Attorney, Federal Immigration Litigation, Immigration PracticeBrooklyn Defender Services (BDS) seeks an experienced Federal Immigration Litigation Attorney to join the detained removal defense team within our Immigration Practice.
The Federal Immigration Litigation Attorney will work closely with other members of the detained removal defense team to challenge unlawful immigration court decisions before the federal circuit courts of appeals, fight unlawful detention, challenge excessive delay and wrongful denial of immigration benefits and Freedom of Information Act requests, and bring affirmative immigration-related civil challenges seeking strategic reform.
Responsibilities- Serve as primary counsel on federal district and circuit court litigation related to immigrant rights, including petitions for review, habeas corpus petitions, mandamus petitions, and actions under the Administrative Procedure Act.
- Appear in district and circuit courts and conduct oral argument.
- Draft pleadings, briefs, motions, and other legal documents.
- Research and analyze legal theories to challenge constitutional, statutory, and regulatory violations.
- Investigate factual developments and trends regarding immigration enforcement and due process.
- Track federal notices of rulemaking and draft public comment responses on relevant issues.
- Draft amicus briefs on relevant issues.
- Plan and present litigation updates and training for BDS staff.
- Collaborate with pro bono attorneys on federal court litigation.
- Additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications- Admission to the New York State Bar, or ability to become admitted in New York.
- Additional admission to New Jersey and/or Pennsylvania Bars highly desirable.
- 3+ years of experience in the field of immigration law and/or federal litigation, preferably as an admitted attorney.
- Experience writing, filing, and arguing federal court litigation in support of immigrant rights, including habeas petitions or petitions for review.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and able to adapt to urgent situations.
- Ability to understand and analyze complex legal issues and develop litigation strategies.
- Excellent written and oral advocacy skills, including the ability to draft clear and persuasive legal documents.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively and collegially as part of a team.
- Ability to collaborate and engage with BDS colleagues and external partners.
Position InformationThis is an exempt, salaried position in the collective bargaining unit. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. However, attorneys may need to work outside these hours on occasion in order to accommodate court and jail visitation scheduling. The position is based at BDS's offices in Downtown Brooklyn.
BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. For this position there is a salary range of $102,000-$123,000. BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b) retirement plan. In order to support work/life balance and family-friendly policies, BDS has generous vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies.
Application Instructions Click "Apply Now" to submit a cover letter and resume on our online application portal. Please submit your application by November 27, 2026.
