Primary Purpose of the Job:
The Staff Attorney will work on a team to provide pro se assistance and/or direct representation to individuals in ICE custody in Florence and Eloy, Arizona, including cases where individuals have been found incompetent. The position involves substantial work on individual intakes, group and individual court counseling and prep sessions, and other direct services to immigrants facing removal proceedings. The Staff Attorney will represent clients in bond and merits proceedings before the Immigration Court (EOIR), as needed, as well as appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The Staff Attorney may also work on related matters before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and support litigation before the United States District Courts or United States Courts of Appeals as needed.. The Staff Attorney will provide "Know Your Rights" presentations and pro se workshops, as needed, and will refer cases to the Florence Project pro bono, social services and advocacy teams. The Staff Attorney will also have the opportunity to participate in outreach activities and collaborative projects with other Florence Project teams and partner organizations.
Staff Attorneys at the Florence Project are generally assigned to one program at a time (here, the Adult Program) as a matter of organizational structure. However, legal needs and services provided by the Florence Project can and often do evolve over time. This position will support the immediate need for legal case work, appeals, and advocacy in the Adult Legal Program. However, depending on the evolving legal needs and priorities of the organization, staff attorney positions may be assigned legal case work or other legal support needs performed by other programs, including the Children's Program or Advocacy Team, and or assigned to other departments/programs as needed.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Casework:
- Conduct intake interviews and provide group "Know Your Rights" presentations to unrepresented individuals at the detention centers in Eloy and Florence, AZ, as needed.
- Educate participants on how to represent themselves and prepare pro se materials as needed.
- Provide follow-up pro se assistance as needed, including but not limited to:
- Conduct legal research to determine eligibility.
- Write pro se motions and briefs on legal issues before the immigration court and Board of Immigration Appeals, and/or USCIS.
- Organize supporting evidence.
- Review relief applications and prepare clients for court when necessary.
- Provide direct legal representation to individuals in removal proceedings, including those found incompetent. Provide representation before the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and USCIS as needed.
- Handle most forms of relief, including cancellation of removal for LPRs and non LPRs, asylum/withholding/CAT cases, adjustment of status for refugees and other non-citizens, citizenship, T and U visas, and VAWA claims.
- Refer cases to other teams according to the established procedures.
- Refer cases to social services for support and follow up work.
- Professional Development/Training - Attend mandatory training and other CLEs and training ad hoc.
- Remain current in immigration law, and on implications of criminal and civil law.
- Complies with the required ethical standards, preserve client confidentiality, and avoid conflict of interest.
- Maintain complete and accurate case notes and client records.
- Prepare timely statistical reports.
- Conduct case audits for presentation and review as required
Administrative Duties:
- Follow cybersecurity rules and other compliance requirements.
- Attend and actively participate in FIRRP meetings including staff meetings and joint case review meetings as scheduled.
- Track hours, data, and mileage for reimbursement as appropriate.
- Maintain case notes, data, and time keeping in a timely manner and keep electronic and physical files organized.
Outreach and Advocacy:
- Attend occasional meetings with stakeholders including EOIR, ICE officials, and/or CCA officials to discuss ongoing issues.
- When requested, speak on behalf of FIRRP in various settings including media, panels, conferences, conference calls, visiting students, visiting funders, or community groups.
- Participate in internal or external advocacy, fundraising, or outreach objectives relevant to FIRRP's mission.
- 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 EOIR, ICE, USCIS, government and social service organizations, and community organizations.
- Communicate with the Legal Director about advocacy initiatives and legal training for the community.
- Participate in developing and implementing special projects or presentations.
- This position can be assigned to a primary line of work while maintaining flexibility to be assigned to other lines of work/cases at other moments depending on program's needs, including pro se work, direct representation work, and trafficking work. Additionally, this position may perform case work for, and provide other legal support to, Children's Legal Program or Advocacy Team as assigned. The position involves the possibility of being transferred fully to other legal work depending on the needs and priorities of the organization.
- Perform other duties as needed.
Minimum Requirements:
- J.D. and admission to any state bar.
- Alternatively, applicants who are law school graduates who have taken the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) and achieved a score of 260-269 are eligible to apply, with commitment to purse admission to the Arizona State Bar through the Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program (ALAP).
- To be certified eligible for an ALAP license, applicants must:
- Graduate from an ABA-accredited law school.
- Achieve a score of 260-269 on the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) administered after July 1, 2023.
- Meet all other requirements for admission to practice law in Arizona, including a thorough background check.
- Secure qualifying employment and commit to practice under the supervision of a qualified Arizona attorney in rural Arizona or in a public law practice, for a minimum of two years.
- Successful applicants will be offered the Law Graduate position with a Law Graduate salary range, providing an opportunity to gain supervised legal experience while completing the requirements for bar admission
through ALAP
- Demonstrate commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way.
- Demonstrate zealous support for the Florence Project's mission.
- Must be comfortable working with people with criminal convictions.
- Strong litigation experience and/or oral advocacy skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with diverse populations.
- Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
- Highly organized, 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.
- Fluency or advanced proficiency in Spanish required.
- 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:
- Two years of prior experience practicing before the Immigration Courts or USCIS is strongly preferred.
- 2+ years of minimum experience providing direct representation to immigrants in removal proceedings, and extensive knowledge of immigration law, specifically deportation defense, asylum, and criminal-immigration law issues is strongly preferred.
- Prior advocacy work in immigrant rights, human rights, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice, individuals with mental health conditions or experience working with trauma survivors is a plus.
- Experience with databases and data tracking (i.e., Legal Server) is a plus.
Working Conditions/Physical Demands:
- Operate in a professional office environment requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time with intermittent walking, standing, bending, squatting, pulling, and pushing.
- Ability to use standard office equipment such as scanners, computers, keyboards, phones, shredders, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. Requires the ability to lift up to ten pounds - accommodations may be available.
- Travel regularly between offices and secondary work locations.
- Frequent time in detention facilities and immigration courts located in Florence and Eloy.
Salary & Benefits:
This is a full-time position. Salary is competitive for our field and geographical area. Salaries will be calculated based on relevant experience and our established comprehensive wage scale: $70,907.20 - $ 93,107.71 Annually DOE.
We strive to create and uphold a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for all staff. We offer excellent benefits, including:
- Medical plans including health, dental, vision coverage, subject to plan terms
- Short Term Disability
- Eligibility for group benefits such as voluntary life insurance, subject to applicable waiting periods
- Retirement plan, subject to plan terms
- Paid Time Off earned on a biweekly accrual basis- Twenty-five (25) Days of Vacation Time, annually
- Five (5) Days of Medical/Sick Time, annually
- One (1) Day of Personal Time, monthly
- Eight (8) Week Paid Sabbatical, after three years of employment
- Bereavement leave.
- Fifteen (15) Organization-paid holidays, all observed
- Eligible for Parental Leave which includes Twelve (13) paid weeks
- Mileage reimbursement for travel between offices and places of work.
- Relocation Assistance for out of state new hires available for some positions.
Application Process:
This is an immediate opening. Salary is commensurate with experience. The position will remain open until we receive enough qualified applicants. To apply, please submit a cover letter detailing your interest in the position as well as your resume, three professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply early. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
