Position Summary
New Mexico Immigrant Law Center (NMILC) seeks a Staff Attorney II to support our direct legal services programming, with a primary focus on representing immigrant children, including children in removal proceedings.
The Staff Attorney II provides representation in immigration and New Mexico state court proceedings, collaborates with community partners, and contributes to outreach, legal education, and program development. This position offers the opportunity to combine direct client advocacy with community engagement while continuing to develop leadership and supervisory skills with support from an NMILC Managing Attorney.
Primary Responsibilities
Legal Representation
- Provide direct representation to NMILC clients in affirmative matters before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), and appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
- Represent immigrant children in New Mexico state court proceedings, including kinship guardianship and sole custody matters.
- Conduct client interviews, perform legal research, develop case strategies, and draft and file pleadings, motions, appeals, and applications for immigration benefits.
- Appear before immigration courts, state courts, and administrative agencies.
- Identify legal advocacy issues and gaps in legal services, and collaborate with NMILC staff and partner organizations to address them.
Community Engagement and Legal Education
- Conduct trainings for attorneys and nonlegal service providers.
- Deliver Know Your Rights presentations and provide legal consultations at pro se workshops, family preparedness clinics, and other community events.
- Build and maintain relationships with community stakeholders, including legal and immigrant service providers, government officials, local bar associations, law enforcement agencies, and advocacy organizations.
- Contribute legal expertise to the development and review of training materials.
- Represent NMILC at stakeholder meetings, trainings, conferences, and community events.
Case Management and Organizational Collaboration
- Maintain accurate, complete, and current case information in NMILC's case management systems.
- Conduct regular case audits and support data integrity by identifying and addressing incomplete or inaccurate case information.
- Communicate proactively with Managing Attorneys about program developments, administrative needs, opportunities, and challenges, and collaborate on constructive solutions.
- Contribute to NMILC's overall operations through participation in organization-wide meetings, collaborative projects, and office events.
Leadership and Professional Development
- Continue developing supervisory and leadership skills with training and support from an NMILC Managing Attorney.
- Supervise and mentor legal interns and volunteers, supporting their ongoing professional development as assigned.
- Provide leadership and oversight for legal clinics, workshops, and Know Your Rights presentations as assigned.
- Support program implementation with community partners and participate in media appearances as assigned.
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
- Admission to the New Mexico State Bar, or the ability to begin the applicable examination or admission process within six months of employment and obtain admission within one year of employment.
- At least two years of relevant immigration law experience, including experience in the assigned program area.
- Proficiency in Spanish.
- Strong legal research, analytical, and writing skills.
- Ability to provide trauma-informed and culturally competent legal assistance to children and crime victims/survivors.
- Experience collaborating with law firm attorneys and/or legal volunteers.
- Leadership skills and experience supervising or mentoring interns and volunteers.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and respond to time-sensitive needs in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Experience working and communicating effectively in a remote environment.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with attorneys, staff across the organization, and diverse community organizations and stakeholders.
- Commitment to practices that support personal and team well-being and a sustainable work-life balance.
Salary and Benefits
This is a full-time position with a starting salary of $84,240 annually. Compensation is competitive for our field and geographic area and commensurate with experience.
NMILC currently offers a generous benefits package, including:
Health and Financial Benefits
- Health insurance: NMILC pays 100% of the individual employee premium for the base plan and 50% of dependent premiums. A buy-up plan is also available.
- Retirement savings: Access to a 401(k) plan with a discretionary employer match of up to 10% of base salary, determined each fiscal year based on funding projections.
- Flexible Spending Account: An optional account for pre-tax funds to cover eligible medical and/or dependent care costs.
Time Off and Work-Life Balance
NMILC recognizes that supporting employees' ability to care for themselves and their families enables them to do their best work. Our current offerings include:
- Flexible work scheduling and hybrid remote work options.
- Three weeks of paid time off annually.
- One hour of earned sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
- Company-paid federal holidays.
- Two weeks of winter break.
- One week each for spring break, summer break, and Thanksgiving break.
- Additional days off as established in coordination with the local public-school schedule.
Benefits may be subject to change at any time based on changes to the organization's budget.
