and meet with clients.
- Maintain agency compliance according to timekeeping, absence, training, and licensing requirements for 2-3 staff attorneys according to designated performance benchmarks.
- Facilitate 1-on-1 meetings with direct reports monthly and document performance notes in their personnel file.
- Act as a liaison between HR, executive leadership, and program staff as a part of continuous process improvement and performance benchmarks.
- Review & audit work of direct reports and ensure it meets agency standards for client care.
- Have a U.S. law degree (J.D.) and active bar membership. CA bar membership is preferred
- Individuals with experience in immigration law, specifically in removal defense.
- Experience in removal defense, minimum 1-year court experience, and 2-year removal defense experience.
- Must be a fast and flexible learner who can work in an organization with many moving parts.
- Committed to the immigrant community's needs and passionate about immigrant and human rights.
- Must have a valid driver's License, car insurance, and daily access to a car.
- Bilingual and bi-literate in English and Spanish
- Able to quickly build and maintain rapport with clients, community members, and coworkers of differing backgrounds, team player.
- Attention to detail and strong legal office organizational skills.
- Adept at public speaking and teaching in large groups and comfortable with conducting media interviews.
- Intermediate to advanced software skills with MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher).
- Understanding modern office practices and procedures, including scanning, faxing, video conferencing, text and chat messages, etc.
- Community organizing or community lawyering experience
Additional Duties:
Confidentiality/Privacy compliance - Treats all client, member, and employee information as sensitive and confidential. Responsible for maintaining compliance with all HIPAA regulations and requirements where applicable.
Compliance - Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.
Quality Improvement - Participate in quality improvement activities and contribute towards the overall performance improvement of the department and organization.
Safety - All employees will participate in the ELF safety program.
Travel – The position may require you to work weekends/evenings and travel as needed.
Work Schedule – the position may participate in evening in and/or weekend activities as the department and organization require.
Environmental Conditions:
Work generally occurs within an office environment. Air quality is good, with adequate lighting at desks/workstations. Noise conditions are moderate and limited to self and others on telephone calls and general interactions with coworkers and the public.
Physical Requirements:
Must be able to lift to 20 pounds and push up to 50 pounds (on wheels).
Must hear staff on the phone and those served in person and speak clearly to communicate information to patients and staff.
Must be able to read memos, computer screens, personnel forms, and clinical and administrative documents. Must have high manual dexterity.
Must be able to reach above the shoulder level to work, must be able to bend, squat and sit, stand, stoop, crouch, reach, kneel, twist/turn
